Former Honorary Mayor Steve Guttenberg to Star in Lifetime Film

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Former Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades and longtime Palisadian Steve Guttenberg will star in a new Lifetime film: “Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story.”

Based on a true story, Heather, who was raised in Illinois, had reportedly known that she had been adopted as an infant and grew up in a loving family. But in 2000, the then-15-year-old discovered the man she knew as her uncle—John Edward Robinson—was a serial killer, “accused of murdering multiple women in the Kansas City area, including her biological mother,” according to ABC News.

“After her uncle’s arrest, the true story of Heather Robinson’s adoption began to unravel,” ABC News reported in 2019.

Guttenberg will be depicting convicted serial killer John Edward Robinson in the upcoming film.

“Creating the character of John Robinson on screen required my attention to the darker side of humanity,” Guttenberg said to the Palisadian-Post. “It was an exciting role to play, as these aberrant personalities are psychologically fascinating and an actor has to pay attention to the details. As Robinson has affected many lives, I am respectful of those people who have to live with his actions. The story is compelling.”

Rachel Stubington (“Shrinking”) will join Guttenberg in the film, taking on the role of Heather. Jana Kramer (“One Tree Hill”) will portray an investigator working on the case, according to IMDb. Additional cast members include Ross Crain, Sarah Hudson, Rose Decker and Jackie Sanders.

Directed by Lee Gabiana, “Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story” is produced by Marwar Junction Productions and Allegheny Image Factory. Executive producers include Joseph Freed and Allison Berkley of Marwar Junction Productions, Jeffrey Tinnell and Robert Tinnell of Allegheny Image Factory, Melissa G. Moore of Redletter Media, and Maritte Lee Go.

Guttenberg—who served as honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades from 2002 to 2006—is an actor, author, businessman and producer. He made his acting debut in “The Boys From Brazil,” and is well known for roles in films from the 1980s and ’90s, “Cocoon,” “Police Academy,” “Three Men and a Baby,” “Diner,” “The Big Green” and more.

In 2023, he wrote and starred in an autobiographical comedic play—sharing his life story in “Tales from the Guttenberg Bible,” which held a several-week run in New York. He also wrote “Time to Thank: Caregiving for My Hero” about his time as a caretaker for his father, who was diagnosed with kidney failure.

“Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story” is slated to premiere on Saturday, June 7.