'Silence of the Lambs' Star Ted Levine Denounces His Legendary Villain Role After Transgender Criticism

Levine admits the portrayal of Buffalo Bill 'vilified' the transgender community, calling it 'f---ing wrong' 35 years after the film's release.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Ted Levine, who played the serial killer Buffalo Bill in the 1991 film 'Silence of the Lambs', has spoken out about the criticism the character has received over the years from the transgender community. Levine acknowledged that the portrayal 'vilified' transgender people and said it was 'f---ing wrong', though he maintained he did not play the character as gay or transgender. The film's producing partner also expressed regret over not being more sensitive to the harmful stereotypes perpetuated by the character.

Why it matters

The criticism of the Buffalo Bill character highlights the lasting impact that media portrayals can have on marginalized communities, even decades after a film's release. Levine's acknowledgment of the harm caused and the producers' regret reflect a growing awareness of the need for more thoughtful and inclusive representation in entertainment.

The details

In the film, Levine played Buffalo Bill, a serial killer who murdered women in order to harvest their skin to wear. While the character's sexual orientation was not explicitly stated, he was perceived by many as transgender or gender-nonconforming. Over the years, this portrayal has been criticized by the transgender community as harmful and perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Levine now says he 'didn't play him as being gay or trans' and that Buffalo Bill was just a 'f----d-up heterosexual man', but acknowledges the film 'vilified' transgender people, which he calls 'f---ing wrong'.

  • Silence of the Lambs was released on Valentine's Day in 1991.
  • Levine's comments were made in an interview published on February 15, 2026, 35 years after the film's release.

The players

Ted Levine

The actor who played the serial killer character Buffalo Bill in the 1991 film Silence of the Lambs.

Hannibal Lecter

The cannibalistic serial killer character played by Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, who is consulted by FBI trainee Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster, to help capture Buffalo Bill.

Jonathan Demme

The director of Silence of the Lambs.

Edward Saxon

The producing partner of Jonathan Demme on Silence of the Lambs.

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What they’re saying

“There are certain aspects of the movie that don't hold up too well.”

— Ted Levine (The Hollywood Reporter)

“It's unfortunate that the film vilified that, and it's f------g wrong. And you can quote me on that.”

— Ted Levine (The Hollywood Reporter)

“We were really loyal to the book. As we made the film, there was just no question in our minds that Buffalo Bill was a completely aberrant personality — that he wasn't gay or trans.”

— Edward Saxon, Producing partner of Jonathan Demme (The Hollywood Reporter)

“There's regret, but it didn't come from any place of malice. It actually came from a place of seeing this guy. We all had dear friends and family who were gay. We thought it would just be very clear that Buffalo Bill adapts different things from society, from a place of an incredibly sick pathology.”

— Edward Saxon, Producing partner of Jonathan Demme (The Hollywood Reporter)

The takeaway

This case highlights the lasting impact that media portrayals can have on marginalized communities, even decades after a film's release. Levine's acknowledgment of the harm caused and the producers' regret reflect a growing awareness of the need for more thoughtful and inclusive representation in entertainment.