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Who Is Andrew Cunanan, The Man Who Killed Gianni Versace?

By Kayla Cobb @kaylcobb

Published Jan. 17, 2018, 9:00 p.m. ET

The latest entry of Ryan Murphy's *American Crime Story* series is *The Assassination of Gianni Versace*. Here's a look at the American Crime Story cast, including Darren Criss, Edgar Ramirez, Penelope Cruz and more.Photos: FX ; Photo Illustration: Dillen Phelps

**Gianni Versace**
**Portrayed By:** Édgar Ramírez
The iconic fashion designer stands at the center of Ryan Murphy's latest anthology series. On July 15, 1997, Versace was murdered by Andrew Cunanan. The designer, who was on the eve of launching Versace's stock to the public, was the serial killer's fifth and final murder. Photo: Getty Collection, FX

**Antonio D'Amico**
**Portrayed By:** Ricky Martin
D'Amico was Versace's loyal romantic partner for 15 years. Throughout that time and after Versace's death, he had a rocky relationship with Gianni's sister, Donatella Versace. He's still alive today and has expressed mixed feelings about the FX series.Photo: Getty Collection, FX

**Donatella Versace**
**Portrayed By:** Penélope Cruz
Her brother's longtime friend, collaborator, and lifetime muse, Donatella Versace now stands as Versace's vice president and principal designer. Both she and the Versace family have already distanced themselves from the FX series. Photo: Getty Collection, FX

**Andrew Cunanan**
**Portrayed By:** Darren Criss
Over the course of 1997, Cunanan killed at least five people, four of which were known to be gay or bisexual men. He was a known party boy and escort for wealthy, older men and was known in circles for his extravagant spending habits and even more extravagant lies. He killed himself on a houseboat after murdering Versace. Photo: Getty Collection, FX

**Lee Miglin and Marilyn Miglin**
**Portrayed By:** Mike Farrell and Judith Light
Lee Miglin was a wealthy and well-known real estate developer in Chicago. While his wife, Home Shopping Network professional Marilyn Miglin, was away on a business trip, Lee Miglin became Cunanan's third victim. He was found duct taped in his garage after being stabbed several times with a screwdriver and having his throat sawed open with a hacksaw. Photo: Getty Collection, FX

**Jeff Trail**
**Portrayed By:** Finn Wittrock
A former naval officer, Jeff Trail was friends with Andrew Cunanan. However, Trail tried to distance himself from Cunanan after a period of time. Trail was also friends with David Madsen, and he was ultimately found murdered in Madsen's loft and rolled up in a rug. He was Cunanan's first victim.Photo: FX

**David Madsen**
**Portrayed By:** Cody Fern
Cunanan's second victim, David Madsen was an architect who was friends with Trail as well as Cunanan's former lover. It's widely believed that Cunanan's murder of Trail was a crime of passion and that Cunanan forced Madsen to flee with him. He was found in a river with gunshots in his head and back.Photo: FX

**Ronnie**
**Played By:** Max Greenfield
Though there was a real former florist named Ronnie in Cunanan's life, the version of Ronnie we see is more like a combination of several people Cunanan knew. He largely represents the seedy underbelly of the gay community Cunanan pretended not to know.Photo: FX

**Detective Lori Wieder**
**Played By:** Dascha Polanco
Like Greenfield's character, there is no direct real-life counterpart to Polanco's Detective Wieder. However, the *OITNB* actress plays an important role. The police's lack of attention and direction are what ultimately led to Cunanan getting away with so many murders for so long. Photo: FX

Where to Stream:

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

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Tonight marks one of the biggest premieres of this new year. After nearly two years of waiting, FX and Ryan Murphy‘s American Crime Story is back for a second season. The Assassination of Gianni Versace chronicles the iconic fashion designer’s tragic murder. However, the series is more than just a reflection of a pulpy and headline-grabbing crime of Versace’s assassination. Its a saga that explores what the gay community was like in the late ’90s, how important and minimal LGBT representation was during this time, and why this serial killer was able to get away with torturing the gay community for so long.

It’s also a story that’s sadly not well known. Whereas The People v. O.J. Simpson was a true-life saga almost everyone knew intimately, Gianni Versace‘s murder at the hands of Andrew Cunanan isn’t talked about nearly as much, which is partially what makes this series so interesting. Who killed Versace in Miami and why? Who was Andrew Cunanan? And how many other people did this serial killer murder? Consider this your guide to the national criminal responsible for the largest failed manhunt in U.S. history.

Who killed Versace in Miami and why?

Gianni Versace’s murderer was Andrew Cunanan, a serial killer whose victims spanned across the United States. Born in National City, California, Cunanan was 27 at the time of his murder spree. He was a well-connected male escort, and many knew him for his extravagant spending habits and habit of lying. He was known to pursue wealthy older men, and prior to his first murder, a millionaire partner dumped him. Whether or not that event helped spark Cunanan’s killing spree is up for debate.

To this day, it’s unclear why Cunanan murdered Gianni Versace. Several people who were close to Cunanan have said that the serial killer mentioned the designer often. According to Maureen Orth’s book Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U. S. History, he was known to buy fashion magazines regularly and allegedly criticized Versace’s designs on at least one occasion. Some believe that Cunanan had an unhealthy obsession with the designer, suggesting that Cunanan saw Versace who had the type of life Cunanan wanted but did not want to work for. That’s the narrative FX seems to be working with in The Assassination of Gianni Versace.

Did Andrew Cunanan ever meet Gianni Versace before his murder?

For a period of time, it was believed that Versace gave Cunanan HIV. Though the Versace family denies the two men ever meeting, Cunanan’s friends and acquaintances claimed that he bragged about meeting the iconic designer. However, as Cunanan was known to stretch the truth or outright lie often, some remain skeptical of this alleged meeting. Regardless, during his autopsy, Cunanan was found to be HIV negative, largely dismissing the theory that Versace gave him an STD. It’s still unknown whether or not the two men met.

American Crime Story shows Versace and Cunanan meeting, which means in the universe of the show, they did meet.

Who were Andrew Cunanan’s victims?

Five altogether, including Versace. Of those five, four were thought or known to be gay men, and three had personal relationships with Cunanan. The names of Cunanan’s victims were Jeff Trail, David Madsen, Lee Miglin, William Reese, and Gianni Versace. They were murdered in that order and spanned the United Stated from Minneapolis to Miami.

What happened with Andrew Cunanan’s death?

Cunanan murdered Gianni Versace on July 15, 1997. Eight days later, a caretaker reported some suspicious activity inside of a houseboat in Miami. As the police later found, Cunanan had shot himself with the same gun he used to murder David Madsen, William Reese, and Gianni Versace.

Is there an Andrew Cunanan movie?

Sort of. To date, there’s only been a short made about Cunanan, called My Night with Andrew Cunanan. It was released in France and written, directed by, and starred Devin Kordt-Thomas. Other than that, there have been an episode about the serial killer on TruTV’s Mugshots titled “Andrew Cunanan The Versace Killer,” and in 2015 Modest Mouse released a song titled “Pistol (A. Cunanan, Miami, FL. 1996).”

Who plays Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story?

The role is portrayed by Darren Criss. The actor has worked with Murphy before and is likely best known for his role as Blaine on Glee. Criss is also known for starring in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and the fan-made production A Very Potter Musical. Gianni Versace is being portrayed by Edgar Ramírez.

Stream The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story on FXNOW and FX+