Actor Jack Merrill Shares How Encounter with John Wayne Gacy Impacted His Life and Career

Jack Merrill, a veteran actor with credits in "Law & Order," "Grey’s Anatomy," "Hannah Montana," and other popular shows, recently opened up about his harrowing experience with notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who was executed in 1994 for murdering at least 33 young men. Merrill's ordeal occurred in 1978 in Chicago when he was just 19 years old.

While recounting his experience for People magazine, Merrill, now 65, illustrated the night he fell into Gacy’s grasp. Walking home alone, he accepted a ride from a man he later discovered was Gacy, who drugged him using amyl nitrite, commonly called "poppers." After losing consciousness, Merrill woke up handcuffed and scarcely aware of being driven to Gacy’s home. Merrill described Gacy's brutal assault, which involved a contraption made from ropes and pulleys, and a gun forced into his mouth. However, instead of becoming another fatality, circumstances shifted, and Gacy released Merrill early the next morning, instructing him with chilling nonchalance, "Maybe we’ll get together again sometime." Merrill recounted flushing Gacy's phone number down the toilet and showering to wash away the nightmare he hadn’t fully grasped.

Though he didn’t report Gacy at the time, the gravity of his close encounter was realized months later upon seeing headlines about bodies discovered at Gacy's suburban property. Deciding he wouldn't let this terrifying event define his happiness or future, Merrill pursued acting, which became therapeutic. Gaining acceptance into NYU’s drama department and co-founding the Off-Broadway troupe Naked Angels, acting became foundational to his healing, providing an outlet for authentic self-expression and emotional honesty.

Merrill has also found comfort in forgiveness. Inspired by stories such as Oprah Winfrey’s show on forgiveness, he realized that forgiving Gacy was crucial for his own peace of mind. His 23-year relationship with his husband further bolstered his journey through trauma and healing. Initially advised against allowing this violent chapter to define his legacy, Merrill has embraced it through "The Save," a one-man show at the Electric Lodge in Los Angeles. In opening about his story, Merrill undertakes the challenge of voicing a history that many sexual assault survivors suppress, finding liberation in sharing a journey from victimization to triumph.

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