With the exception of his feature debut in Elia Kazan's "The Visitors" (1972) and a small role in "The Cockfighter" (1974), stage-trained Steve Railsback spent the first ten years of his career working in the theater. While studying with Lee Strasberg at NYC's Actors Studio, he came to the attention of Kazan and later acted in plays directed by Arthur Penn, Jose Quintero and Shelley Winters that ranged from the moodiness of Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" to the zaniness of Thorton Wilder's "The Skin of Our Teeth" (1975). Railsback received international acclaim for his chilling portrayal of Charles Manson in his TV debut in the miniseries "Helter Skelter" (CBS, 1976), based on the Vincent Bugliosi book. He delivered an equally riveting performance in "The Stunt Man" (1980), playing a fugitive who stumbles onto a movie set and, after accidentally causing a stunt man's death, replaces him in return for director Peter O'Toole's protection from the police.Unfortunately, Railsback has failed to follow these two roles with any work of similar stature, despite building a lasting career in both film and television. He has demonstrated his versatility in movies like "The Golden Seal" (1983) and "Calendar Girl" (1993) but for the most part has wasted his talent on bombs like "The Blue Monkey" (1987) and "Alligator II: The Mutation" (1991). He has fared better on TV with such parts as a globe-trotting journalist in the syndicated miniseries "Spearfield's Daughter" (1986) and an acclaimed turn as Duane Barry in Fox's popular "The X-Files". He earned credits as screenwriter and executive producer for the USA Network movie "The Forgotten" (1989), in which he also acted, and inaugurated his directing career with the feature "The Spy Within" (1995), starring Scott Glenn and Theresa Russell. Railsback became a TV series regular for the first time portraying Colonel James Vice in Fox's short-lived sci-fi series "The Visitor" (1997).
Profession(s):
Actor, producer, director, screenwriter
Sometimes Credited As:
Steve Hall Railsback
Family
brother:Paul Wayland Railsback (born on November 15, 1942)
brother:Philip Railsback (wrote "The Stars Fell on Henrietta"; Steve was associate producer)
daughter:Eden Mei Railsback (born in October 26, 1999 in Huazhou, People's Republic of China; adopted on July 12, 2000)
daughter:Lalesha Marie Railsback (born on December 21, 1983; mother, Jackie Giroux)
son:Beau Edwin Railsback (born June 23, 1992; mother, Marcy Railsback)
wife:Marcy Railsback (second wife)
wife:Jackie Giroux (first wife)
2001 Starred in title role of fictionalized biopic of serial killer "Ed Gein"
1997 Played regular role of Colonel James Vice of the Fox series "The Visitor"
1995 Directing debut, "The Spy Within Us", starring Scott Glenn and Theresa Russell
1994 Hailed by fans and critics alike for his role as Duane Barry in Fox's "The X-Files"
1989 Picked up screenwriting and executive producer credits in addition to acting for USA Network's movie "The Forgotten"; one of several projects in which Railsback acted and James Keach directed; Keach a
1985 Portrayed Commander Tom Carlsen in Tobe Hooper's ridiculous but fascinating sci-fi feature "Lifeforce"
1980 Starred in title role of "The Stuntman" opposite Peter O'Toole (filmed in 1978)
1979 Appeared in NBC miniseries "From Here to Eternity"; played Pvt. Robert E Lee Prewitt, the role originated by Montgomery Clift in the 1953 feature
1976 Received national attention for TV debut as Charles Manson in CBS miniseries "Helter Skelter", based on the Vincent Bugliosi book
1975 Played Henry in Broadway production of Thornton Wilder's "The Skin of Our Teeth", directed by Jose Quintero
1972 Feature acting debut, "The Visitors"; also first movie for James Woods
Left native Texas and moved to NYC to pursue acting
Appeared in NYC stage productions of "Bluebird", "Orpheus Descending" and "One Sunday Afternoon", among others
