Dead By Sunset
Encyclopedia
Dead By Sunset is a 1995 true crime
nonfiction book by author Ann Rule
. It is based on the 1986 Oregon
case of the murder of Cheryl Keeton
, who was found beaten to death inside her van on the Sunset Highway
and the later conviction of her estranged husband, Brad Cunningham. The book made The New York Times Best Seller list in 1996.
Later in 1995, NBC
aired a mini-series titled Dead By Sunset. It was based on the book and starred Annette O'Toole
as Keeton and Ken Olin
as Cunningham.
True crime
True crime is a non-fiction literary and film genre in which the author examines an actual crime and details the actions of real people.The crimes most commonly include murder, but true crime works have also touched on other legal cases. Depending on the writer, true crime can adhere strictly to...
nonfiction book by author Ann Rule
Ann Rule
Ann Rule is an American true crime writer.-Personal life:Ann Rule was born on October 22, 1935 in Lowell, Michigan to Chester R. "Stack" Stackhouse and Sophie Hansen. Her mother was a school teacher, specializing in developmentally disabled children and her father was a basketball, football and...
. It is based on the 1986 Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
case of the murder of Cheryl Keeton
Cheryl Keeton
Cheryl Keeton was a Portland, Oregon lawyer whose long bitter divorce from her husband, Brad Cunningham, and the famous trial that followed her 1986 murder inspired true crime writer, Ann Rule, to write her 1995 best seller, Dead By Sunset.-Film:Dead by Sunset was a made for television movie that...
, who was found beaten to death inside her van on the Sunset Highway
Sunset Highway (Oregon)
The Sunset Highway No. 47 , in the state of Oregon, is an official designation for the portion of U.S. Route 26 between its western terminus, south of Seaside, and the interchange with Interstate 405 in downtown Portland...
and the later conviction of her estranged husband, Brad Cunningham. The book made The New York Times Best Seller list in 1996.
Later in 1995, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
aired a mini-series titled Dead By Sunset. It was based on the book and starred Annette O'Toole
Annette O'Toole
Annette O'Toole is an American actress, dancer, and singer-songwriter. She is most recently known for portraying Martha Kent, the mother of Clark Kent on the television series Smallville.-Early life and career:...
as Keeton and Ken Olin
Ken Olin
Kenneth Edward "Ken" Olin is an American actor, director and producer. He is known for his starring role on the television series Thirtysomething, and most recently as Executive Producer, director, and recurring guest star of the television series Brothers & Sisters .-Career:As an actor, Olin...
as Cunningham.