Say the name “Gunnar Hansen” to any true horror fan and the first thing that will always come to mind will be the image of “Leatherface” from Tobe Hooper’s 1974 masterpiece “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”. But Gunnar Hansen is so much more than the mumbling, chainsaw-wielding maniac from that movie. He has written several books on and directed documentaries about his native country, Iceland. He has been a journalist, a webpage designer for GTE, a magazine editor and has degrees in English and mathematics for the University of Texas. But acting seems to be his true love as, after an eleven year hiatus from films, he returned in 1988 in “Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers” and never really looked back. He will soon be seen as a Nazi car mechanic in Nick Palumbo’s controversial serial killer film, “Murder-Set-Pieces” so we had to ask him about that experience…

Gunnar Hansen with Murder-Set-Pieces' Director Nick Palumbo

Gunnar Hansen: I was born in Iceland and came to the US as a kid. Eventually my family settled in Texas, and I went to high school and college there. When Chainsaw Massacre came up, I was fresh out of graduate school, working as a carpenter. I thought it would be an interesting summer job, so I tried out for the part and got it. After the movie came out, I really did not pursue film work. I did one other movie, “Demon Lover,” but turned down film work after that. My primary interest was writing and that was what I was determined to do. So I worked briefly as a magazine editor and then became a freelance writer. I started first writing for magazines, and eventually expanded into writing books and films. Today, most of my writing is just that -- books and films. I did get back into acting 1987, when Fred Olin Ray called me and asked me to come out to Los Angles to act in “Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers.” I had met Fred on the set of “Demon Lover,” and we had kept in touch. Today I mix the film and writing work.

RS: How did you come to be involved in “Murder-Set-Pieces”?

GH: I had met Nick Palumbo a while back, when he gave me a copy of his film “Nut Bag.” He was interested in having me in one of his movies, so we kept in touch. He put together the trailer for “Sinister”, and while that was still in development, he had the opportunity to make a film based on his idea for “Murder-Set-Pieces”, so I went to Las Vegas to work on that.

RS: What was the shooting experience like and how was it to work with first-time big-budget feature film director Nick Palumbo?

GH: It was fine. My scenes went very smoothly. It was clear that he liked working with a decent budget -- I was thrilled to see the beautiful crane shot that opened my first scene. On a tiny budget that shot would have been impossible.

RS: Have you experienced any negative feedback as a result of being involved in “M-S-P”, either during filming or since then? And are you aware of all the controversy that has been going on since filming ended?

GH: No. No one has criticized me for being in that movie. In fact, the fans who have seen it like it. The only criticism I’ve heard is from critics. Movie-goers do not seem to be upset by it. I showed it to a friend who is not even particularly a horror fan and she said, “What’s the big deal about this?”

RS: What did you think of the script when you first read it and have you seen the completed film? Your reaction to it?

GH: First of all, I don’t have a problem with violent films. So I had no problem with the script. I thought my character was an interesting one, and I looked forward to playing the part. Yes, I have seen the movie. It is extremely violent and graphic. But that’s a given in this kind of movie. I enjoyed it. I thought it was beautifully shot and the effects were very well done. I liked the acting in it -- and of course it’s always a pleasure to see Ed Neal’s acting.

RS: Did you get the opportunity to reunite with your “TCM” co-star Ed Neal at all during the shoot?

GH: No, Ed’s scenes were completely separate from mine.

RS: How was working with actor Sven Garrett? And do you speak German or did you have to learn those few German lines you had?

GH: Sven worked very hard on this movie. When we met before the shooting, it was obvious to me that he took this seriously and wanted to do his best. He was intense in our scenes, and I think he got it right. And I think that is obvious when you watch the movie -- he does a terrific job. I speak some German (or I did when I was in college), so it was not a problem learning my lines.

RS: Did you have an opportunity to meet fellow horror icon Tony Todd while filming?

GH: No, I didn’t see Tony when he was shooting his stuff. But I know him pretty well. We run into each other all the time and usually manage to sit down somewhere for a beer when we do.

