George Spahn

George Christian Spahn (February 11, 1889 – September 22, 1974) was an American rancher who once owned the Spahn Ranch near Chatsworth, Los Angeles. Spahn rented the ranch to the movie industry to film Westerns, and later allowed Charles Manson and his "Family" of followers to live at the site.

Spahn is chiefly remembered for his association with the Manson Family, due to his tolerance of the Manson group's residence on his property. At the ranch, Spahn housed Charles Manson and his followers in the late 1960s. The 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others by Manson's devotees were allegedly hatched at the Spahn Ranch.

Manson persuaded Spahn to permit "the Family" to live at his ranch. Manson ordered the women in the group to have sex with the then nearly blind 80-year-old. The women also acted as seeing eye guides for Spahn. Spahn nicknamed all the Manson girls, including Squeaky, Sadie Mae, and Ouisch. According to Manson Family member Paul Watkins, Mansonite Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme got her nickname because of the sound she made when Spahn ran his hand up her thigh. Family member Charles Watson has written that his own nickname, "Tex", was given to him by Spahn, who recognized his Texas accent.

Spahn lived five years after the murders. He was married to a woman named Martha Greenholts, and lived in North Hollywood. He was eventually admitted to the Sherwood Convalescent Hospital in Van Nuys, where he died on September 22, 1974, at the age of 85. He was buried in Eternal Valley Memorial Park in nearby Newhall. In September 1970, the Spahn Ranch, along with much of Chatsworth, burned down in a major brushfire.

In Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Spahn was portrayed by Bruce Dern. Burt Reynolds was initially cast as Spahn, but died in September 2018, a couple of weeks before shooting was slated to begin. In the 2018 film Charlie Says, Spahn is portrayed by John Gowans.