Is ‘The Beast in Me’ a True Story? All About the Robert Durst Theory

The Beast in Me may be fictional, but the twisty Netflix miniseries reminded many viewers of a real-life real estate heir who almost got away with murder.

In 1982, Robert Durst, a member of a prominent New York real estate family, became the prime suspect in the disappearance of his wife, Kathleen “Kathie” McCormack. Though he evaded police for years, he was eventually charged with murdering his 71-year-old neighbor, Morris Black, in 2001 while living undercover as a mute woman.

A jury acquitted him of the homicide in 2003, believing his claim that he killed Black in self-defense. He was, however, sentenced to five years for bond jumping and evidence tampering.

Over a decade later, the former mogul seemingly confessed to Black and McCormack’s murders as well as the 2000 murder of his friend Susan Berman in the 2015 HBO docuseries The Jinx. Durst was convicted of killing Berman in 2021 and was charged with McCormack’s murder later that year.

He died in prison in 2022 at the age of 78, and his late wife’s body was never found.

Though the cast and creators haven’t confirmed any direct link to Durst, viewers have noted the similarities between his story and the show’s plot. The Beast in Me followed Claire Danes as an author determined to expose the truth about a wealthy real estate mogul played by Matthew Rhys, who becomes the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance.

So, is The Beast in Me based on a true story? Here’s everything to know about the inspiration behind the Netflix thriller and why fans have linked it to Robert Durst.

Is The Beast in Me based on a true story?

No, The Beast in Me is not officially based on a true story. Though showrunner Howard Gordon alluded in a November 2025 interview with Town & Country that some characters were inspired by real-life people, he refrained from naming names.

“Our characters are living in the same world we all are, so comparisons won’t be lost on anyone who is paying attention,” he said, noting that all the characters, including Rhys’ Nile Jarvis, had “archetypal, universal aspects” that were “specifically drawn.”

“We were inspired by… I’ll refrain from saying who, but characters who we think about in a shorthand way,” Gordon explained. “It’s an adjacent truth. Without being saddled with the weight of facts, you get to tell a story that’s adjacent to reality.”

Is Nile Jarvis based on Robert Durst?

Though fans have noted the similarities between The Beast in Me antagonist and Durst — specifically that they’re both real estate heirs and suspects in their spouses’ mysterious disappearances — no one has confirmed that Rhys’ character was based on the convicted murderer.

“A large amount of invention, heavy lifting, and elbow grease went into creating the character [of Nile Jarvis] because he is a character,” Gordon told Town & Country. “We could talk about whatever traumas he might have suffered, but he’s a sociopath and sociopaths are challenging to write … They can come across as mustache twirling [if you don’t] find the rhythm of this guy, who can be at turns charming and bombastic and then suddenly fall silent.”

Rhys also confirmed to PEOPLE in November 2025 that his character was based on “no one in particular.”

What happens to Jarvis in The Beast in Me?

Throughout The Beast in Me, viewers watched writer and grieving mother Aggie Wiggs (Danes) grow increasingly wary of her new neighbor, Nile Jarvis. Her suspicions deepen when Teddy Fenig (Bubba Weiler), the teenage driver who killed her son in a drunk driving crash, goes missing shortly after she confides in the disgraced businessman about the tragedy.

Teddy’s disappearance, eerily similar to the disappearance of Nile’s first wife, Madison (Leila George), prompts Aggie to start working with the FBI. After she finds proof that Nile is the murderer, Nile murders the agent aiding her and reads the text alerting him to her discovery.

The writer later arrives home to discover that not only has Nile read the manuscript for her book about him, but that he’s also framed her for Teddy’s murder. Before the police arrest her, she begs his pregnant wife, Nina (Brittany Snow), to expose him before it’s too late. Nina later confronts Nile, who confesses to both murders.

In the series’ final moments, Nile, believing he’s gotten away with the crime again, is arrested during a press conference for his development project. Nina had recorded his confession, which cleared Aggie’s name.

Viewers learn that while her book went on to be a success, Nile suffered a much darker fate and was stabbed to death in prison in a revenge plot orchestrated by his uncle, Rick (Tim Guinee).

Where can I watch The Beast in Me?

All eight episodes of The Beast in Me are available to stream on Netflix.