Gunnar Hansen, ‘Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ Killer, Dies

Gunnar Hansen, who played
the iconic villain Leatherface in the original “Texas Chain Saw
Massacre,” died Saturday of pancreatic cancer at his home in Maine, his
agent said. He was 68.

Hansen starred in the 1974
film that has become a classic among horror-movie aficionados and spawned a
series of sequels. In the movie, friends visiting their grandfather’s house are
hunted by Leatherface, a chain-saw wielding maniac.

Hansen’s character in the movie “is one of the most iconic
evil figures in the history of cinema,” said his agent, Mike Eisenstadt,
who confirmed the death.

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In 2013, Hansen published
his book “Chain Saw Confidential,” which gave readers a
behind-the-scenes look at how the film was made, Eisenstadt said.

Hansen lived in Maine for
about 40 years, where he worked as an actor and writer, Eisenstadt said.

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At the time of his death,
Hansen was at work on a film called “Death House,” his agent said.
Hansen was a writer and producer of the film, which the Internet Movie Database
says is about how a secret government facility becomes ground zero for the most
horrific prison break in the history of mankind. The film is scheduled to come
out next year, Eisenstadt said.

Hansen was born in
Reykjavik, Iceland. He came to the U.S. and studied at the University of Texas,
where he majored in English and Scandinavian Studies, Eisenstadt said.

Surviving Hansen is his
partner of 13 years, Betty Tower.