The Real-Life Inspiration: Ed Gein
The character was influenced by Ed Gein, an American murderer active in the 1950s. Gein was convicted of killing at least two women and was found to have made trophies and keepsakes from human remains. For more details, see the Ed Gein Wikipedia entry.
How Much of the Story Is True?
While Gein’s crimes inspired elements of the character, the plot, setting, and most events are fictional. The films use his notoriety as a foundation, but they do not depict actual events or specific victims from Gein’s case.
