Marilyn Burns (Erie, May 25, 1949 – Houston, August 5, 2014) was an American actress, renowned in film history for her portrayal of Sally Hardesty in Tobe Hooper's 1974 cult horror film, *The Texas Chain Saw Massacre*. Her intense and realistic performance as the sole survivor of the massacre made her one of the first and most iconic "scream queens," defining the "final girl" archetype in the slasher genre. Following this pivotal role, her career included other notable appearances, such as in the television film *Helter Skelter* (1976), where she portrayed Manson family member Linda Kasabian, and another collaboration with Hooper in *Eaten Alive* (1977). Although her subsequent filmography was more sporadic, she remained inextricably linked to the franchise that made her famous, appearing in cameos in *Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation* (1994) and *Texas Chainsaw 3D* (2013). While she did not receive major film awards, her contribution to the horror genre is universally recognized by critics and fans alike.