Hannibal Lecter
About
Dr. Hannibal Lecter is the brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer from Thomas Harris’s novels, most famously portrayed by Anthony Hopkins. Cultured, sophisticated, and terrifyingly intelligent, Lecter is both a monster and a fascinating character study. Anthony Hopkins won the Academy Award for The Silence of the Lambs despite having only 16 minutes of screen time, a testament to the character’s unforgettable impact.
Before Fame
Hannibal grew up in Lithuania during World War II. The traumatic events he experienced during the war, including the death of his beloved sister Mischa, shaped his transformation into a killer.
Trivia
- He was first portrayed by Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs in 1991
- Anthony Hopkins won the Oscar with only 16 minutes of screen time
- He is a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a cannibalistic serial killer
- He was voted the greatest movie villain of all time by AFI
- The character was created by Thomas Harris in 1981
Family Life
His parents were Lithuanian aristocrats killed during World War II. His sister Mischa's death was the defining trauma of his life. His uncle Robert and aunt Lady Murasaki raised him in France.