By Geno McGahee
In 1974, horror history was made. THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE was an experience that the audiences would never forget and featured a killer with a mask of human skin chasing his victims with a chainsaw. That killer was Leatherface, played by Gunnar Hansen. Hansen would spend time with people with special needs to gain mannerisms that he felt was appropriate for the character. He made Leatherface something other than a monster killer. He understood what acting was about, which is something that was lost in the other entries and remakes.
The sad news arrived that pancreatic cancer has gotten the better of him and he has died at the age of 68. TCM was his big statement to the horror world and he was so good that it kept him in the spotlight, even though the studios opted for other actors to assume the role. Hansen would continue to act, acting in low budget horror films like HOLLYWOOD CHAINSAW HOOKERS, HELLBLOCK 13 and NEXT VICTIM before he made his return to where it all began.
In 2013, TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D was released and Dan Yeager assumed the role of Leatherface, but he studied at the feet of the master. Hansen would school Yeager on the character and, for the first time, a follow-up to the original felt like it belonged. Gunnar would also have the small role of Boss Sawyer in this return.
Scared Stiff says goodbye to a horror icon. RIP Gunnar Hansen.
