‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ Star Gunnar Hansen Dead At 68

I really am truly saddened to write this article. Gunnar Hansen best known for his portrayal of the original Leatherface in the classic horror film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, died Saturday of pancreatic cancer in Maine, he was 68. Although we all loved him as the deliciously demented Leatherface, Gunnar had his hands in other aspects of entertainment as well. Now I for one lost track of Hansen but it turns out he was up to some very interesting things all the up to the time of his death, Deadline gave details of this:

“A native of Iceland who grew up in Maine, Hansen embraced the genre that brought him notoriety, often appearing at fan gatherings and filling his resume with B-movie features like Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers and Freakshow. His book Chain Saw Confidential was published in 2013, and he reportedly was developing a prison-horror movie called Death House at the time of his death, which was confirmed to the Associated Press.”

Social media was bombarded with RIPs and personal feelings about the big man that many loved working with and being around:

“May you spin with your chainsaw at magic hour forever more,” tweeted Edgar Wright, director of Scott Pilgrim.

“So long Gunn, my old friend……You’ll forever be alive in my heart.” Said John Dugan, Hansen’s co-star.

Even master of horror and fellow Maine resident Stephen King had kind words for the fallen horror icon saying, “RIP Gunnar Hansen. Scared the shit out of me as Leatherface; in person, you never met a kinder man.”

There will never be another Gunnar Hansen, he is the quintessential Leatherface and we will always rank him with the most memorable horror movie icons. He was more than just the star of ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”  he was an author, a filmmaker, a Texan (he grew up here in Austin), a mathematician, and just an all around solid human being according to those who knew him. So RIP Mr. Hansen we’ll never forget you.

[Source: Deadline]