The connection between Darren Criss and Andrew Cunanan centers on Criss’s award-winning portrayal of the serial killer in the 2018 limited series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. This performance transformed Criss from a musical theater star into a respected dramatic actor, garnering critical acclaim for his nuanced depiction of Cunanan’s complex psychological descent and the 1997 murder spree.
The Real-Life Subject: Who Was Andrew Cunanan?
To understand the weight of Darren Criss’s performance, one must first understand the historical figure of Andrew Cunanan. Born in 1969 in National City, California, Cunanan was an intelligent, charismatic, and deeply troubled individual. By the mid-1990s, he had established a reputation in the San Francisco and Greater Los Angeles areas as a social climber and "high-class" companion, often seeking out older, wealthy men to fund a lifestyle of luxury that he could not afford on his own.
Cunanan’s descent into violence began in April 1997. Over the course of three months, he murdered five men in a cross-country spree that horrified the United States. His victims included close friends Jeffrey Trail and David Madson in Minneapolis, prominent real estate developer Lee Miglin in Chicago, cemetery caretaker William Reese in New Jersey, and finally, fashion icon Gianni Versace in Miami Beach.
The motives behind Cunanan’s crimes remain a subject of intense psychological study. While he left no suicide note and never faced trial—dying by suicide on a Miami houseboat eight days after Versace’s murder—investigators and biographers point to a lethal combination of pathological lying, narcissism, and a shattered sense of self-worth. Cunanan was a man who lived through the masks he wore; when those masks began to slip and his financial support evaporated, the resulting "narcissistic rage" turned deadly.
Darren Criss: Breaking the "Glee" Mold
Before taking on the role of Andrew Cunanan, Darren Criss was primarily known for his role as Blaine Anderson on the hit musical series Glee. As a fan favorite characterized by his charm and vocal prowess, Criss was deeply embedded in the "teen idol" category of Hollywood. When Ryan Murphy, the creator of both Glee and American Crime Story, cast him as a spree killer, the decision was met with both curiosity and skepticism.
Criss, who shares a Filipino-American heritage with Andrew Cunanan, saw the role as a once-in-a-career opportunity to showcase his dramatic range. In several interviews following the release of the series, Criss discussed the challenge of humanizing a monster without excusing his actions. He noted that his background in musical theater actually helped him inhabit Cunanan’s performative nature. Just as Criss performed on stage, Cunanan was constantly performing for his friends and benefactors, crafting elaborate lies about his family, his education, and his wealth.
By 2026, looking back at Criss’s career trajectory, it is clear that his portrayal of Cunanan was the definitive turning point. It allowed him to transition into darker, more adult roles on Broadway and in film, proving that he could handle the psychological density required for prestige television.
The Portrayal in "The Assassination of Gianni Versace"
The second season of American Crime Story did not follow a traditional chronological narrative. Instead, it moved backward in time, starting with the murder of Gianni Versace and peeling back the layers of Cunanan’s life to explore how he became a killer. This structure placed a heavy burden on Darren Criss, as he had to show the gradual disintegration of Cunanan’s sanity.
Criss’s performance is often described as "chameleonic." In the early episodes (which are chronologically the end of the story), he plays a desperate, sweaty, and increasingly erratic fugitive. As the series moves backward, we see a more polished, seductive, and manipulative version of Cunanan. The brilliance of the performance lies in the subtle "cracks" Criss allows the audience to see—the moments where Cunanan’s smile lingers a second too long or where his eyes betray a deep, hollow insecurity.
The series, based on the book Vulgar Favors by Maureen Orth, also explored the systemic homophobia of the 1990s. The narrative suggested that the police failed to catch Cunanan earlier in his spree partly because of a lack of urgency in investigating crimes within the LGBTQ+ community. Criss’s Cunanan becomes a dark reflection of the "American Dream," a man who believed that fame and wealth were his birthrights, regardless of how he obtained them.
Analyzing the Preparation: How Darren Criss Became Cunanan
Preparing for the role involved more than just memorizing lines. Darren Criss engaged in extensive research to capture the specific cadence and physicality of a man who existed mostly in the memories of those who survived him.
- Physicality and Dialect: Criss studied the few existing videos of Cunanan, including a home movie of a high school graduation. He noted Cunanan’s confident posture and "preppy" mannerisms, which he used to hide his modest upbringing.
- Psychological Immersion: Criss worked closely with showrunner Ryan Murphy and writer Tom Rob Smith to understand the "why" behind the lies. They focused on the concept of "toxic shame"—the idea that Cunanan felt he was inherently unlovable unless he was extraordinary.
- Heritage and Identity: Being of Filipino descent was a crucial factor. The show explored how Cunanan’s father, Modesto Cunanan, instilled in him a sense of superiority while also abandoning the family after a financial scandal. Criss brought a lived-in understanding of the cultural pressures and the desire for assimilation that fueled Andrew’s social climbing.
Critical Reception and Award Season Dominance
The critical response to Darren Criss’s performance was overwhelmingly positive. Critics who had previously dismissed him as a "song-and-dance man" were forced to reconsider his capabilities. The consensus was that Criss had managed to make a repulsive figure deeply watchable, providing a masterclass in psychological horror.
