Who was Scott Scurlock from How to Rob a Bank? Meet the criminal from Netflix’s true crime documentary

IT’S 1990s Seattle and the world’s best bank robber has it all – looks, charm, and an ability to disappear.

But how Scott Scurlock AKA the Hollywood Bandit’s reign of crime came to an abrupt end is being explored in the Netflix’s documentary How to Rob a Bank.

Netflix

Netflix

Who was Scott Scurlock?

Born in Virginia, United States on March 5, 1955, Scott Scurlock was the son of a minister.

However, despite his religious roots he went on to be nicknamed the Hollywood Bandit (or Hollywood) after committing a series of bank robberies.

He committed his heists in the Seattle area during the 1990s and used Hollywood movie makeup and disguises.

It was later revealed how Scurlock was inspired to carry out his bank robberies by the 1991 movie Point Break, starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves.

What did Scott Scurlock do?

During his crime spree, Scurlock – who bore a striking resemblance to Mel Gibson– successfully robbed 17 banks between 1992 and 1996.

It is claimed that he stole around $2M, which is around $4M in 2024 (£3M).

Scurlock’s first robbery happened on June 25, 1992 at the Seafirst Bank in the city’s Madison Park neighborhood, alongside accomplice Mark Biggins.

During his heists, he would way prosthetic make-up to disguise himself.

He was often seen waving a handgun, however no one was ever hurt during his robberies.

Scurlock would often return to that original bank alone and rob it again, but in a different disguise.

However, his last attempt to rob a bank ended in a police shootout with the Hollywood Bandit escaping the scene.

His two accomplices – Paul Meyers and Mark Biggins – were captured and one gave Scurlock up.

Scurlock eventually died on November 28, 1996, when he shot himself in the head as FBI agents waited outside a trailer to arrest him.

He wasn’t a rough-type personality. He was very well-mannered. He was an interesting guy.

Scurlock's lawyer Shawn Newman

The Seattle Times reported at the time how his friends were left shocked at his crime spree.

Scurlock’s lawyer Shawn Newman said: “He wasn’t a rough-type personality.

“He was very well-mannered. He was an interesting guy.

“If you were to see him on the street, even if he hadn’t shaved for a couple of days, he still looked good.

“He was very physically fit.”

Netflix

How to watch How to Rob a Bank

Netflix’s new documentary How to Rob a Bank includes interviews with Scurlock’s friends and accomplices.

Viewers will also hear from journalists who reported on the story as it unfolded at the time, and the police who tried to capture Scurlock.

You can watch this powerful documentary right now on Netflix.