Horror film director Tobe Hooper has died aged 74. He is best known for the films The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 1974 and Poltergeist in 1982.
Willard Tobe Hooper was born in Austin, Texas and before he became a film director he was a college lecturer.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which was banned in Ireland due to the realistic violence, was made for under $300,000 but made over $30 million at the US box office.
In 1986 the director made a sequel: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
He achieved Emmy nominations for his television series Salem's Lot and more recently Masters of Horror from 2005 to 2007, Mortuary in 2006, Djinn in 2013.
He outlived two wives and is survived by two children.