In 2018 and 2019, Criss swept the major acting awards in the Limited Series category. His wins included:
| Award Body | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film | Won |
| Screen Actors Guild (SAG) | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries | Won |
| Critics' Choice Awards | Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries | Won |
These wins were significant not just for Criss, but for the representation of Asian-American actors in Hollywood. Criss became the first actor of Filipino descent to win an Emmy for a lead acting role, a milestone that cemented his place in television history.
Fact-Checking the Performance: Accuracy vs. Artistry
While the series was praised for its atmosphere and acting, it also faced scrutiny regarding its historical accuracy. The Versace family, including Donatella Versace, publicly distanced themselves from the show, calling it a work of fiction.
| Scene/Event | Historical Reality | Portrayal in Series |
|---|---|---|
| The Meeting at Colossus | Disputed; Maureen Orth claims they met in a San Francisco club in 1990. | Depicted as a pivotal moment of connection between the two. |
| Cunanan's HIV Status | An autopsy revealed Cunanan was HIV-negative at the time of his death. | The show explores the fear of being positive as a motivator for his spree. |
| Lee Miglin's Murder | The Miglin family maintains Lee did not know Cunanan. | Suggested a pre-existing clandestine relationship between them. |
| The Murder of Jeff Trail | Confirmed; Trail was beaten to death with a lead hammer. | Depicted with brutal accuracy following an argument over Cunanan's lies. |
Darren Criss often defended the creative liberties taken by the writers, stating that the show was an "emotional biography" rather than a strict documentary. The goal was to capture the spirit of the tragedy and the cultural climate of the 1990s, even if some dialogue and specific encounters were speculative.
The Lasting Impact on Darren Criss’s Career
As of 2026, the shadow of Andrew Cunanan remains a significant part of Darren Criss’s professional identity, but in a way that has opened doors rather than closing them. Before this role, he was often pigeonholed. Post-Cunanan, he has been cast in a variety of complex roles, including his work in Hollywood (another Ryan Murphy production) and various high-profile stage productions.
The role also sparked a broader conversation about "villainy" in media. Criss’s ability to portray a murderer with empathy—without ever validating the murders—set a new standard for true crime adaptations. It moved the genre away from simple "monster of the week" tropes and toward a more profound exploration of social failure, mental health, and the dark side of the American obsession with celebrity.
Ethical Considerations in True Crime Portrayals
The relationship between an actor and a real-life killer always raises ethical questions. Some critics argued that by casting a charismatic actor like Darren Criss, the show risked "glamorizing" Andrew Cunanan. This is a common critique in the true crime genre, particularly with series focusing on Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer.
However, Criss was vocal about his responsibility to the victims. He frequently mentioned that while he was playing Cunanan, the heart of the story belonged to the men whose lives were cut short. The series spent significant time on the backstories of Jeffrey Trail and David Madson, ensuring they were seen as more than just statistics. Criss's performance was carefully calibrated to show Cunanan’s charisma as a weapon—something used to deceive and destroy—rather than a trait to be admired by the audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Darren Criss ever meet the families of the victims?
There is no public record of Darren Criss meeting the families of Cunanan's victims. Given the sensitive nature of the crimes and the fact that many families (particularly the Versaces and Miglins) disagreed with the show's production, such meetings were unlikely. Criss stated in several press junkets that he relied on the written research of Maureen Orth to respect the victims' histories.
How did Darren Criss change his appearance for the role?
Criss underwent a subtle but effective physical transformation. He lost weight to capture Cunanan's gaunt appearance during his time on the run in Miami. He also utilized various prosthetic pieces, including glasses that matched the 1990s style and hairstyles that tracked Cunanan's transition from a well-groomed socialite to a disheveled fugitive.
What was the most difficult scene for Darren Criss to film?
Criss has cited the murder of Jeffrey Trail (played by Finn Wittrock) as one of the most taxing days on set. Because the scene was so violent and involved a character who was supposed to be a close friend of Cunanan, Criss found the emotional toll to be significant. He noted that the "darkness" of the character often stayed with him after the cameras stopped rolling.
Is "The Assassination of Gianni Versace" available to watch in 2026?
Yes, the series remains a staple of streaming libraries, typically found on platforms like Hulu or Disney+ (depending on regional licensing) as part of the American Crime Story anthology. It continues to be studied in film and television programs for its non-linear storytelling and lead performance.
Did Darren Criss win an Oscar for this role?
No. Because The Assassination of Gianni Versace was a television limited series, it was eligible for Emmy Awards rather than Academy Awards (Oscars). He did, however, win the "Triple Crown" of TV acting awards for the role: the Emmy, the Golden Globe, and the SAG Award.
Practical Recommendation for Viewers
For those interested in the psychological intersection of Darren Criss's acting and the history of Andrew Cunanan, it is highly recommended to pair a viewing of the series with a reading of "Vulgar Favors" by Maureen Orth. This provides a comprehensive look at the evidence available versus the dramatic interpretations made for television. Additionally, viewers should look for the 2018 episode of Inside Look on FX, where Criss breaks down his "becoming Andrew" process, offering a rare glimpse into the technical aspects of portraying a real-life spree killer.
