Gunnar Hansen was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, and relocated to the United States at the tender age of five. He spent his formative years in Maine, where he resided until the age of eleven, when his family made the decision to relocate to Texas.
Hansen's high school years were spent in Texas, where he developed a passion for the arts, particularly theater. He went on to attend the University of Texas, where he majored in both English and mathematics, as well as pursuing a minor in Scandinavian Studies.
Despite his academic focus on the humanities and mathematics, Hansen's first professional endeavor was as a computer operator. However, his creative juices were soon to be satiated, as he discovered his passion for acting.
In the summer of 1973, Hansen learned that Tobe Hooper and a team of filmmakers were in town working on a new project. He seized the opportunity to audition for a role and, after impressing Hooper and writer Kim Henkel, was cast as the iconic character Leatherface in the 1974 horror classic, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Following his breakout performance in Chainsaw, Hansen transitioned to a career in freelance writing, penning articles for various magazines. He eventually turned his attention to book writing, producing a novel set in Iceland that explored the life of notorious serial killer, Henry Lee Lucas.
Hansen has also made a name for himself as a screenwriter, collaborating with his partner, Gary Jones, on a screenplay. In addition to his writing endeavors, he has directed a documentary about Greenland and has even dabbled in web design, having worked as a web page designer for GTE.
Gunnar Hansen's impressive array of talents and accomplishments has cemented his status as a true Renaissance man, with a career spanning multiple mediums and genres.
