Fame and fortune don’t protect anyone from the consequences of terrible crimes. While most people picture celebrities living in mansions and attending red carpet events, some former stars now call prison cells their permanent home. These actors and performers traded their Hollywood dreams for life sentences that will keep them locked away until they die. Their stories serve as stark reminders that nobody is above the law, no matter how famous they once were.
Ryan Grantham killed his own mother
Ryan Grantham had a promising acting career ahead of him. The Canadian actor appeared in popular shows like “Riverdale” and “Supernatural.” But in March 2020, everything changed when the young actor committed an unthinkable act. He shot his mother in the back of the head while she played piano in their home. He was just 21 years old at the time. After the murder, Grantham recorded a confession video and loaded his car with weapons. He originally planned to drive to Ottawa and assassinate Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Grantham never made it to Ottawa. He turned himself in at a Vancouver police station instead. During his trial, mental health issues were discussed extensively. The court heard about his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts. In September 2022, Grantham received a life sentence with no chance of parole for 14 years. While technically not a permanent life sentence, he will spend his best years in prison. His case shocked the entertainment world and showed how quickly a young actor’s life can take a dark turn.
Danny Masterson faces 30 years for sexual assault
Most people remember Danny Masterson as the wise-cracking Steven Hyde from “That ’70s Show.” The sitcom made him a household name during its eight-season run. But behind the scenes, something much darker was happening. Multiple women accused Masterson of sexual assault, with incidents allegedly occurring between 2001 and 2003. The accusations came from women who were members of the Church of Scientology, which Masterson also belongs to. For years, the case seemed stalled as victims claimed the church pressured them to stay quiet.
In May 2023, a jury found Masterson guilty on two counts of forcible rape. The judge sentenced him to 30 years to life in prison. At 47 years old, Masterson will likely die behind bars. He won’t be eligible for parole until he’s in his 70s. His former co-stars from “That ’70s Show” have largely distanced themselves from him. The case brought renewed attention to allegations of abuse cover-ups within the Church of Scientology. Masterson maintains his innocence but will spend decades away from his family.
Michael Jace shot his wife in front of their kids
Michael Jace built a solid career playing cops on television. He’s best known for his role as Officer Julien Lowe on the hit FX series “The Shield.” Jace appeared in over 89 episodes of the critically acclaimed show. He also had roles in movies like “Forrest Gump” and “Boogie Nights.” On the surface, he seemed like a working actor living the dream in Los Angeles. But his personal life was falling apart, with financial troubles and a failing marriage pushing him toward violence.
In May 2014, Jace shot and killed his wife April in their Los Angeles home. The most horrifying part? Their two young sons witnessed the murder. Jace called 911 himself and admitted to the shooting. During the trial, prosecutors revealed a history of domestic abuse. In 2016, a jury convicted Jace of second-degree murder. He received a sentence of 40 years to life. Jace was 51 at sentencing, meaning he’ll likely never walk free again. His story shows that even actors who play heroes on screen can commit terrible acts in real life.
Joe Son went from Austin Powers to prison
Remember Random Task from the first “Austin Powers” movie? That was Joe Son, a martial artist and actor who threw a shoe at Mike Myers in one of the film’s most memorable scenes. Son also competed in the UFC during its early days. He seemed destined for a career in action movies and combat sports. But Son had a dark secret that eventually caught up with him. In 1990, years before his Hollywood break, Son had committed a brutal crime that would haunt him forever.
Son and an accomplice kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman on Christmas Eve 1990. DNA evidence finally linked him to the crime in 2008. He pleaded guilty to felony vandalism related to the case. But things got worse from there. While serving time for that crime, Son killed his cellmate in 2011. He beat the man to death over an argument. Son received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the murder. He’ll spend the rest of his days in a California prison cell.
Bobby Beausoleil joined the Manson Family murders
Bobby Beausoleil’s story goes back to one of America’s most infamous crime sprees. Before the Manson Family became synonymous with murder, Beausoleil was an aspiring musician and actor in Los Angeles. He appeared in underground films and seemed headed for a bohemian lifestyle in 1960s California. Instead, he fell under the influence of Charles Manson. Beausoleil became one of the first Manson Family members to commit murder, killing music teacher Gary Hinman in July 1969. This happened just weeks before the more famous Tate-LaBianca murders.
