5 Chilling Facts About Cheryl Bradshaw And 'The Dating Game Killer' Rodney Alcala

The true crime story of Cheryl Bradshaw and Rodney Alcala remains one of the most chilling near-misses in television history. In late 2024, the decades-old nightmare of a game show contestant unknowingly choosing a prolific serial killer became fresh public discourse again with the release of the Netflix film, Woman of the Hour. This article delves into the horrifying details of the 1978 encounter on *The Dating Game* and the subsequent revelations that would forever link the aspiring actress to one of America’s most notorious convicted sex offenders and murderers, Rodney James Alcala, also known as "The Dating Game Killer."

The terrifying reality is that Bradshaw’s intuition saved her life, a split-second decision that prevented her from becoming another victim in Alcala’s extensive, decades-long killing spree. The case serves as a stark reminder of the masks worn by predators and the insidious way evil can hide in plain sight.

The Serial Killer's Profile: Rodney James Alcala’s Full Biography

Rodney James Alcala, born Rodrigo Jacques Alcala Buquor, was an American serial killer, rapist, and convicted sex offender. His crimes spanned from the 1970s until his eventual capture, leading to a complex and drawn-out legal battle that made him infamous.

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• Full Name: Rodney James Alcala (Born: Rodrigo Jacques Alcala Buquor)
• Aliases: John Berger, John Burger, "The Dating Game Killer"
• Date of Birth: August 23, 1943
• Date of Death: July 24, 2021 (Died of natural causes at age 77)
• Place of Death: California State Prison, Corcoran, California
• Education: Graduated from UCLA with a degree in Fine Arts; studied film at New York University.
• Confirmed Victims: Convicted of the murders of at least seven people, including 12-year-old Robin Samsoe (1979) and four other women in California—Jill Barcomb (1977), Georgia Wixted (1977), Charlotte Lamb (1978), and Jill Parenteau (1979)—as well as two New York victims, Ellen Hover and Cornelia Crilley.
• Estimated Victims: Investigators believe Alcala’s true victim count could be as high as 130, based on hundreds of photographs of women and girls found in his Seattle storage locker.
• Prior Offenses: In 1968, he was arrested for the brutal assault and rape of 8-year-old Tali Shapiro, a crime for which he served a short sentence before being released and continuing his killing spree.
• Conviction Status: Sentenced to death in California in 2010 for five murders. He was later indicted for the 1971 murders of Cornelia Crilley and Ellen Hover in New York.

The Infamous 1978 Appearance on 'The Dating Game'

In September 1978, Rodney Alcala, who was actively committing murders, appeared as a contestant on the popular television show *The Dating Game*. He was introduced as "Bachelor Number One," a successful photographer from New York. His appearance was a chilling example of the confidence and brazenness of a serial predator operating in the public eye.

1. Cheryl Bradshaw’s Unsettling Choice

Cheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress and drama teacher, was the bachelorette on the episode. She was tasked with choosing one of three bachelors based solely on their voices and their witty, often suggestive, answers to her questions. Alcala, using his charm and a smooth, confident delivery, managed to win her over.

When asked what he was called "a love machine" for, Alcala responded with a joke about being a "love machine" and also a "fun machine" and a "sex machine." His answers were viewed as playful and suggestive by the studio audience and Bradshaw herself, who ultimately chose him for the grand prize: a tennis lesson and a day trip to "Magic Mountain."

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2. The Immediate, Life-Saving Red Flag

The most critical moment in the entire saga was not on camera, but backstage. After the taping, Cheryl Bradshaw met Alcala in person. Her initial excitement quickly turned into an overwhelming sense of dread. She later recounted that she found Alcala to be "creepy" and "odd."

His demeanor changed drastically once the cameras were off. Alcala, who had been charming and witty on stage, appeared to have a dark, unsettling energy. Bradshaw made a snap decision that saved her life: she refused to go on the date. She reportedly told the show’s producers that she didn't want to see him again, effectively canceling the prize trip. This act of following her gut instinct prevented her from being alone with one of the most dangerous men in American history.

The Aftermath: How Alcala Was Finally Unmasked

Alcala's appearance on *The Dating Game* occurred just one year before the murder that would eventually lead to his capture: the kidnapping, rape, and murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe in 1979.

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3. The Crucial Sketch and Samsoe's Murder

Following Robin Samsoe’s disappearance, a witness provided a description of a man seen with the girl. A police artist's sketch of the suspect bore a striking resemblance to Rodney Alcala. When police circulated the sketch, a parole officer recognized Alcala, who had a previous conviction for the assault of Tali Shapiro.

Alcala was arrested, and a search of his mother’s home led to the discovery of Robin Samsoe’s earrings. This piece of evidence was crucial in securing his initial conviction, though it was overturned multiple times on appeal, leading to a complex series of retrials.

4. The Haunting Photo Collection

In 2010, after Alcala was finally convicted for the murders of Samsoe and four other women, police released over 100 photographs of women and young girls found in Alcala's storage locker in Seattle. The chilling collection, which included both posed and candid shots, was a desperate attempt by authorities to identify potential additional victims.

The release of these photographs, which became a national news story, confirmed the true scope of Alcala’s potential crimes and cemented his reputation as a prolific serial killer. Several families came forward to identify loved ones, linking Alcala to cold cases across the country.

5. Cheryl Bradshaw Today: A Private Life and Public Story

Following her terrifying close call, Cheryl Bradshaw largely retreated from the public eye. The experience of unknowingly choosing a serial killer had a profound and lasting impact on her life. She avoided the media spotlight, preferring to maintain her privacy as the decades passed.

The recent interest in her story stems from the 2024 Netflix film, Woman of the Hour, which stars Anna Kendrick and is based on Bradshaw's experience. The film, which highlights the importance of trusting female intuition, has brought the story back into the cultural conversation. While Bradshaw herself remains private, the movie serves as a powerful tribute to her instinct and a cautionary tale about the dark side of human nature. Her survival story is a testament to the power of a woman's gut feeling in a moment of extreme danger.

Rodney Alcala's Death and Finality

Rodney Alcala died of natural causes on July 24, 2021, while awaiting execution on California's death row. His death brought a definitive end to his legal battles, but it did not bring closure to the many families whose loved ones remain missing or whose cases were never definitively linked to him.

Despite his death, the investigation into the hundreds of photographs found in his possession continues, as law enforcement agencies across multiple states work to identify all his potential victims. The case of "The Dating Game Killer" remains a disturbing chapter in American true crime, forever intertwined with the name Cheryl Bradshaw—the woman who dodged a deadly fate.