What Was John Wayne Gacy's Childhood Really Like?

John Wayne Gacy was born on March 17, 1942, in Chicago and was named by his father after the famous actor John Wayne, whose name still evokes thoughts of old-school machismo to this day. As documented by A&E TV, the boy's father, John Stanley Gacy, quickly realized that his son wasn't anywhere near the tough guy his namesake was in the movies, reacting by calling him names such as "sissy" and physically abusing him on occasion. It didn't help that the younger Gacy was a pudgy, unathletic boy who was much closer to his mother.

In an interview with CBS, Gacy seemed to blame his later actions on his difficult childhood at home. However, he also admitted that he always maintained his love and respect for his father and never fought back when he was being abused.

"My dad was domineering. He had a different set of values, but also a very stern individual. My dad drank a lot, and when he drank a lot, he was abusive to my mother and to me," he explained. "But I never swung at my dad, because I loved him for what he stood for."