Tobe Hooper

Tobe Hooper was an esteemed figure in the realm of film making, with a particular emphasis on the horror genre. The British Film Institute hailed him as one of the most influential horror filmmakers of all time. Born as Willard Tobe Hooper, he was a native of Austin, Texas, and commenced his career with the indie film Eggshells (1969) which he co-wrote with Kim Henkel. This duo also collaborated on what would become Hooper's defining opus, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), accrued its reputation as a classic and was lauded by The Guardian as one of the most influential films ever made. Hooper then directed horror film Eaten Alive (1976), followed by the 1979 miniseries Salem's Lot, based on Stephen King's novel. He later worked on The Funhouse (1981) and directed the supernatural horror film Poltergeist, supported by the acclaimed Steven Spielberg. His influence endured, as evidenced in his work throughout the 1990s and 2000s, with films like Spontaneous Combustion (1990), The Mangler (1995), and an episode of the mini-series Taken (2002), among others. His career is richly textured, reflecting a lifelong passion for the craft reflected in a formidable body of work.