The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Cast – Then And Now

.In 1974, when The Texas Chainsaw Massacre hit theatres across the USA, a wave of fear and panic consumed  movie fans. Viewers believed they were watching was a depiction of true events that took place in Texas. The movie however was merely inspired by Ed Gein, a killer and body snatcher from Wisconsin. Not someone who ran around waving a chainsaw at anything that moved as viewers were lead to believe.

It was this movie that would pave the way for more horror movie “true stories” based on “real events” in the decades after. As other movies tried, and often failed, to capture the horror magic of ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’. More than four decades on, we look back at this landmark horror movie and see what The Texas Chainsaw Massacre cast are up to today.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Cast – Then And Now

Then: Previous to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie, Marilyn Burns had only two uncredited movie appearances to her name. She plays the role of Sally, the main protagonist, who ends up spending much of the movie running away from Leatherface.

Now: After the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Marilyn went on to appear in numerous other horror roles. Including movies such as Helter Skelter (1976) and Death Trap (1976). She would also go on to make cameo appearances in Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequels. Appearing in ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation’ (1994) and ‘Texas Chainsaw 3D’ (2013).

However, apart from these cameo roles and the occasional appearance at horror conventions, she lived a fairly quiet life out of the spotlight in her later years. On August 5th, 2014, she died at the age of 65 from what was believe to be a heart attack in her sleep at her home in Houston, Texas.

Then: Allen Danziger only had one movie appearance previous to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. He featured in Eggshells (1969), his 8 month old son also had a cameo role in that movie. He plays Jerry, one of Sally’s friends who joins her for a road trip to investigate reported vandalism at her grandfather’s grave.

Now: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was Alllen’s last movie role, he has owned the ‘Three Rings Service’ entertainment company since 1978, which provide entertainment for corporate events and parties.

Then: William Vail made his big-screen debut as Kirk, one of Sally’s friends and traveling companions.

Now: Vail went on to play roles in Poltergeist (1982) and Mausoleum (1983). He would later become a TV set director for shows such as Gilmore Girls (2001) and Entourage (2006).

Then:  Teri McMinn was discovered by ‘Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ director Tobe Hooper in Houston, Texas, where he read a local newspaper featuring an article about the actress. McMinn played Pam, who had one of the most memorable deaths in the movie, being hung on a meat hook.

Now: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was McMinn’s first movie role and she wouldn’t be seen on the big screen again until The Cellar (2009) and Butcher Boys (2012).

In the years between she made her living from theatre, commercials and as a leg and foot model. She currently lives in California and makes regular appearances at horror conventions.

Then: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was Edwin Neal’s first movie role, he played the crazed hitchhiker whom Sally and her friends mistakenly pick up at the beginning of the movie.

Now: Edwin continues to make a living as a small-part actor and voice actor for computer games and cartoons. He also regularly tours the world as ‘The Hitchhiker’ at horror conventions. He was induced into the “Hollywood Horror Hall of Fame” in 1993 and owns one of the largest movie poster collections in the world.

Then: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was Paul A. Partain’s first credited movie role, he played the part of wheelchair-bound Franklin. Originally he applied for the role as the hitchhiker but lost out to Edwin Neal.

Now: Partain would go on to play roles in two more movies in the years after The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. He then quit acting and became the regional sales manager at the Zenith Electronics Corporation for ten years.

In 1994 he would return to acting with a cameo role in Texas Chainsaw Massacre The Next Generation (1994). Partain died on January 28, 2005, in Austin, Texas.

Then: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was the second movie Jim Sideow featured in, first appearing in The Windsplitter (1971). He appears as the proprietor of a gas station. However Drayton’s malevolent nature is revealed later in the film, when he beats Marilyn unconscious and captures her after she approaches him seeking help when her friends disappear.

Now: Jim would go on to appear in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) and a handful of other movies and TV shows up until 1987. He died in 2003 from complications of lung disease.

Then: Born in Iceland, Hansen moved to the USA at the age of five. The role of Leatherface was his very first movie part, before he got the part he had been working as a bouncer in a bar.

Now: Hansen went on to appear in dozens of B-movies over the next few decades. He also made a cameo appearance in Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013).

Apart from acting, Hansen’s other love was writing, he wrote for magazines and also had non-fiction books published. He died in 2015 in his home-state of Maine where he had lived most of his adult life.

While it might not be a human character, the house itself had one of the biggest roles in the movie!

Then: The 1900’s Victorian house was used as the home of Leatherface and his family. The house was located in Round Rock, Wiliamson County, Texas.

Now: In 1988, the house was cut into six pieces, moved and reassembled in Kingsland, Texas (about 60 miles away) by carpenter Anthony Mayfield on behalf of an investor couple.

However, the house didn’t simply remain a residential property. In the years after the house became a restaurant, under then name ‘Junction House Restaurant’.

Junction House closed in 2012, and later reopened as Grand Central Cafe, which is still going strong today. You can even find it on Trip Advisor!