Angelo Buono Jr.
A Los Angeles upholsterer who, with his cousin, terrorized the city in the late 1970s as one half of the notorious Hillside Stranglers.
1934–2002 (age 68)·American serial killer·Birthday: October 5·The Silent Generation
Biography
Angelo Buono Jr. presented a facade of normalcy in his Glendale upholstery shop, a stark contrast to the brutal reality of his private life. In 1977, he enlisted his younger cousin, Kenneth Bianchi, in a series of crimes that would paralyze Los Angeles with fear. Posing as police officers, the duo lured young women, often sex workers or runaways, to Buono’s home where they were subjected to torture, rape, and murder. Their victims were left discarded on hillsides around the city, leading the press to coin the name 'Hillside Strangler.' Buono’s arrogance and control over Bianchi defined the partnership, but it was Bianchi’s later arrest in Washington state that unraveled the operation. Facing the death penalty, Bianchi turned state's witness, leading to Buono’s arrest. His 1981 trial was one of the longest and costliest in California history, a grueling spectacle where Buono acted as his own attorney, often clashing with the judge. Ultimately convicted of nine murders, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole, dying in his cell, a figure defined by cruelty and a chilling lack of remorse.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Angelo was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Angelo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
Angelo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1947Became a teenager
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Turned 21
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1964Turned 30
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 40
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 60
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Died at 68
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
Key Achievements
- Convicted of nine counts of first-degree murder for his role in the Hillside Strangler killings.
- Subject of one of the longest and most expensive criminal trials in California history at the time.
- Successfully manipulated his cousin, Kenneth Bianchi, into participating in the serial murders.
Did You Know?
He ran an auto upholstery shop and was known to be a strict, controlling father to his sons.
During his marathon trial, he frequently acted as his own co-counsel, leading to numerous courtroom outbursts.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and died of a heart attack in prison.
The case heavily relied on the testimony of his cousin and partner, Kenneth Bianchi, who made a plea deal.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
