Jeff Burr, director of “Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III,” “From a Whisper to a Scream” and “Straight Into Darkness,” has died. He was 60.
Director-writer Jim Wynorski shared the news of Burr’s death on Facebook, writing that he “passed away last night [Oct. 10] in his sleep.”
Burr helmed New Line’s “Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III,” starring former pro wrestler R.A. Mihailoff as the villain in the 1990 installment. He later directed several entries in the “Pumpkinhead” and “Puppet Master” franchises, including “Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings” (1993), “Puppet Master 4” (1993), “Puppet Master 5” (1995) and “Puppet Master: Blitzkrief Massacre” (2018).
Burr was born in Aurora, Ohio, on July 18, 1963, and grew up in Dalton, Ga. He attended USC, but dropped out after his third year alongside fellow director Kevin Meyer to finish their American civil war short “Divided We Fall.” His feature-length directorial debut was 1987’s “From a Whisper to a Scream,” starring Vincent Price, Clu Gulager and Terry Kiser. The anthology horror film was one of Price’s last movies.
Outside of the horror genre, Burr directed “Eddie Presley,” a 1992 film about an Elvis impersonator featuring Duane Whitaker in the title role, and the 2004 World War II drama “Straight Into Darkness.” Additional film credits include “Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy” (1989), “Night of the Scarecrow” (1995), “Johnny Mysto: Boy Wizard” (1997), “Spoiler” (1998), “The Werewolf Reborn!” (1998), “Gun of the Black Sun” (2011) and “Tales of the Fantastic” (2023).
Burr also worked on episodes of Sid and Marty Krofft’s “Land of the Lost” in 1992 and “BeetleBorgs” in 1996.
Manager Dominic Mancini said, “While Jeff had a great career and made some of the best B horror films in the genre, I feel he was never given the opportunity to show the world his full potential. His love, passion, commitment, and enthusiasm for film came through in his work. From his very first film, ‘From a Whisper to a Scream,’ where he pulled Vincent Price out of retirement, films like ‘Puppet Master 4’ & 5, ‘Strait into Darkness,’ ‘Pumpkinhead 2,’ ‘The Stepfather 2,’ and of course ‘Leatherface’ (which he was known the most for), Jeff’s love of storytelling and characters sliced through the screen and into the hearts of genre fans worldwide. Jeff Burr left his footprint in cinema, and that will last forever. For that, I believe he would find peace and with a big old smile, say ‘thank you.'”
