Hannibal Lecter

| significant_others = {{ubl|Lady Murasaki|Rachel DuBerry|[[Clarice Starling]] (novels)|Alana Bloom (TV series)|[[Will Graham (character)|Will Graham]] (TV series)|[[Bedelia Du Maurier]] (TV series)}}

| significant_others = {{ubl|Lady Murasaki|Rachel DuBerry|[[Clarice Starling]] (novels)|Alana Bloom (TV series)|[[Will Graham (character)|Will Graham]] (TV series)|[[Bedelia Du Maurier]] (TV series)}}

}}

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'''Hannibal Lecter''' is a fictional character created by American novelist [[Thomas Harris]]. Lecter is a [[human cannibalism|cannibalistic]] [[serial killer]] and former [[Forensic psychiatry|forensic psychiatrist]]; after his incarceration, he is consulted by [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agents [[Will Graham (character)|Will Graham]] and [[Clarice Starling]] to help them find other serial killers.

'''Dr. Hannibal Lecter''' is a character created by American novelist [[Thomas Harris]]. Lecter is a [[human cannibalism|cannibalistic]] [[serial killer]] and former [[Forensic psychiatry|forensic psychiatrist]]; after his incarceration, he is consulted by [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agents [[Will Graham (character)|Will Graham]] and [[Clarice Starling]] to help them find other serial killers.

Lecter first appeared in a small role as a [[villain]] in Harris' [[thriller (genre)|thriller]] novel ''[[Red Dragon (novel)|Red Dragon]]'' (1981), which was adapted into the film [[Manhunter (film)|''Manhunter'']] (1986), with [[Brian Cox (actor)|Brian Cox]] as Lecter (spelled "Lecktor"). Lecter had a larger role in ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (novel)|The Silence of the Lambs]]'' (1988); the [[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|1991 film adaptation]] starred [[Anthony Hopkins]] as Lecter, for which he won the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]]. Hopkins reprised the role for the [[Hannibal (2001 film)|2001 adaptation]] of the novel ''[[Hannibal (Harris novel)|Hannibal]]'' (1999), which sees Lecter evading recapture, and for a [[Red Dragon (2002 film)|second adaptation of ''Red Dragon'']] in 2002.

Lecter first appeared in a small role as a [[villain]] in Harris' 1981 [[thriller (genre)|thriller]] novel ''[[Red Dragon (novel)|Red Dragon]]'', which was adapted into the film [[Manhunter (film)|''Manhunter'']] (1986), with [[Brian Cox (actor)|Brian Cox]] as Lecter (spelled "Lecktor"). Lecter had a larger role in ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (novel)|The Silence of the Lambs]]'' (1988); the [[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|1991 film adaptation]] starred [[Anthony Hopkins]] as Lecter, for which he won the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]]. Hopkins reprised the role for the [[Hannibal (2001 film)|2001 adaptation]] of the 1999 novel ''[[Hannibal (Harris novel)|Hannibal]],'' which sees Lecter evading recapture, and for a [[Red Dragon (2002 film)|second adaptation of ''Red Dragon'']] in 2002.

The fourth novel, ''[[Hannibal Rising]]'' (2006), explores Lecter's childhood and development into a serial killer. He was played in the [[Hannibal Rising (film)|2007 film adaptation]] by [[Gaspard Ulliel]]. In the [[NBC]] television series ''[[Hannibal (TV series)|Hannibal]]'' (2013''–''2015), which focuses on Lecter's relationship with Graham, Lecter was played by [[Mads Mikkelsen]], who won the [[Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television]] for his performance.

The fourth novel, ''[[Hannibal Rising]]'' (2006), explores Lecter's childhood and development into a serial killer. He was played in the [[Hannibal Rising (film)|2007 film adaptation]] by [[Gaspard Ulliel]]. In the [[NBC]] television series ''[[Hannibal (TV series)|Hannibal]]'' (2013''–''2015), which focuses on Lecter's relationship with Graham, Lecter was played by [[Mads Mikkelsen]], who won the [[Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television]] for his performance.

