Tobe Hopper, the director of the cult classic Texas Chain Saw Massacre, has passed away due to natural causes. He was 74 years old.
With the character of Leatherface, Hopper would inexorably change the horror genre. The film debuted in 1974 to mixed reviews from critics, but plaudits from audiences. Shot for less that $300,000, the film about a family of cannibals terrorizing attractive college students would go on to gross more than $30 million at the domestic box office. The film would also gain notoriety for being banned in several countries due to excessive violence.
Hooper would direct a slightly more comedic sequel in 1986, but the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre established many of the motifs central to the slasher genre, and the film spawned dozens of imitators (including several lackluster sequels and remakes of the original film).
Hooper remained focused on the horror genre throughout most of his career, notably directing a well-regarded and surprisingly spooky made-for-TV adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot (1979); the original Poltergeist film (1982), which was written by Steven Spielberg; and the campy but thoroughly entertaining Lifeforce (1985), which pitted pre-Jean-Luc-Picard Patrick Stewart and others against space vampires.
Eventually, Hooper focused on genre television, notable directing episodes of Masters of Horror, Night Visions, Tales From the Crypt, Freddy’s Nightmares, and Amazing Stories as well as more mainstream fare, such as an episode of The Equalizer.
Hooper is survived by two sons, William and Tony.

'Texas Chain Saw Massacre' Director Dead at Age 74
Posted by Betsy Gomez on August 29, 2017 @ 3:10 am CT

MORE COMICS
Plus: Middle-Grade Peach-Pit, New Titles from Creators of 'That Wolf-Boy Is Mine,' 'Otomen'
July 10, 2025
Other newly announced shojo titles include a middle-grade series by Peach-Pit and new series by the creators of That Wolf-Boy Is Mine and Otomen.
Day and Date with Print Release
July 10, 2025
GlobalComix is now offering IDW Publishing titles day and date with print release.
MORE NEWS
Robot-fighting Card Game by DV Games
July 10, 2025
DV Games will release Rumblebots, a new card game, into retail.
Former Chairman and CEO of Hasbro
July 10, 2025
Former Chairman and CEO of Hasbro Alan Hassenfeld has passed away on July 8, 2025.