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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.

He murdered at least eight women between 1990 and 1995, though he has claimed responsibility for as many as 160 murders.

His confirmed victims include Cynthia Lyn Rose, Patricia Skiple, Suzanne Kjellenberg, Laurie Ann Pentland, Angela May Subrize, and an unidentified woman he called "Claudia." His last known victim was his girlfriend, Julie Winningham, whom he murdered in 1995. Shortly after, he turned himself in.

Jesperson used strangulation as his method of killing, and his crimes spanned multiple states, including California, Florida, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

In 2024, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office in California sought public assistance in identifying one of Jesperson’s victims, whom he admitted to killing in 1992. The victim remains unidentified.

Currently, Jesperson is serving four consecutive life sentences at Oregon State Penitentiary. In January 2025, his book Happy Face: A Family of Monsters (Straight from a Serial Killer) was published, providing what it claims to be “unparalleled access to a serial killer’s mind.”

The Life of a Serial Killer’s Daughter

After publicly sharing her story, Moore dedicated herself to supporting families affected by violent crimes. She has received hundreds of messages from relatives of other serial killers, thanking her for speaking out and seeking her guidance.