Psycho Star Anthony Perkins' Tragic Life Revealed in New Netflix Series

In 2025, a new Netflix series titled Monster: The Ed Gein Story is shedding light on the life of Anthony Perkins, the actor who famously portrayed the twisted Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Perkins, who passed away in 1992 at the age of 60 from AIDS-related complications, is being brought to life on screen by actor Joey Pollari.

The series not only explores the connection between Perkins' iconic Bates character and the real-life crimes of murderer Ed Gein, but it also delves into the emotional toll that playing the role took on Perkins' personal life. According to the series, Perkins had homosexual relationships throughout his life, a fact that his wife, photographer Berry Berenson, shielded from their two sons during their childhood.

Perkins' son, Osgood Perkins, has since spoken about his father's sexuality, saying, "My father was an actor who had sort of a private life that was not acceptable in the mainstream, whether you want to call him a gay man or a bisexual man, whatever moniker we want to put on that." Perkins himself never publicly discussed his sexuality, but his alleged relationship with fellow actor Tab Hunter in the 1950s was later revealed in Hunter's memoir.

Despite the personal struggles Perkins faced, his legacy as the chilling Norman Bates continues to endure. The new Netflix series serves as a poignant reminder of the impact Perkins had on the horror genre and the personal sacrifices he made to bring one of cinema's most iconic characters to life.