Global InformationLeatherface information
| Leatherface | |
|---|---|
| The Texas Chainsaw Massacre character | |
 Gunnar Hansen as Leatherface from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) | |
| First appearance | The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) |
| Created by | Kim Henkel Tobe Hooper |
| Portrayed by | Gunnar Hansen Bill Johnson R. A. Mihailoff Robert Jacks Andrew Bryniarski Dan Yeager Sam Strike Mark Burnham |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Bubba Sawyer (TCM2)[1] "Junior" Sawyer (TCM3)[2] Thomas Brown Hewitt (Remake timeline)[3] Jedidiah "Jed" Sawyer[a] (Texas Chainsaw 3D, Leatherface)[6] Kenneth Slaughter (2022 film) |
| Occupation | Former butcher[7][8] |
| Classification | Mass murderer[9] |
| Primary location | Newt, Muerto County, Texas |
| Signature weapons | Chainsaw[7][10] Sledgehammer[11] |
Leatherface is a character from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series. He first appeared in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) as the mentally disabled member of a family of deranged cannibals, featuring his face masks and chainsaw. Created by Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel, Leatherface was partially inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein, in addition to confessions by serial killer Elmer Wayne Henley. The character has subsequently been represented in various other media, including novels, video games, and comic books; appearing in all nine films in the series.
The role of the character is well known for being physically and emotionally challenging, with actors portraying the character not only needing to perform the necessary stunts associated with the role, but also give emotional depth to the character while wearing a mask that greatly obscured most of their features. Actor Gunnar Hansen was the first and most well-known actor to portray the character, later going on to become a vocal advocate for the character. Since Hansen's portrayal of Leatherface, numerous other actors and stuntmen have assumed the role of the character throughout the course of the series.
The character's physical appearance and personality have gone through many transformations over the years, with various writers and special makeup effects artists leaving their mark on the character and his design. Unique among horror villains, in which most antagonists of the genre are usually classified as sadistic or evil, Leatherface is characterized as committing his brutal acts as a means of following his family's orders, while also killing out of fear. Leatherface has gradually become a widely recognized figure in popular culture, gaining a reputation as a cultural icon within the horror genre. He has been credited as one of the most influential characters of the slasher genre for inspiring the stereotype of the hulking, masked, and silent killer, predating and even influencing horror characters such as Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees. Leatherface has since been parodied and referenced in novels, feature films, games, and television series; in addition to being an inspiration for many artistic outlets, fictional characters, heavy metal bands, and wrestling gimmicks.
- ^ Norman 2014, p. 130.
- ^ Sykes 2018, p. 66.
- ^ Rose 2013, p. 102.
- ^ Sneider, Jeff (March 9, 2015). "'EastEnders' Star Sam Strike in Talks for Lead in 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' Prequel 'Leatherface' (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ^ Harkness, Jane (January 2, 2022). "Leatherface's Backstory Explained". Looper.com. Static Media. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
- ^ Bachman, Mara (March 25, 2020). "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Leatherface's Violent Backstory Explained". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ a b Cooper, Dalton (February 29, 2016). "Mortal Kombat X: Watch Leatherface's Fatalities, X-Rays, and Brutalities". Game Rant. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ McDonagh, Maitland (n.d.). "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning - Movie Reviews and Movie Ratings". TV Guide. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ Fischoff, Stuart; Dimopoulos, Alexandra; Nguyen, François & Gordon, Rachel (June 1, 2003). "The Psychological Appeal of Movie Monsters". Journal of Media Psychology. 22 (4): 401–426. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.577.4336. doi:10.2190/CJ94-83FR-7HQW-2JK4. S2CID 12551614.
- ^ n.a. (October 25, 2011). "MTV's Killer Halloween: Weapons Of Choice". MTV. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
- ^ Stacy & Syvertsen 1984, p. 138.
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