== Inspiration ==

== Inspiration ==

Working as a journalist for [[Argosy (magazine)|''Argosy'' magazine]] in the 1960s, [[Thomas Harris]] traveled to Mexico to interview an American mental patient, Dykes Askew Simmons, who was being detained at Nuevo León State Prison in [[Monterrey]] for three murders. While jailed, Simmons had been shot by a prison guard, once in each calf, and he was treated by a skilled "prison-doctor" whom Harris had referred to as "Dr. Salazar". Harris described him as a "small, lithe man with dark red hair" who "stood very still" with "a certain elegance about him"; their interview eventually took a dark turn, Harris said, when Salazar started talking about "the nature of torment". A prison guard later informed Harris that Salazar was, in fact, a convicted murderer who could "package his victim in a surprisingly small box".{{Cite web|last=Valdez|first=Maria G.|date=July 29, 2013|title=Thomas Harris, 'Silence Of The Lambs' Author, Reveals Hannibal Lecter Was Inspired By Real Life Mexican Doctor|url=https://www.latintimes.com/thomas-harris-silence-lambs-author-reveals-hannibal-lecter-was-inspired-real-life-129778|access-date=November 12, 2020|website=Latin Times|language=en|archive-date=September 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913034338/https://www.latintimes.com/thomas-harris-silence-lambs-author-reveals-hannibal-lecter-was-inspired-real-life-129778|url-status=live}} Salazar inspired Harris to create a character with a "peculiar understanding of the criminal mind".

Working as a journalist for ''[[Argosy (magazine)|Argosy]]'' magazine in the 1960s, [[Thomas Harris]] traveled to Mexico to interview an American mental patient, Dykes Askew Simmons, who was being detained at Nuevo León State Prison in [[Monterrey]] for three murders. While jailed, Simmons had been shot by a prison guard, once in each calf, and he was treated by a skilled "prison-doctor" whom Harris had referred to as "Dr. Salazar". Harris described him as a "small, lithe man with dark red hair" who "stood very still" with "a certain elegance about him"; their interview eventually took a dark turn, Harris said, when Salazar started talking about "the nature of torment". A prison guard later informed Harris that Salazar was, in fact, a convicted murderer who could "package his victim in a surprisingly small box".{{Cite web|last=Valdez|first=Maria G.|date=July 29, 2013|title=Thomas Harris, 'Silence Of The Lambs' Author, Reveals Hannibal Lecter Was Inspired By Real Life Mexican Doctor|url=https://www.latintimes.com/thomas-harris-silence-lambs-author-reveals-hannibal-lecter-was-inspired-real-life-129778|access-date=November 12, 2020|website=Latin Times|language=en|archive-date=September 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913034338/https://www.latintimes.com/thomas-harris-silence-lambs-author-reveals-hannibal-lecter-was-inspired-real-life-129778|url-status=live}} Salazar inspired Harris to create a character with a "peculiar understanding of the criminal mind".

[[File:Doctor Balli.jpg|thumb|left|Doctor Alfredo Ballí Treviño, a convicted murderer, was the inspiration for Lecter.]]

[[File:Doctor Balli.jpg|thumb|left|Doctor Alfredo Ballí Treviño, a convicted murderer, was the inspiration for Lecter.]]

Salazar is believed to be Alfredo Ballí Treviño, the last criminal to be [[Capital punishment in Mexico|condemned to death in Mexico]], in 1959. Ballí was a surgeon and physician from an upper-class family who had murdered his colleague and lover, Jesus Castillo Rangel. Ballí had held a towel soaked in [[chloroform]] over Rangel's face, causing him to lose consciousness; Ballí then transferred the body to an adjacent bathroom where he slit Rangel's throat and drained his body completely of blood before dismembering his corpse. Ballí is also suspected of killing and dismembering several [[hitchhiking|hitchhikers]] in the countryside during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Harris incorporated some of these details into [[Buffalo Bill (character)|Buffalo Bill]]'s development as a killer in [[The Silence of the Lambs (novel)|''The Silence of the Lambs'']].{{cite magazine |first=Diego Enrique |last=Osorno |url=https://www.vice.com/es/article/hannibal-lecter-es-de-monterrey/ |title=Hannibal Lecter es de Monterrey |magazine=[[Vice (magazine)|VICE]] |language=es |date=July 29, 2013 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-date=May 28, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250528204756/https://www.vice.com/es/article/hannibal-lecter-es-de-monterrey/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news|first=Umberto|last=Bacchi|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/495908/20130731/hannibal-lecter-gay-mexican-doctor-alfredo-ball.htm|title=Real Hannibal Lecter was Murderous Gay Mexican Doctor Alfredo Ballí Treviño|newspaper=[[International Business Times]]|date=July 31, 2013|access-date=July 22, 2018|archive-date=October 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019045109/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/495908/20130731/hannibal-lecter-gay-mexican-doctor-alfredo-ball.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first=Maria G.|last=Valdez|url=http://www.latintimes.com/articles/6867/20130730/real-hannibal-lecter-gay-mexican-doctor-alfredo-balli-trevino-inspiration-thomas-harris-silence-lambs-25-anniversary.htm|title=Who Was The Real Hannibal Lecter?|newspaper=[[Latin Times]]|date=July 30, 2013|access-date=July 22, 2018|archive-date=November 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130015446/http://www.latintimes.com/articles/6867/20130730/real-hannibal-lecter-gay-mexican-doctor-alfredo-balli-trevino-inspiration-thomas-harris-silence-lambs-25-anniversary.htm?|url-status=live}}

