The Paramount+ series Happy Face brings to life the harrowing true story of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson and his daughter, Melissa G. Moore.
The series, which premiered on March 20, explores the complex and deeply unsettling father-daughter relationship, shedding light on how Moore discovered her father’s dark past.
Dennis Quaid takes on the chilling role of Keith Hunter Jesperson, also known as the “Happy Face Killer.”
During an appearance on the TODAY show, Quaid revealed that he initially had no interest in portraying a serial killer. However, he was drawn to the project because of its unique perspective.
“What made me do this — it’s about the relationship between him and his daughter. It’s told from his daughter’s point of view.
They had a loving relationship. Then he got caught and she discovered her dad was this monster serial killer,” Quaid said during his interview.
Annaleigh Ashford stars as Melissa G. Moore, who, at the age of 15, discovered her father’s horrifying secret.
Moore chronicled her experience in her 2009 memoir, Shattered Silence: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer’s Daughter. The series also draws inspiration from I, the Creation of a Serial Killer by Jack Olsen, which features interviews with Jesperson.
Who Was the Happy Face Killer?
Keith Hunter Jesperson, now 69, became known as the “Happy Face Killer” due to the smiley faces he drew on letters sent to media outlets and police, confessing to his crimes.
