Gunnar Hansen

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gunnar Hansen (2012)
Gunnar Hansen (2006)

Gunnar Hansen (born March 4, 1947 in Reykjavík , Iceland - † November 7, 2015 in Hancock County , Maine ) was an Icelandic -American actor and author . Best known is his role as "Leatherface" in the horror film Blood Court in Texas (1974).

Life

Icelandic-born Gunnar Hansen moved his family to the United States when he was five. Hansen lived in Maine until he was eleven before his family eventually moved to Texas . There he attended both Austin High School and the University of Texas at Austin. He studied English language and mathematics. During his college days he gained his first theater experience.

1973 Gunnar Hansen successfully applied for casting for Tobe Hoopers and Kim Henkel's film Blood Court in Texas ; he got the role of the masked, chainsaw-swinging murderer "Leatherface". The film became a cult film , and Gunnar Hansen became a household name among fans of the horror genre. Gunnar Hansen did not want to continue acting, however, but to devote himself to writing. After completing another year of school, he returned to Maine and began writing. He declined an offered role in the film Bloody Eyes Hill (1977).

After writing for magazines and his own books for a while, Gunnar Hansen returned to acting. In 1988 he acted in the horror parody With chainsaws you don't joke . He then appeared in 20 other films, mostly low-budget productions. In 2009 he appeared in the Reykjavík Whale Watching Massacre produced in Iceland . At the same time, he continued to write books and scripts for horror and documentary films . He also worked in 2013 in Riddick - Survival Is His Vengeance as a visual effects specialist.

Gunnar Hansen died of pancreatic cancer in his Maine home on November 7, 2015, at the age of 68 .

Filmography (selection)

  • 1974: Texas Blood Court (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre)
  • 1977: The Demon Lover
  • 1988: You don't joke with chainsaws (Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers)
  • 1991: Campfire Tales
  • 1995: Exploding Angel
  • 1995: freak show
  • 1995: Mosquito
  • 1996: Repligator
  • 1999: Hellblock 13
  • 2002: Hatred of a Minute
  • 2002: Rachel's Attic
  • 2002: Witchunter
  • 2003: Next Victim
  • 2004: Chainsaw Sally
  • 2004: Murder-Set-Pieces
  • 2005: Apocalypse and the Beauty Queen
  • 2005: Wolfsbayne
  • 2006: Swarm of the Snakehead
  • 2006: The Deepening
  • 2007: Brutal Massacre: A Comedy
  • 2007: Gimme Skelter
  • 2007: Shudder
  • 2009: It Came from Trafalgar
  • 2009: Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre
  • 2009: Won Ton Baby!
  • 2013: Texas Chainsaw 3D

Web links

Commons : Gunnar Hansen  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Gunnar Hansen, original Leatherface from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", dies at 68. In: abc7.com , November 7, 2015, accessed on November 9, 2015 (English).
Note: Icelanders are referred to by their first name or first and last name, but not just their surname. Further information can be found under Icelandic personal name .
personal data
SURNAME Gunnar Hansen
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hansen, Gunnar
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Icelandic actor and writer
DATE OF BIRTH March 4, 1947
PLACE OF BIRTH Reykjavík , Iceland
DATE OF DEATH November 7, 2015
Place of death Hancock County , Maine , United States