Salazar is believed to be Alfredo Ballí Treviño, the last criminal to be condemned to death in Mexico, in 1959. Ballí was a surgeon and physician from an upper-class family who had murdered his colleague and lover, Jesus Castillo Rangel. Ballí had held a towel soaked in chloroform over Rangel's face, causing him to lose consciousness; Ballí then transferred the body to an adjacent bathroom where he slit Rangel's throat and drained his body completely of blood before dismembering his corpse. Ballí is suspected of killing and dismembering several hitchhikers in the countryside during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Harris incorporated some of these details into [[Buffalo Bill (character)|Buffalo Bill]]'s development as a killer in [[The Silence of the Lambs (novel)|''The Silence of the Lambs'']].{{cite magazine |first=Diego Enrique |last=Osorno |url=https://www.vice.com/es/article/hannibal-lecter-es-de-monterrey/ |title=Hannibal Lecter es de Monterrey |magazine=[[Vice (magazine)|VICE]] |language=es |date=July 29, 2013 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-date=May 28, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250528204756/https://www.vice.com/es/article/hannibal-lecter-es-de-monterrey/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news|first=Umberto|last=Bacchi|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/495908/20130731/hannibal-lecter-gay-mexican-doctor-alfredo-ball.htm|title=Real Hannibal Lecter was Murderous Gay Mexican Doctor Alfredo Ballí Treviño|newspaper=[[International Business Times]]|date=July 31, 2013|access-date=July 22, 2018|archive-date=October 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019045109/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/495908/20130731/hannibal-lecter-gay-mexican-doctor-alfredo-ball.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first=Maria G.|last=Valdez|url=http://www.latintimes.com/articles/6867/20130730/real-hannibal-lecter-gay-mexican-doctor-alfredo-balli-trevino-inspiration-thomas-harris-silence-lambs-25-anniversary.htm|title=Who Was The Real Hannibal Lecter?|newspaper=[[Latin Times]]|date=July 30, 2013|access-date=July 22, 2018|archive-date=November 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130015446/http://www.latintimes.com/articles/6867/20130730/real-hannibal-lecter-gay-mexican-doctor-alfredo-balli-trevino-inspiration-thomas-harris-silence-lambs-25-anniversary.htm?|url-status=live}}

In her book ''Evil Serial Killers'', [[Charlotte Greig]] asserts Lecter was inspired at least in part by the serial killer [[Albert Fish]].{{cite book|first=Charlotte|last=Grieg|title=Evil Serial Killers: In the Minds of Monsters|publisher=Arcturus Publishing|location=London, England|date=2009|isbn=978-1841932897|page=27}} Greig also states that, to explain Lecter's pathology, Harris borrowed the possibly [[wikt:apocryphal|apocryphal]] story of serial killer and cannibal [[Andrei Chikatilo]]'s brother Stepan being kidnapped and eaten by starving neighbors.Grieg, pg. 102 The location of the book ''[[Hannibal (Harris novel)|Hannibal]]'' was inspired by the [[Monster of Florence]] and, while preparing the book, Harris traveled to [[Italy]] and was present at the trial of the main suspect, [[Pietro Pacciani]].{{cite web | first=Douglas | last=Preston | title=The Monster of Florence | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/07/the-monster-of-florence/304981/ | work=[[The Atlantic]] | date=July–August 2006 | access-date=March 26, 2017 | archive-date=June 1, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601101041/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/07/the-monster-of-florence/304981/ | url-status=live }}

In her book ''Evil Serial Killers'', [[Charlotte Greig]] asserts Lecter was inspired at least in part by the serial killer [[Albert Fish]].{{cite book|first=Charlotte|last=Grieg|title=Evil Serial Killers: In the Minds of Monsters|publisher=Arcturus Publishing|location=London, England|date=2009|isbn=978-1841932897|page=27}} Greig also states that, to explain Lecter's pathology, Harris borrowed the possibly [[wikt:apocryphal|apocryphal]] story of serial killer and cannibal [[Andrei Chikatilo]]'s brother Stepan being kidnapped and eaten by starving neighbors.Grieg, pg. 102 The location of the book ''[[Hannibal (Harris novel)|Hannibal]]'' was inspired by the [[Monster of Florence]] and, while preparing the book, Harris traveled to [[Italy]] and was present at the trial of the main suspect, [[Pietro Pacciani]].{{cite web | first=Douglas | last=Preston | title=The Monster of Florence | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/07/the-monster-of-florence/304981/ | work=[[The Atlantic]] | date=July–August 2006 | access-date=March 26, 2017 | archive-date=June 1, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601101041/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/07/the-monster-of-florence/304981/ | url-status=live }}