Gunnar Hansen, ‘Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ killer Leatherface, dead at 68

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, released in 1974, is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films of all time and features Leatherface and his cannibal family hunting a group of teenagers. As a child, he lived in Maine until he was 11-years-old, before his family relocated to Texas.

Iconic cult horror actor dead at 68. He took the role of Leatherface as a summer job, something he could tell his grandchildren about. Fans on Twitter hurried to offer their regards, and Grayed Shift Sisters tweeted: “I’ve gotten an opportunity to hear Gunnar Hansen talk at repulsiveness cons a couple times”. Wright’s sentiments were echoed by Wrong Turn 2 and Everly filmmaker Joe Lynch, who tweeted, “Rest in Peace Gunnar”. He was 68 and had been suffering from pancreatic cancer.

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Following the surprising success of his first film, Hansen went on to pay homage to the title role in several sequels, spinoffs and satires.

“The actor was remembered as a gentle giant (6’4”) whose personality was the opposite of that of his most famous character. With crisp prose, Hansen described the often-brutal filming conditions of “Chain Saw”, with a largely inexperienced cast and crew toiling in the sweltering Texas heat with the meagerest of accommodations.

Gunnar starred in 20 films, all B movies and horror spoofs, like Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre, Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, and Apocalypse and the Beauty Queen.

Gunnar is survived by his partner Betty Tower. “Devastated by the passing of my dear friend Gunnar Hansen”, she tweeted.