Beausoleil tortured Hinman for days before stabbing him to death. He wrote “Political Piggy” on the wall in Hinman’s blood. Police arrested him driving Hinman’s car just days later. A jury convicted Beausoleil of first-degree murder in 1970. He received the death penalty, which was later reduced to life in prison when California briefly abolished capital punishment. Beausoleil has been denied parole over 20 times. Now in his 70s, he remains one of the longest-serving inmates in California. His association with the Manson Family ensures he’ll never be released.
Kalaan Walker had a brief TV career before murder
Kalaan Walker never became a major star, but he had real credits to his name. He appeared on shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “The Steve Harvey Show” in the late 1990s. Walker seemed to be building a career as a character actor in Hollywood. But behind the scenes, he was involved in criminal activity that would end his freedom. In 2001, Walker and two accomplices broke into an apartment in Los Angeles. What happened next would send him to prison for the rest of his life.
During the home invasion, Walker and his partners shot and killed a man named Kevin Steen. The crime appeared to be gang-related. Police caught Walker, and he stood trial for first-degree murder. The jury found him guilty, and the judge sentenced him to life without parole. Walker was still in his twenties when the prison doors closed behind him for good. His case barely made the news at the time. Now he sits in a California prison while his former castmates have moved on with their lives and careers.
Skylar Deleon murdered a couple for their yacht
Skylar Deleon had a tiny role in the original “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” as a kid. He appeared as an extra in one episode. It wasn’t much, but it gave him a connection to one of the biggest children’s shows of the 1990s. As an adult, Deleon struggled financially and turned to crime. In 2004, he came up with a plan to steal a yacht from a retired couple. Tom and Jackie Hawks had put their boat up for sale. Deleon pretended to be an interested buyer. What followed was one of the most disturbing murders in California history.
Deleon tied the Hawks to the anchor of their own boat and threw them overboard while still alive. They drowned in the Pacific Ocean. He forged documents to steal their yacht and other assets. Police eventually caught Deleon after his accomplices talked. A jury convicted him of two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances. He received the death penalty in 2009. Deleon currently sits on death row in California’s San Quentin State Prison. Since California hasn’t executed anyone since 2006, he’ll likely die of old age in prison.
R Kelly finally faced justice for decades of abuse
R Kelly was one of the biggest R&B stars of the 1990s and 2000s. Songs like “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Ignition” made him a household name. He sold millions of albums and won multiple Grammy Awards. But rumors about his behavior with underage girls followed him for decades. A 2002 trial over explicit material ended in acquittal. It took the “Surviving R Kelly” documentary in 2019 to finally bring widespread attention to the allegations against him. The music industry could no longer ignore what so many women had been saying for years.
Federal prosecutors in New York charged Kelly with racketeering and sex trafficking. The trial revealed a decades-long pattern of abuse targeting young women and girls. In 2022, a judge sentenced Kelly to 30 years in federal prison. But that wasn’t all. A separate trial in Chicago added another 20 years to his sentence. Kelly is now facing 50 years total behind bars. He’s currently in his late 50s, which means he’ll be over 100 before he’s eligible for release. The singer who once topped the charts will spend his remaining years in a cell.
Phil Spector died in prison for murder
Phil Spector changed popular music forever. His “Wall of Sound” production technique influenced countless artists. He worked with The Beatles, The Ronettes, and Ike and Tina Turner. Spector was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. But his legendary status couldn’t protect him when actress Lana Clarkson was found shot dead in his mansion in 2003. Spector claimed she had shot herself. Few people believed him, especially after stories emerged about his history of threatening women with guns.
The first trial ended in a hung jury. But prosecutors tried again, and in 2009, a jury convicted Spector of second-degree murder. The judge sentenced him to 19 years to life in prison. Spector was 69 at the time of his conviction. He died in prison in January 2021 at age 81 from complications related to COVID-19. He never showed remorse for Clarkson’s death. Spector spent his final years in a California prison medical facility. His legacy as a music producer is now forever stained by his crime. Some celebrities do face real consequences for their actions.
These stories prove that fame offers no protection from justice. Whether they were major stars or bit players, these performers all made choices that destroyed lives. Some killed family members while others targeted strangers. Some acted alone while others had accomplices. But they all ended up in the same place, prison cells where they’ll spend their remaining years. Their cases remind us that celebrity doesn’t equal character. The next time you watch an old movie or TV show, remember that some of those faces now belong to convicted murderers serving life sentences.
