Leigh Emerson

Leigh Emerson is a fictional mental patient and serial killer and a minor antagonist featured on the FX Network television series American Horror Story. Played by actor Ian McShane, he appeared in the season two storyline, "Asylum". He made two appearances in the series in total.

Biography
Leigh Emerson was a serial killer who dressed up as Santa Claus and murdered people in the early 1960s, claiming that he had "...lost his Christmas spirit". He was arrested and sent to Briarcliff Manor in 1964.

During his stay, Leigh attempted to bond with Sister Mary Eunice McKee. He supposedly found God, and pretended to fool Sister Jude Martin and Monsignor Timothy Howard into believing that he had repented.

At a church, Leigh revealed his true psychopathic tendencies by attacking Timothy Howard, crucifying him upon the cross at the alter. He then escaped from Briarcliff, never to be heard from again.