Silence of the Lambs Star Regrets Film's Transphobic Portrayal

Ted Levine, who played Buffalo Bill, acknowledges the movie's problematic depiction of transgender issues 35 years later.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Ted Levine, the actor who played the serial killer Buffalo Bill in the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs, has spoken out against the movie's transphobic elements 35 years later. Levine says he didn't intend to play the character as transgender, but recognizes that the film's portrayal of Buffalo Bill was problematic and harmful to the transgender community. He expresses regret over the film's unfortunate lines and vilification of transgender identity.

Why it matters

The Silence of the Lambs was a landmark film, but its depiction of the transgender community through the character of Buffalo Bill has long been criticized as transphobic. Levine's acknowledgment of the film's shortcomings and his own evolving understanding of transgender issues is significant, as it highlights how societal attitudes and awareness have shifted over the past three decades.

The details

In the 1991 film, Levine played Jame Gumb, also known as "Buffalo Bill," a serial killer who trapped and skinned young women to create a "woman suit." Some LGBTQ+ critics accused the film of transmisogyny, arguing that Buffalo Bill was a cruel caricature of a transgender woman. Levine maintains that he did not play the character as gay or transgender, but rather as a "f***ed-up heterosexual man." However, he acknowledges that the film's portrayal of transgender issues was "unfortunate" and "f***ing wrong." Levine says his own understanding has evolved over time through working with transgender individuals and learning more about the transgender community and the meaning of gender.

  • The Silence of the Lambs was released in 1991.
  • Levine's comments come 35 years after the film's release, in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

The players

Ted Levine

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

Hannibal Lecter

The character played by Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs, who states that Buffalo Bill is "not a real transsexual."

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What they’re saying

“I didn't play him as being gay or trans. I think he was just a f***ed-up heterosexual man. That's what I was doing.”

— Ted Levine, Actor (The Hollywood Reporter)

“There are certain aspects of the movie that don't hold up too well. We all know more, and I'm a lot wiser about transgender issues. There are some lines in that script and movie that are unfortunate.”

— Ted Levine, Actor (The Hollywood Reporter)

“[It's] just over time and having gotten aware and worked with trans folks, and understanding a bit more about the culture and the reality of the meaning of gender. It's unfortunate that the film vilified that, and it's f***ing wrong. And you can quote me on that.”

— Ted Levine, Actor (The Hollywood Reporter)

The takeaway

Levine's acknowledgment of the film's problematic portrayal of transgender issues, and his own evolving understanding, highlights how societal attitudes have shifted over the past three decades. While The Silence of the Lambs remains an iconic film, its depiction of the transgender community has been rightly criticized, and Levine's comments suggest a growing awareness and desire to address the harm caused by such representations.