I have known a few actors that have told me stories that there were some actors that have done shows like UM and have been spotted by viewers as the killer/missing/victim and then wrongly arrested or harassed by police. Until they confirmed their real identity of course.

This is a topic that has always fascinated me. Urban myth or fact?

Has anyone heard of this happening to any cases?

(Voice in my head: Yeah! if I ever am be looked for and profiled on a show like UM, and then caught, that would be my alibi! I'm a dramatization actor!)

FACT. I'm not sure how common it was among re-enactors, but it did happen.

I remember one specific case of an actor named Christopher Cotten who was arrested after playing a crook by the name of David Adams on AMW. I vividly remember his interview on the evening news (early '90s) after his release saying he'd never act in another AMW segment. It definitely got some national attention.

Here is a link to newspaper article about it. It's broken into two pieces on page B1 and B2 http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19930625&id=vFYzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jAcGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2978,4563341

He was released fairly quickly, and its certainly an unfortunate incident. I'd say its tough to blame the two tipsters or police though. My memories of many people on UM are definitely blurred, if not replaced by the actors.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=291562&highlight=wadada

Post #3 - the guy who played Wadada was mistaken for the actual perp.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=291562&highlight=wadada

Post #3 - the guy who played Wadada was mistaken for the actual perp.

This was the only example I could think of. The only thing I can even think of that's similar was a few actors from the early 70's having trouble finding work after playing criminals (If I'm not mistaken, the actor whose character attempted to rape Edith Bunker couldn't get a gig afterwards because TV audiences were unforgiving to him - which isn't unfair given the softer nature during era of television). As far as legitimate danger in your context? I can't think of anything.

Re: Hops' post - I'd only ever heard of Wadada's actor falling victim in such a circumstance, but that's interesting, though I suppose not too surprising.

I always felt bad for the actor who played Kenneth Robert Stanton. I imagine he had a pretty damned hard time picking up women after that segment aired.

I imagine it was most difficult for the actors who played criminals that didn't photographs, but rather just a composite sketch (i.e. Wadada, Debbie's kidnapper, the Boston rapist) since the only association viewers would have with what the person looked like would be the actor.

Somewhere around here there's a post about a UM actor who ended up not getting paid when the casting agency woman skipped out. I think it was a guy in the alcatraz segment...

lol @ it being dangerous

its just unfortunate for 2 or 3 people

Somewhere around here there's a post about a UM actor who ended up not getting paid when the casting agency woman skipped out. I think it was a guy in the alcatraz segment...

Yep, that was me. I was in personal E-mail correspondence with the actor who played John Anglin and he was indeed the victim of an unsolved-mystery-within-an-unsolved mystery when his casting agency lady disappeared before he got paid. Apparently, she also left without paying for the office space she used for her "agency". It actually would have been funny if UM had done a "special alert" on her for fraud.

Yep, that was me. I was in personal E-mail correspondence with the actor who played John Anglin and he was indeed the victim of an unsolved-mystery-within-an-unsolved mystery when his casting agency lady disappeared before he got paid. Apparently, she also left without paying for the office space she used for her "agency". It actually would have been funny if UM had done a "special alert" on her for fraud.

Was her name "Bonnie"? :D