Tobe Hooper(1943-2017)

Honored with many awards for his films and achievement in the horror genre, Tobe Hooper is truly one of theMasters of Horror (2005).

Tobe Hooper was born in Austin, Texas, to Lois Belle (Crosby) and Norman William Ray Hooper, who owned a theater in San Angelo. He spent the 1960s as a college professor and documentary cameraman. In 1974, he organized a small cast that was made up of college teachers and students, and then he andKim HenkelmadeThe Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974),featuring the maniacal chainsaw-wielder Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen). This film changed the horror film industry and became an instant classic, remaining on many lists of top horror films of all time. Hooper based it upon the real-life killings ofEd Gein,a cannibalistic killer responsible for the grisly murders of several people in 1950s Wisconsin.Rex Reedsaid, "It's the scariest film I have ever seen."Leonard Maltinwrote, "While not nearly as gory as its title suggests, 'Massacre' is a genuinely terrifying film made even more unsettling by its twisted but undeniably hilarious black comedy." It is in the Permanent Collection of the Museum of Modern Art, and was officially selected at the Cannes Film Festival of 1975 for Directors Fortnight.

Hooper's success with "Chainsaw" landed him in Hollywood. Hooper rejoined the cast of "Texas" and with Kim Henkle again forEaten Alive (1976),a gory horror film withMel Ferrer,Carolyn Jones,William Finley,andMarilyn Burns(who played the lead in "Chainsaw" ). The film centered around a caretaker of a motel who feeds his guests to his pet alligator. Also in the film wasRobert Englund,whom Hooper helped advance his career and worked with him again in the future. "Eaten Alive" also won many awards at Horror Film Festivals, receiving the first Saturn Award. Also in the film, making his debut, wasRobert Englund.

Hooper was assigned to the Film Ventures International production ofThe Dark (1979),a science-fiction thriller. After only three day, he was fired from the film and replaced withJohn 'Bud' Cardos.Instead, Hooper had greater success withStephen King's 1979 mini seriesSalem's Lot (1979).In 1981, Hooper directed the teen slasher filmThe Funhouse (1981)for Universal Pictures. Despite its success, "The Funhouse" was a minor disappointment. In 1982, Hooper found greater success whenSteven Spielberghired him to direct his production, haunted house shockerPoltergeist (1982),for MGM. It quickly became a top-ranking major motion picture, but Hooper's reputation was waylaid by uncorroborated and spurious rumors spread throughout the film's press coverage that Spielberg had largely directed the film.

"Poltergeist" was perhaps a greater success than "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," but it was three years until Hooper found work again. He signed a three-year contract withMenahem GolanandYoram Globus's Cannon Group, and directed more films, includingLifeforce (1985),withPatrick Stewartfor TriStar; the minor remakeInvaders from Mars (1986);and the disappointing sequelThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986),withDennis Hopper.During the mid-1980s, Hooper also directed several television projects, including episodes ofAmazing Stories (1985),The Equalizer (1985),Freddy's Nightmares (1988)andTales from the Crypt (1989)withWhoopi Goldberg.

In the 1990s, Hooper continued working in both film and television:I'm Dangerous Tonight (1990),Nowhere Man (1995),Dark Skies (1996),Perversions of Science (1997)withJamie KennedyandJason Lee,The Apartment Complex (1999)withAmanda Plummerfor Showtime,Night Terrors (1993)andThe Mangler (1995)for New Line, the latter two with Robert Englund. In the new century Hooper's career grew stronger, withNight Visions (2001),Shadow Realm (2002)and the pilot episode for Steven Spielberg's award-winning miniseriesTaken (2002).

In 2003, Hooper co-produced the successful remake ofThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)for New Line. His final three films as director wereToolbox Murders (2004),withAngela Bettis,released through Lions Gate;Mortuary (2005),a zombie film withDan Byrd;and evil genie taleDjinn (2013).

Tobe Hooper died on August 26, 2017, in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles.

Leatherface (2017),technically the eighth film in Hooper's Chainsaw franchise, was slated for release just weeks after his death.