Actor and author, Gunnar Hansen, who's best known for playing the character of a villain Leather face in the 1974 original horror movie "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and wrote a 2013 book entitled "Chainsaw Confidential", has passed away in his home in Northeast Harbor on Saturday, November 7. He was 68.
According to reports, the horror actor died of pancreatic cancer, as confirmed by his agent Mike Eisenstadt. Though "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" was only a low-budgeted movie under the direction of Tobe Hooper, it later became a classical horror piece which was followed by a series of sequel.
Hansen's chainsaw maniac character in the movie, who wears a creepy mask of human flesh, hunts a group of friends visiting their late grandfather's house. Reports say that before he got the role, he auditioned for the role after hearing that a movie staff was looking for somebody to play the role as a killer.
"Later I found out that the reason he hired me was that when I came for the interview, I filled the door." Hansen said in a statement. "I was the tallest and widest person who interviewed for the job."
After he landed his first movie role, Hansen later appeared on the other horror movies, however, he admitted that he never planned to pursue a career in acting.
"I never was trying to have a career as an actor. My interest has always been writing."
Later in his career, Hansen pursued his interests in writing and went on to write nonfictional stories and screenplays, but ended up still getting roles from several hit horror movies such as the "Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers" and "Next Victim".
"Now I do movies when people ask me, and I'm happy that they do. And I understand that the reason they want me is because of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre." He said.
Hansen's agent confirmed that the actor was making another horror film entitled "Death House" before he passed away. He was the one who wrote and produced the movie, which is set to come out in 2016.
