Gunnar Hansen, the man behind "Leatherface" in the 1974 classic horror film, "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," has passed away at the age of 68.
Bangor Daily News reported that Hansen died inside his home in Maine last weekend due to pancreatic cancer.
In 2013, Hansen published "Chain Saw Confidential." The book is mainly about the behind-the-scenes footage of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
Hansen was 26 years old when he was cast as "Leatherface," the chainsaw-wielding freak who gave people thrills in the iconic slasher film.
"Leatherface" served as the main antagonist in the film. He terrifyingly hunted and attacked five young people who went to Texas to visit the graveyard of the grandfather of their friend. On the way to Hardesty's homestead, the five started to be slaughtered one by one by the robbing family of cannibals.
According to IMDb.com, Hansen once gave details about the purpose of the masks "Leatherface" was always seen wearing.
"The idea was that there was really nothing behind the mask and that's how the character was created..... If you were to take the mask off there would be nothing there," he said.
"That is why you see him wearing different masks at different times. That is how he presented himself, but killing was the only thing he knew." Hansen explained.
Hansen's agent Mike Eisenstadt said in an interview that his client indeed brought to the big screen "one of the most iconic evil figures in the history of cinema," Daily Mail reported. Hansen was even set to cast in "The Gathering," a Simon Pegg horror-comedy film that has just been announced recently. He was also set to star in the thriller film, "Death House" among with Robert England and Danny Trejo. The "Death House" is currently in pre-production and scheduled to be released in 2016.
For decades, Hansen's character "Leatherface" in "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" has frighteningly entertained the audiences. He was given comedy-horror and horror movie projects after a period of time following the release of the hit slasher film. His gift to entertain the horror fanatics continued when he became a part of "The Demon Lover and Chainsaw Sally," "Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers" and "Hellblock 13."
