Rodney Alcala, who is better known as the serial killer who first appeared in the 1970s television show, The Dating Game, has died in prison, according to Variety. At the time of his death, he was being held in the Corcoran state prison for several first-degree murder charges. He was born in San Antonio, Texas on August 23, 1953. Eventually, he would end up going AWOL after joining the army and was later diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder.
The Dating Game Serial Killer
The Dating Game was a show that would have contestants be separated by a wall, as to not see the 3 lucky suitors to possibly date. The contestant would then ask the suitors numerous questions, with the suitors usually answering with some kind of raunchy pun. When Rodney Alcala was a suitor on the show he was asked by Cheryl Bradshaw, “I’m serving you for dinner. What are you called and what do you look like?” With Alcala answering, “I’m called the banana and I look good.” After being asked by Bradshaw, to be a little more descriptive, he follows up with, “Peel me.” That answer made the live audience audibly laugh out loud.
“In retrospect, it sounds horrible. But at the time, that’s a good solid answer. We were looking for raunchy, sexy answers, and that was one. Take it in context now, it’s like, ‘Oh my God.'” That was the response of a producer from the show, David Greenfield, after hearing about the murders and trying to put Rodney Alcala’s appearance on the Dating Game into context.
Alcala’s first victim was a girl by the name of Robin Samsoe. She was a 12-year old California girl whose body was found 12 days after she was reported missing after not coming home from her ballet class on June 20, 1979.
Netflix has announced recently announced a movie based on these grisly events in Alcala’s life. It will star Anna Kendrick and it’s titled: Rodney and Sheryl.