A Detective Races Against Time as a Killer’s Fading Memory Holds the Key
2026
Action, Crime
10 episodes
TheNextHint Score
8.2
8.2 / 10
Overview
Memory of a Killer centers on Angelo Doyle, a professional hitman who has created a peaceful family existence around a perilous secret. During the day, he comes across as a typical photocopier salesman and father living in upstate New York. Beneath that facade, he operates as a highly skilled assassin tied to organized crime. His meticulously separated lives grow increasingly difficult to manage once he develops early-onset Alzheimer's and starts having trouble with his memory. Matters turn even more perilous when his pregnant daughter becomes a target, driving Angelo to look into those responsible while FBI agents edge closer to the truth. Patrick Dempsey heads the cast, joined by Michael Imperioli, Richard Harmon and Odeya Rush. The series blends crime, family drama, mystery and psychological suspense.
Quick Verdict
Memory of a Killer centers on a powerful core conflict: a professional assassin striving to keep his family safe as his own memory grows more and more unreliable. It ought to draw in viewers who enjoy crime dramas blending organized crime and investigations with a personal family narrative.↻ Patrick Dempsey's part also lends the series a perspective distinct from that of a typical assassin thriller.
Memory of a Killer is a 2026 American crime drama and psychological thriller that stars Patrick Dempsey as Angelo Doyle, an apparently ordinary photocopier salesman who covertly works as a contract killer. For years, Angelo has kept his criminal activities in New York apart from his family life in upstate Cooperstown. That balance starts to fall apart when he is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, the same condition that afflicted his older brother. Meanwhile, an assault on his pregnant daughter pushes Angelo to find out who is targeting his family, all while coping with memories that grow increasingly unreliable. The series blends the hitman thriller with a family mystery, an FBI investigation, organized crime, and Angelo’s fight to preserve his sense of identity. Ed Whitmore and Tracey Malone created the show, which draws inspiration from the Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer and the novel that the film was based on. Season 1 debuted on FOX on January 25, 2026, and consists of 10 episodes. FOX has renewed the series for Season 2 as part of its 2026–27 lineup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Memory of a Killer about?
Hitman Angelo Ledda (Patrick Dempsey) hides the fact he has developed early-onset Alzheimer's from his daughter (Odeya Rush) and his friend Dutch (Michael Imperioli), whose restaurant is a front for their criminal enterprise in the thriller series inspired by the 2003 Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer.
Who created, wrote, or directed Memory of a Killer?
Created by his daughter (Odeya Rush) and his friend Dutch (Michael Imperioli), whose restaurant is a front for their criminal enterprise in the thriller series inspired by the 2003 Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer
Who stars in Memory of a Killer?
Patrick Dempsey stars as Angelo Doyle, with Michael Imperioli as Dutch, Richard Harmon as Joe, Odeya Rush as Maria, Peter Gadiot as Dave and Daniel David Stewart as Jeff.
How many episodes are in Season 1?
Season 1 has 10 episodes, released between January 25 and April 6, 2026.
Will there be a Season 2?
Yes. FOX has confirmed Memory of a Killer as a returning drama for its 2026–27 schedule.
Story — Spoiler Free
Angelo Doyle has devoted years to keeping two entirely distinct identities apart.↻ In New York, he works as a highly skilled contract killer within a criminal network; in Cooperstown, he lives as a quiet salesman and family man. His tightly controlled life starts to fall apart once he develops early-onset Alzheimer's. When his pregnant daughter is targeted in an attack, Angelo begins hunting for whoever is responsible. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Linda Grant looks into the circumstances of the attack, adding more strain to Angelo's already fragile double life. With his memory growing increasingly unreliable, Angelo has to depend on his instincts and his understanding of the criminal underworld as he tries to safeguard those closest to him.
8.2
TheNextHint Score
8.2 / 10
Memory of a Killer centers on a powerful core conflict: a professional assassin striving to keep his family safe as his own memory grows more and more unreliable. It ought to draw in viewers who enjoy crime dramas blending organized crime and investigations with a personal family narrative.↻ Patrick Dempsey's part also lends the series a perspective distinct from that of a typical assassin thriller.
