Gunnar Hansen (Reykjavík, March 4, 1947 – Northeast Harbor, November 7, 2015) was an Icelandic-American actor and writer, universally known for his iconic portrayal of Leatherface in Tobe Hooper's horror film "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" (1974). This debut role as the masked, chainsaw-wielding killer established him as a horror legend, defining his entire career. After the film's unexpected success, Hansen temporarily stepped away from acting to focus on writing. He returned to cinema in later years, appearing in numerous independent and low-budget films, primarily in the horror genre, including "Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers" (1988) and "Mosquito" (1995). As an author, he published several books, including the memoir "Chain Saw Confidential" (2013), in which he recounted the tumultuous production of the film that made him famous. Although he did not receive major film awards, his cultural impact was immense, making him a cult figure and a regular guest at genre conventions until his death.