Tobe Hooper
Early Life
Tobe Hooper was born in Austin, Texas on January 25, 1943. During the 1960's he became a college professor and started doing camera work for documentaries. It wasn't until 1974 that he made his first feature film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). It was based on the Ed Gein murders during the 1950's. The movie's cast and crew was made up of Hooper's fellow college professors and students. It only cost $140,000 to make but grossed over $30 Million domestically. The cannibal chainsaw-wielding killer, Leatherface, has become a horror movie icon over the years and the movie is often considered his best work.
In 1976 he made the movie Eaten Alive bringing back some of the cast of TCM. He found success again directing a mini series of Stephen King's Salem's Lot (1979) and Poltergeist (1982). He continued to direct/produce through the years, with his latest work being Djinn in 2013. Sadly Hooper passed away on August 26, 2017. Horror fans alike will always appreciate him for the great impact he made and the movies that we'll always remember him for.
Movies Known For
| The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) | Eaten Alive (1976) | Salem's Lot (1979) |
| The Funhouse (1982) | Poltergeist (1986) | Sleepwalkers (1992) |
| The Mangler (1995) | Djinn (2013) |
Did You Know?
He directed the music video "Dancing With Myself" by Billy Idol.
He was originally offered the script for E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) but turned it down.
He never longed to step out of the realm of directing horror/sci-fi movies.
