- Source: CNN
- Actor Gunnar Hansen, who played the villain in 1974's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," has died at 68
- The Icelandic-born actor was an unknown Texas graduate student when cast in the low-budget horror film
(CNN)Gunnar Hansen, who terrorized moviegoers as the psychotic, chainsaw-wielding Leatherface in 1974's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," has died at 68.
Hansen died Saturday evening of pancreatic cancer at his home in Northeast Harbor, Maine, according to his agent, Mike Eisenstadt, who described Hansen's "Chainsaw" character as "one of the most iconic evil figures in the history of cinema."
The Icelandic-born actor was an unknown graduate student in Texas when director Tobe Hooper cast him in the low-budget horror film, which became a cult hit and spawned three sequels, two remakes and a prequel.