Charles Manson, Notorious Leader of Sharon Tate Murder, Passes Away at 83

The infamous figure behind the brutal killing spree in 1969 that claimed the life of actress Sharon Tate and six others, Charles Manson, has died at the age of 83, authorities have confirmed.

According to a statement from the California Department of Corrections, Manson died of natural causes at a hospital in Kern County.

He had been serving multiple life sentences at Corcoran State Prison in California after being convicted in January 1971 for his involvement in the murders.

TMZ was the first to report the news, stating that Debra Tate, Sharon's sister, had received a call from prison officials informing her of Manson's death.

Manson had captured Hollywood's attention, much like his followers or “family.”

One notable portrayal of him was by Steve Railsback in the CBS telefilm Helter Skelter, which aired over two nights in April 1976 and was based on the best-selling book co-written by Vincent Bugliosi, the prosecutor in Manson's trial.

The telefilm attracted an estimated 50 million-plus viewers, becoming a ratings sensation.

Before the murders, Manson had dreams of a music career in Los Angeles.

After learning to play the guitar while in prison, he befriended Terry Melcher, a producer for the Byrds and the son of actress Doris Day, as well as Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys.

The band even covered one of Manson's songs.

Manson recorded 13 folk songs for an album called Lie: The Love and Terror Cult, which was released independently in March 1970 to help fund his defense during the murder trial.

Originally a petty criminal with a history of imprisonment, Manson reinvented himself during the 1967 Summer of Love as a long-haired, messianic figure who quoted Bible verses and Beatles lyrics.

After attracting a group of followers, mostly young women, from San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, Manson brought them to the old Spahn Movie Ranch, which he had turned into a commune of s**, drugs, and music.

Located along the L.A.-Ventura county line, it became a place of infamy.

On August 9, 1969, Manson sent his followers to the residence at 10050 Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon, where Sharon Tate and her husband Roman Polanski were living.

Tate, who was eight-and-a-half months pregnant, was brutally stabbed 16 times, with an “X” carved into her stomach.

Polanski was in London at the time.

The shocking murders also claimed the lives of coffee heiress Abigail Folger, celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring, and two others.

The following night, Manson's followers went to the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca and killed them.

Authorities uncovered Manson's plan to incite a race war through the killings, influenced by his twisted interpretation of The Beatles' song “Helter Skelter.”

The brutal nature of the slayings shocked the nation.

Messages like “Pigs” and a misspelled “Healter Skelter” were scrawled on the walls and doors of the crime scenes using the victims' blood.

Leslie Van Houten, the youngest member of the original Manson Family, claimed that Manson brainwashed her and others through s**, LSD, Bible readings, repeated listening of The Beatles' White Album, and rambling lectures about sparking a revolution.

Steve Railsback, who portrayed Manson in Helter Skelter, initially turned down the role but reconsidered after receiving advice from esteemed director Elia Kazan.

Railsback decided against meeting Manson personally, opting instead to study Bugliosi's book and watch a documentary about him.

Manson's story continued to be depicted on screen in various productions, including the NBC series Aquarius, where he was played by Gethin Anthony, and the 2017 season of American Horror Story: Cult, with Evan Peters taking on the role.

Over time, Manson became a symbol of evil and was parodied by comedians such as Adam Sandler, Taran Killam, Bob Odenkirk, and Trey Parker, who voiced him on an episode of South Park in 1998.

During his time in Los Angeles, Manson befriended Beach Boys member Dennis Wilson and producer Terry Melcher.

Wilson allowed Manson to live in the home that he shared with actress Candice Bergen, but when Melcher informed his mother, Doris Day, about Manson's troubling behavior, she insisted that he move out.

Tate and Polanski later rented the same house.

In December 1968, The Beach Boys released “Never Learn Not to Love,” a song based on one written by Manson for his followers.

The single was the B-side to “Bluebirds Over the Mountain.”

Manson was reportedly angered by Wilson's alterations to the lyrics.

Manson's album Lie: The Love and Terror Cult featured a striking image of him on the cover, reminiscent of a photo that had been featured on the front of Life magazine months earlier.

Guns N' Roses also recorded a Manson song, “Look at Your Game, Girl,” as a hidden track on their 1993 album The Spaghetti Incident.

Other artists, including The Lemonheads and Crispin Glover, have covered Manson's work as well.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.