Homicide Los Angeles: Who is Phil Spector and what happened to him?

Homicide: Los Angeles is the latest true crime series to be released on Netflix, exploring some of the most notorious offences in LA's history - and prompting viewers to ask 'who is Phil Spector?'

While it might be known as The City of Angels, the docuseries delves into the darker side of the city across five episodes. A follow-up to Homicide: New York, each episode focuses on a different crime, with insights from those closest to the case.

The debut episode, Hunting Phil Spector, explores the lengthy trial of the former record producer after he was accused of murdering actress Lana Clarkson. With a mistrial and conviction that was years in the making, viewers are keen to learn more about the man behind one of LA’s most infamous crimes.

Who is Phil Spector? 

Phil Spector was an influential music producer before being convicted of murdering 40-year-old Lana Clarkson. Despite his humble upbringing in the Bronx and lack of training, Spector helped create music that defined a generation, like Let It Be by The Beatles. 

Spector also had a knack for finding emerging talent in emerging talent, including Tina Turner and The Ronettes. Though he was widely respected within the industry, the music producer’s behaviour became increasingly erratic over the years. Spector is said also to have threatened multiple artists in the recording studio, reportedly brandishing his gun at John Lennon and Leonard Cohen in separate incidents.

Tragically, these reports were largely ignored before the murder of Lana Clarkson.

On the night of Lana's murder, the struggling actress had been working at the bar House of Blues on Sunset Strip – where she first met Spector.

Having struck up a conversation with the Spector, she later left the music venue with him and went to his mansion in Alhambra, dubbed the ‘Pyrenees Castle’. Hours later, a gunshot would ring out at the address.

During the ensuing trial, multiple women came forward with testimonies about Spector’s violent nature. Many of these altercations occurred at his home, with the music producer often threatening women with his gun and coercing them into sexual acts.

Even with this evidence, the jury failed to make a unanimous decision and this resulted in a mistrial. Five years later, Spector would be convicted of murder in 2009 and sentenced to 19 years in prison.

What happened to Phil Spector?

Phil Spector died in 2021, at the age of 81 and his death was attributed to complications from COVID-19. Prior to this, he had been an inmate at the California Health Care Facility after being convicted for the murder of Lana Clarkson in 2003. 

Homicide: Los Angeles is now available to stream on Netflix.