In 1987, actor Sean Penn was incarcerated for 60 days due to reckless driving and assaulting an extra on the set of the film "Colors." During his time in jail, a guard delivered a note to him from fellow inmate, Richard "The Night Stalker" Ramirez. The note asked Penn for his autograph. Penn responded with a note expressing his wish for Ramirez to be executed soon. Ramirez didn’t write back.
Back in 1987, Sean Penn was one of Hollywood's biggest young stars, though he was also gaining a reputation as a volatile hothead who often found himself on the wrong side of the law. His multiple arrests, including a recent 60-day jail stint for assaulting a photographer, had put him in the tabloid crosshairs.
Meanwhile, across town, Richard Ramirez sat rotting in a jail cell awaiting trial. Dubbed the "Night Stalker" by the media, Ramirez had terrorized Los Angeles for over a year, breaking into homes to rape, torture, and murder innocent people. His cruel and gruesome crime spree had left the city frightened and on edge.
At some point during their mutual incarceration, Ramirez dared to write to Penn asking for an autograph. Perhaps he hoped to bond with the bad boy actor over their mutual infamy. But Penn would have none of it. In response, he scribbled back a note wishing for Ramirez's swift execution.
Knowing Penn's fiery personality, his reaction was unsurprising. He had never been one to mince words or shy away from controversy. To Penn, Ramirez was the epitome of evil; a vicious predator undeserving of compassion. Signing an autograph for him was out of the question.
Penn's scathing reply highlights the vast gulf between the two men. One was a talented but reckless artist, the other a sadistic monster. Their brief intersection provides a fascinating glimpse into the worlds of fame and crime colliding in Los Angeles during that turbulent era. Though just a footnote in their very different stories, this odd episode remains a testament to Penn's no-holds-barred attitude in the face of true inhumanity.
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