Rating breakdown
Story
8.0
Acting
9.0
Direction
8.0
Visuals
8.0
Sound
8.0
Entertainment
8.0
External Ratings
Scores from other sources, shown in their own scale. These are not TheNextHint's rating.
Patrick Dempsey gives the central crime story a strong personal dimension, while the combination of organized crime, family danger, FBI investigation and memory loss creates several interconnected sources of tension.
Cons
The series has a relatively complicated setup, and viewers looking for a straightforward hitman thriller may find the family and memory-loss storylines slower than expected.
Who Should Watch
Crime Drama Fans
Psychological Thriller Fans
Mystery Fans
Family Drama Viewers
Who Should Skip
Light Entertainment Viewers
Viewers Sensitive to Violence
Viewers Looking for a Short Series
Release Date
2026-01-25
Runtime
41–44 minutes per episode
Director
Daniel Minahan, David Petrarca, Loren Yaconelli, Toa Fraser, John Fawcett, Rebecca Rodriguez, James Strong
Producer
Bonnie R. Benwick
Writer
Ed Whitmore, Tracey Malone, Aaron Zelman, Glenn Kessler, Kat Sieniuc, Austin Badgett, Jason Lew, Glenise Mullins, Heidi-Marie Ferren, David Schulner
Cast
Patrick Dempsey, Michael Imperioli, Richard Harmon, Odeya Rush, Peter Gadiot, Daniel David Stewart, Gina Torres, Michaela McManus, Richard Clarkin, Ian Matthews
Music
Siddhartha Khosla, Jeff Garber
Cinematography
Kristin Fieldhouse, Scott McClellan, Michael Snyman
Studio
Warner Bros. Television; FOX Entertainment
Distributor
FOX
Production Company
Warner Bros. Television, FOX Entertainment, Eyeworks, Welle Entertainment
A professional hitman secretly living as a photocopier salesman and family man.
Michael Imperioli
as
Dutch Forlanni
Angelo's longtime friend and a criminal figure whose restaurant serves as a front for criminal activity.
Richard Harmon
as
Joe Ferrara
Angelo's right-hand man and an important part of his criminal operations.
Odeya Rush
as
Maria Kahn
Angelo's pregnant daughter.
Peter Gadiot
as
Dave Woods
A key figure connected to Maria and the investigation surrounding Angelo.
Daniel David Stewart
as
Jeff Kahn
Maria's husband and Angelo's son-in-law.
Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
10 episodes January 25, 2026Completed
Angelo's carefully separated criminal and family lives begin to collapse after he develops early-onset Alzheimer's and his daughter becomes the target of an attack. As the FBI investigates, Angelo searches for the person behind the threat while struggling to trust his own memories.
1Pilot
43 min January 25, 2026
After completing a hit, Angelo realizes his memory may be failing while his two lives begin to collide.
2Ferryman
43 min January 26, 2026
Angelo warns Maria about her mother's killer while Agent Grant questions him about the attack.
3Samurai
43 min February 2, 2026
Dutch orders Angelo to eliminate an Internal Affairs agent while Maria seeks Dave's help.
4Unhappy Ending
44 min February 9, 2026
Angelo postpones another hit to pursue The Ferryman, while the FBI examines a crime scene connected to him.
5Betrayal
44 min February 23, 2026
A hit triggers memories of five years earlier, when Angelo learned about his brother's Alzheimer's.
6Uncle Jacob
43 min March 2, 2026
Fractured memories make Angelo question reality as Joe helps plan a public assassination.
7Dr. Parks
43 min March 16, 2026
Angelo discovers that an earlier job may help identify The Ferryman, while Dave advances his investigation.
8Tailored by Fabroni
44 min March 23, 2026
Major family revelations emerge while Joe receives an important opportunity.
9Shoot the Piano Player
43 min March 30, 2026
Following a major discovery, Angelo races to protect his loved ones from The Ferryman.
10Exposed
43 min April 6, 2026
Angelo's two worlds finally collide as he faces a confrontation with The Ferryman.
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