Gunnar Hansen who Leatherface in Tobe Hooper's iconic splatterpunk film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) has died at age 68. Inspired by serial killer Ed Gein, Leatherface work a mask of human skin. From CNN:
After the movie's release, Hansen began a career as a writer and editor, although he eventually returned to acting — mostly in low-budget horror movies with titles like "Chainsaw Sally" and "Swarm of the Snakehead."
At the time of his death he was developing "Death House," a horror film he had written about a prison break at a secret underground government facility. The movie will be produced next year in Hansen's memory…
And here's the original trailer for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: