Leatherface actor Gunnar Hansen dies at 68

Gunnar Hansen, the actor behind the mask of Leatherface in the classic horror 1974 horror film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, has died at the age of 68 after losing his battle with cancer, the Associated Press reported.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, directed and co-written by Tobe Hooper, went to become a classic slasher film, which features a psychopath murdering victims that were several.

Hansen’s character is “a standout amongst the most notable malice figures ever and is a Sharp naturalist”, said specialists Mike Eisenstadt.

The actor saw to fruition his book “Chain Saw Confidential” in 2013, wherein he detailed behind-the-scenes information on the film, which included the fact that the inspiration of the movie was “Hansen and Gretel”.

Hansen is survived by his partner, Betty Tower. He had lived in Maine for 40 years, where he died.

Death House is scheduled to come out in 2016. The actor made his big screen debut in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre in 1974, and although he has over 30 screen credits to his name, his role as Leatherface was his most memorable.

In the film, Leatherface and his deranged family members terrorize a group of friends who happen upon their home. Most recently, he was working on writing and producing a film called Death House about a secret government facility where horrific things happen.

Born in Rekyavik in 1947, Hansen moved to America with his family when he was just 5. That was the role of Leather Face in the “Chain Saw Massacre”.

Hansen’s chain-saw wielding manic role has been seen by generations of horror film buffs through the decades.

He once said in a TV interview that he was so unlike the character that when people who meet him and learn that he played the murderer, they often reacted in total shock.