The Chilling True Story: What Happened To Cheryl Bradshaw Today After Her Lucky Escape From A Serial Killer?

The name Cheryl Bradshaw has surged back into the public consciousness, not for a new acting role, but because of a chilling, decades-old true story that became the basis for the 2023 Netflix film *Woman of the Hour*. Her life, defined by a single, terrifying encounter on a 1978 episode of *The Dating Game*, is a powerful testament to trusting one's instinct, an instinct that saved her from one of America's most prolific serial killers. As of December 2025, public curiosity about her current whereabouts is at an all-time high following the film's release, prompting a look at the real woman behind the harrowing true crime drama. The most recent and critical update on the real Cheryl Bradshaw—the bachelorette who appeared on *The Dating Game*—is that she sadly passed away before the production of the Netflix film *Woman of the Hour* began. While she is no longer with us, her story of a near-fatal encounter with serial killer Rodney Alcala continues to serve as a profound cautionary tale. Her life after the infamous 1978 television appearance was one of deliberate privacy, as she chose to step away from the spotlight and Hollywood to raise a family.

The Real Cheryl Bradshaw: Biography and The Infamous 1978 Incident

The woman who unknowingly faced a serial killer on national television was an aspiring actress and drama teacher living in Los Angeles in 1978. Her appearance on the popular game show *The Dating Game* was meant to be a fun, lighthearted step toward a potential career boost, but it became a life-altering moment of dread.

Cheryl Bradshaw's Biographical Profile

• Full Name: Cheryl Bradshaw
• Primary Occupation (1978): Aspiring Actress and Drama Teacher
• Infamous Appearance: *The Dating Game*, September 13, 1978
• The Bachelor: Rodney Alcala (Bachelor No. 1)
• The Outcome: She chose Alcala but canceled the date immediately afterward.
• Post-1978 Life: Left California to live a private life and raise a family.
• Current Status (as of 2025): Passed away prior to the production of the 2023 film, *Woman of the Hour*.

The Fateful Day on The Dating Game

On September 13, 1978, Cheryl Bradshaw was the bachelorette tasked with choosing one of three hidden bachelors based solely on their voices and answers to her questions. Unbeknownst to her, one of the men, Bachelor No. 1, was Rodney Alcala—a man who was actively in the middle of a murder spree. Alcala, a convicted sex offender who had previously served time, presented himself as a photographer and a charming, if slightly eccentric, contestant. His chilling answers included a response to a question about what he was called in his bedroom: "They call me the 'sensuous psychiatrist.'" Despite his unnerving persona, Bradshaw ultimately chose him, winning a date to a romantic dinner and a day at Knott's Berry Farm.

A Gut Feeling That Saved a Life

The true turning point in Cheryl Bradshaw's story—and the reason her tale resonates so deeply—was her immediate decision to cancel the date. After the cameras stopped rolling, she met Rodney Alcala face-to-face and felt an overwhelming sense of unease.

"I started to feel ill," Bradshaw reportedly told the show's host, Jim Lange, after meeting Alcala. Her intuition was screaming. She found him "creepy" and unsettling, and she refused to go on the date. This simple, yet profound, act of trusting her gut saved her life, as Alcala was later confirmed to be one of the most prolific serial killers in American history, responsible for the deaths of at least seven people, though the true number is believed to be much higher.

The Aftermath: A Life in Privacy

The revelation of Rodney Alcala's true nature—his arrest for the 1979 murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe and his subsequent conviction for multiple other murders—sent shockwaves through the country and certainly through Cheryl Bradshaw's life. Instead of capitalizing on her narrow escape, Bradshaw chose to retreat from the public eye. Her decision to leave the aspiring actor life in California and move away to raise a family was a conscious choice to seek safety, normalcy, and a quiet existence, a move detailed in the end credits of *Woman of the Hour*. Her desire for anonymity was so strong that little was known about her life for decades, a testament to her commitment to a private life free from the chilling connection to the "Dating Game Killer."

The Resurgence of Her Story: Woman of the Hour (2023)

The renewed interest in Cheryl Bradshaw is almost entirely due to the 2023 Netflix film *Woman of the Hour*, which fictionalizes her experience. The movie, directed by Anna Kendrick (who also stars as a character based on Bradshaw), brought the terrifying tale to a new generation. The film serves as a powerful reminder of how easily evil can mask itself and the importance of listening to inner warnings. It meticulously recreates the 1978 game show setting and the unsettling dialogue between Bradshaw and Alcala, solidifying her place in true crime history as the woman who got away.

Topical Authority: The Other Cheryl Bradshaw

For the sake of topical clarity, it is important to note that the name "Cheryl Bradshaw" also belongs to a highly successful contemporary author. This separate individual is a *New York Times* and *USA Today* bestselling writer specializing in mystery, thriller, and romantic suspense novels, including the "Georgiana Germaine" series. She was raised in California but now lives in Wyoming. This professional author is not the same woman who appeared on *The Dating Game* in 1978. The author's work often features themes of disappearance and true crime, which can sometimes lead to confusion with the *Dating Game* story.

Cheryl Bradshaw's Lasting Legacy

While the real Cheryl Bradshaw is no longer alive, her legacy endures not as a victim, but as a survivor whose quick thinking and powerful intuition prevented a tragedy. Her story, preserved in true crime documentaries, books, and now a major motion picture, continues to inspire people to trust their instincts, especially when something feels fundamentally wrong. The quiet life she built after her escape is a final, powerful statement about choosing peace and family over the fleeting fame of a terrifying brush with death. She remains a symbol of survival and the inherent strength of the human spirit.