Adaptations
- In 1995, Chicago's Defiant Theatre staged a full scale adaptation of the novella at the Preston Bradley Center in Chicago, IL. The novella was adapted and directed for the stage by Christopher Johnson. Veteran stage and film actor William J. Norris starred as Kurt Dussander.
- Sony Pictures released a film version of Apt Pupil in 1998. The film was directed by Bryan Singer. Brad Renfro stars as Todd and Ian McKellen stars as Kurt. The ending of the film is significantly different.
- The song "A Skeleton in the Closet" by the metal band Anthrax is based on the story.
- The Family Guy episode, "German Guy", is loosely based on Apt Pupil. In the episode, Chris Griffin meets an elderly puppeteer who is revealed to be a Nazi war criminal whom Herbert, Chris's friend and an elderly pedophile, had an encounter with during World War II.
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