AI Summary

Hannibal Lecter, created by Thomas Harris, first appeared in the 1981 novel *Red Dragon* and later in *The Silence of the Lambs*, *Hannibal*, and *Hannibal Rising*. The character is a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer known for refined manners, intelligence, and a taste for human flesh. Lecter’s first screen portrayal was in Michael Mann’s 1986 film *Manhunter*, an adaptation of *Red Dragon* that offered a different interpretation of the character. *The Silence of the Lambs* became a landmark psychological horror, winning major Academy Awards and cementing Lecter as one of cinema’s most iconic villains. Subsequent adaptations explored his formative years and his complex relationship with criminal profiler Will Graham.

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