Anthony Kiritsis
Acting
Biography
Anthony George 'Tony' Kiritsis (August 13, 1932 – January 28, 2005) was an American kidnapper. A resident of Indianapolis, Kiritsis had obtained a piece of land for commercial development with a mortgage from Meridian Mortgage but fell behind in making payments. His mortgage broker, Richard O. Hall, refused additional time for payment, so in February 1977, Kiritsis held Hall hostage at gun point demanding 'justice', in an event that was widely followed by the local and national media. Kiritsis released Hall, who lived until 2022. Then he fired the shotgun into the air to prove it had been loaded. He was immediately arrested, and was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was released from a mental institution in January 1988 after the state was unable prove he was still a danger to society, and moved to Speedway. After some time, he returned to Indianapolis, where he died of natural causes on January 28, 2005. The event was adapted into Gus Van Sant's 2025 film Dead Man's Wire, with Bill Skarsgård as Kiritsis.
Known For
In 1977, former real estate developer Tony Kiritsis puts a dead man's switch on himself and the mortgage banker who did him wrong, demanding $5 million and a personal apology.
Dead Man's Wire
A documentary of the decline of America, composed of archival material and exclusive footage, carnage, madness, and mayhem with an unapologetic sincerity on the factual depiction of violence in the industrialized nation of the United States. Featuring a juxtaposition of detailed accounts of terrible acts, brutal behavior, and interviews from experts and convicted killers alike.
The Killing of America
On the morning of February 8, 1977, Tony Kiritsis walked into an office on East Market Street and wired a shotgun to mortgage broker Richard Hall’s head. After making a 40-minute 911 call that ran the emotional gamut from polite respect to seething rants and tearful breakdowns, Kiritsis then paraded Hall along the streets of downtown Indianapolis followed by a cadre of police and media who were unable to do anything other than watch the event unfold. Kiritsis went on to hold Hall captive for three days as SWAT snipers, the bomb squad, and FBI looked for a way to disarm him without Hall being shot. The crisis culminated in a shocking press conference broadcast live on TV