References in Popular Culture
- DeSalvo was the subject of the 1968 Hollywood film The Boston Strangler, starring Tony Curtis as DeSalvo, and Henry Fonda and George Kennedy as the homicide detectives who apprehend him. The movie was highly fictionalized: It assumed DeSalvo was guilty, and it portrayed him as suffering from multiple personality disorder and committing the murders while in a psychotic state. DeSalvo was never diagnosed with, or even suspected of having, that disorder.
- DeSalvo was one of the serial killers whose murders were recreated by the killer in the movie Copycat.
- The spirit of DeSalvo is summoned by sheriff Lucas Buck to destroy the ghost of Caleb's sister on the American Gothic episode Strangler.
- DeSalvo's name was used for the character Andrew DeSalvo, a fictional character in Silent Hill 4: The Room. The character works as a guard for the Water prison where children are sent for punishment but is killed by another character named Walter Sullivan.
- On the album Buchenwald by English power electronics band Whitehouse, the second track is titled "Dedicated to Albert de Salvo – Sadist and Mass Slayer."
- Japanese serial killer-themed doom metal band Church of Misery have released a 12" vinyl record titled "Boston Strangler" in 2002.
- Aggrotech group Combichrist made mention of DeSalvo in their song "God Bless"
- A waxwork of Albert DeSalvo featured in an episode of the British comedy series Psychoville. The waxwork (along with others of John George Haigh, John Christie and Jack the Ripper) comes to life in a fantasy sequence, trying to persuade the character David Sowerbutts to kill a man by strangling rather than methods suggested by the other waxworks. The others accused him of having several personalities, referencing the 1968 movie.
- The Rolling Stones' song "Midnight Rambler" was inspired by DeSalvo and quotes his confession in its lyrics.
- The TNT crime drama Rizzoli and Isles features an episode based on DeSalvo's case.
- DeSalvo is the name of a metalcore band from Scotland, formed out former members of Stretchheads and Idlewild.
Read more about this topic: Albert DeSalvo
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