Photo: Scott / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Public records list Gunnar Hansen as a non-fiction writer, film actor and screenwriter. Gunnar Hansen was born in Reykjavík, Iceland on March 4, 1947. Death is recorded on November 7, 2015, at the age of 68. Education on record includes Austin High School and University of Texas at Austin. The listed height was 193 cm.
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
- Height
- 193 cm
- Occupation
- non-fiction writer / film actor / screenwriter / actor / writer
2. Background
- High school
- Austin High School
- University
- University of Texas at Austin
3. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.gunnarhansen.com
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunnar%20Hansen
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8A%E3%83%BC%E3%83%BB%E3%83%8F%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BB%E3%83%B3
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q716893
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Gunnar Hansen born?
Born March 4, 1947.
When did Gunnar Hansen die?
Died November 7, 2015, aged 68.
Where was Gunnar Hansen from?
Gunnar Hansen was from Reykjavík, Iceland.
What did Gunnar Hansen do?
Gunnar Hansen worked as non-fiction writer, film actor, screenwriter, actor, writer.
How tall was Gunnar Hansen?
Gunnar Hansen was 193 cm.
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