RS: I saw the trailer you were in for Nick Palumbo’s “Sinister”. What was that brief experience like?

GH: That was messy. The blood was very sticky, and I felt it when we shot those scenes. But the shooting went fine. My scenes were mostly in an apartment in New York, so we used the adjoining apartment as our “trailer,” where we all hung out between our scenes. We actually shot the exteriors on the run. We walked outside, set up the shots and ran them quickly, because we didn’t have permits. We didn’t stop the traffic to cross the street -- I just dodged cars as I crossed, as did the camera crew behind me.

RS: Tell us about your recent projects – “Wolfsbayne”, “It Came From Trafalgar” where you are again working with Ed Neal, “Apocalypse and the Beauty Queen” which is the third recent movie I know of to deal with the story of Elizabeth Bathory, the Blood Countess and “The Last Horror Picture Show” which you co-wrote.

GH: “Wolfsbayne” we shot just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. It is about a war between werewolves and vampires. I play the leader of a gypsy band, who have allied themselves with the werewolves.

“It Came From Trafalgar” is still in production. Or, rather, it’s in hiatus right now. I shot my scenes more than a year ago, in Florida, and I understand that the producer is now working on more financing -- he wants to expand the scope of the movie.

“ABQ” I worked on this last February in St. Louis. Yes, it’s inspired in some ways by the Bathory story. It’s a post-apocalypse movie, but not science fiction -- it could be taking place six months from now. I play a burned out ex-con, who is looking after the heroine of the movie. I think it’s going to be a very good film, and the producers are looking for a theatrical release.

“Last Horror Picture Show” has been optioned. Gary Jones, my writing partner, will direct it. We don’t know when it will go into production, but it may be as early as this coming September or November. We wrote it with Robert Englund (Freddy) and Kane Hodder (Jason) in mind to play two of the three killers -- with me as the third. They have both signed on, so we’re very excited about making this movie.

RS: That’s a lot as it is but are there projects beyond those that haven’t gone into production yet that you will be in?

GH: Well, there’s always talk. But right now the ones that are actually coming up very soon are “Chainsaw Sally 2” and “The Demons 5”, where I play one of 5 serial killers. In addition there are three others, one with Kane Hodder, which are on a fast track. So I’m managing to keep busy. I am currently working on a documentary about the Passamaquoddy Indians who are native to Maine – they approached me to do the film. I suppose they had seen my documentaries on Iceland.

RS: I was so sorry to hear of the recent passing of your “TCM” co-star, Paul Partain. Do you still get together with the “Chainsaw” folks for any sort of reunion? Still see Tobe Hooper?

GH: Yes, it was very sad about Paul. He was a great guy. Jim Siedow (the Cook) died a couple of years ago, as did Bob Burns (the art director of “Chainsaw”). We were all close. As far as reunions, we try when it’s possible to get together. Sometimes, when one of us is asked to appear at a convention, he suggests that some of the others be brought in too. Also, when I’m in Austin, I spend time with Ed Neal (Hitchhiker) and Allen Danziger (Jerry), and then usually Ed and I try to make a trip down to Houston to see Marilyn Burns (Sally). In fact, Ed and Marilyn and John Dugan (Grandpa) are all going to be in “Chainsaw Sally 2,” so we’re going to have a chance to work together again.

In addition, all of us try to stay in touch. Bill Vail (Kirk) lives in the L.A. area, and I try to look him up when I’m in town. (In fact I owe him and his family a dinner.) Teri McMinn (Pam) has moved back to the West Coast, and we are planning to get together the next time I’m out west.

As for Tobe, I don’t think any of us has kept in touch with him.

RS: How does it feel to think that no matter what you do, and you have done things beyond acting such as your books and documentaries on your home country of Iceland, you will always be known as “Leatherface”

GH: That’s fine with me. I’m proud of the movie and of my role in it.

RS: What is one thing about you that you wish more people knew or would be surprised to know?

GH: Actually, I’m pretty private about most things, so there really is nothing that I want people to know. Unless it’s to quote Barbara Bush: “Inside I’m young and thin.”