Photo: Scott / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Gunnar Hansen is one of the great paradoxes of horror history. The towering Icelander behind Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre became an icon of cinematic dread, yet he was also a University of Texas graduate, a screenwriter, and a thoughtful non-fiction author. That gap, between the mute, chainsaw-wielding nightmare and the literate man behind the mask, is what genuinely interests me. It reminds me how often performers are reduced to a single terrifying image while their inner life stays invisible. I find the writer far more compelling than the monster, and I wish more people knew him.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Gunnar Hansen
- Name (Japanese)
- ガンナー・ハンセン
- Reading
- がんなー・はんせん
- Born
- March 4, 1947 – November 7, 2015
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Boar
- Origin
- Reykjavík, Iceland
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 193 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- non-fiction writer / film actor / screenwriter / actor / writer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Austin High School
- University
- University of Texas at Austin
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Gunnar Hansen born?
March 4, 1947 – November 7, 2015.
Where is Gunnar Hansen from?
Gunnar Hansen is from Reykjavík, Iceland.
What does Gunnar Hansen do?
Gunnar Hansen works as non-fiction writer, film actor, screenwriter, actor, writer.
How tall is Gunnar Hansen?
Gunnar Hansen is 193 cm.
Non-fiction writer — see all → · Film actor — see all → · More people from Iceland →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.