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IMDbPro

Marilyn Burns(1949-2014)

  • Actress
  • Additional Crew
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
"The Texas Chain Saw Massacre"  Marilyn Burns,   Bryanston Distributing Company, 1974, I.V. 0122782
Directly based upon the infamous Houston Mass Murders, the film centers around Elmer Wayne Henley's life before, during, and immediately after his involvement with Dean Corll and David Brooks, and their killing spree of over 28 victims from 1970 to 1973.
Play trailer1:49
In a Madman's World (2017)
6 Videos
21 Photos
Marilyn Burns was born Mary Lynn Ann Burns on May 7, 1949 in Erie, Pennsylvania, and raised in Houston, Texas. She attended the University of Texas at Austin where she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Drama. Marilyn was one of the original scream queens, remembered primarily for her role in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). She played Sally Hardesty, a teenager who travels with her brother and some friends to the cemetery where her grandfather was buried to investigate reports of grave vandalism, and then encounters an insane, murderous family, including the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface.

Her follow-up appearance was in Eaten Alive (1976), where she played a vacationer who unwittingly stumbles upon a hotel managed by a maniac who feeds his guests to his crocodile. Marilyn earned her scream queen status by starring in other horror movies; Kiss Daddy Goodbye (1981) and Future-Kill (1985). She appeared in the television miniseries Helter Skelter (1976) about the real-life trial of Charles Manson and his family. She played Linda Kasabian, a member of the Manson Family whose testimony helped lead to the convictions of the cult leader and many of his followers.

Marilyn had an uncredited cameo as Sally Hardesty in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995), and made a cameo appearance as Verna Carlson in Texas Chainsaw (2013). However, aside from these roles and occasional appearances at horror conventions, she lived a relatively quiet life out of the spotlight in the Houston area in her later years. Marilyn Burns died at age 65 in her sleep on August 5, 2014 and was found in her Houston, Texas home by family members, the cause was an apparent heart attack, although not specified.
BornMay 7, 1949
DiedAugust 5, 2014(65)
BornMay 7, 1949
DiedAugust 5, 2014(65)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 1 win

Photos21

Marilyn Burns, John Dugan, Gunnar Hansen, Edwin Neal, and Jim Siedow in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Marilyn Burns and Edwin Neal in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Marilyn Burns and Paul A. Partain in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Marilyn Burns in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Marilyn Burns in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Marilyn Burns in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Marilyn Burns in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Marilyn Burns, Teri McMinn, Paul A. Partain, and William Vail in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Marilyn Burns and Edwin Neal in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
This photo was from the best reunion of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) at Days of the Dead in USA in 2012. From the left, the emcee Shawn Patrick, (Seated, L-R) ''Sally Hardesty'' Marilyn Burns, ''Pam''Teri McMinn, ''Kirk'' William Vail, ''Grandfather'' John Dugan, ''Hitchhiker'' Ed Neal, ''Cattle Truck Driver'' Ed Guinn, ''Jerry'' Allen Danziger from the TCM panel at Days of the Dead Indianapolis 2012.
"The Texas Chain Saw Massacre"  Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal, Bryanston Distributing Company, 1974, I.V. 0122782
"The Texas Chain Saw Massacre"  Marilyn Burns,  Gunnar Hansen,  Bryanston Distributing Company, 1974, I.V. 0122782

Known for

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
7.4
  • Sally
  • 1974
Texas Chainsaw (2013)
Texas Chainsaw
4.8
  • Verna
  • Sally Hardesty
  • 2013
Robert Jacks in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation
3.3
  • Patient on Gurney(as Anonymous)
  • 1995
Steve Railsback in Helter Skelter (1976)
Helter Skelter
7.3
TV Mini Series
  • Linda Kasabian

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • In a Madman's World (2017)
    In a Madman's World
    • Mrs. Hill
    • 2017
  • Sacrament (2014)
    Sacrament
    • Beulah Standifer
    • 2014
  • Texas Chainsaw (2013)
    Texas Chainsaw
    • Verna
    • Sally Hardesty
    • 2013
  • Ali Faulkner and Tory Taranova in Butcher Boys (2012)
    Butcher Boys
    • Ruth
    • 2012
  • David Caruso, Hillary Danner, Peter Outerbridge, Rebecca Rigg, and Ruben Santiago-Hudson in Michael Hayes (1997)
    Michael Hayes
    • Sally
    • TV Series
    • 1998
  • Robert Jacks in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995)
    Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation
    • Patient on Gurney (as Anonymous)
    • 1995
  • Future-Kill (1985)
    Future-Kill
    • Dorothy Grim
    • 1985
  • California Cowboys (1983)
    California Cowboys
    • Carmen (uncredited)
    • 1983
  • Nell Regan and Patrick Regan III in Kiss Daddy Goodbye (1981)
    Kiss Daddy Goodbye
    • Nora Dennis
    • 1981
  • Eaten Alive (1976)
    Eaten Alive
    • Faye
    • 1976
  • Steve Railsback in Helter Skelter (1976)
    Helter Skelter
    • Linda Kasabian
    • TV Mini Series
    • 1976
  • The Great Waldo Pepper (1975)
    The Great Waldo Pepper
    • Spectator (uncredited)
    • 1975
  • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
    The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
    • Sally
    • 1974
  • Lovin' Molly (1974)
    Lovin' Molly
    • Sarah
    • Molly (uncredited)
    • 1974
  • Brewster McCloud (1970)
    Brewster McCloud
    • Tour Guide (uncredited)
    • 1970

Additional Crew

  • The Chicken Run (2015)
    The Chicken Run
    • dedicated to
    • Short
    • 2015
  • Lovin' Molly (1974)
    Lovin' Molly
    • stand-in
    • 1974

Videos7

Trailer
Trailer 1:49
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:18
Official Trailer
Helter Skelter
Trailer 2:48
Helter Skelter
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: 40th Anniversary
Trailer 1:40
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: 40th Anniversary
Butcher Boys
Trailer 2:03
Butcher Boys
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Trailer 0:31
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Helter Skelter
Trailer 2:47
Helter Skelter

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • Facebook (for personal Facebook accounts)
  • Alternative name
    • Anonymous
  • Height
    • 5′ 2″ (1.57 m)
  • Born
    • May 7, 1949
    • Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Died
    • August 5, 2014
    • Houston, Texas, USA(natural causes)
  • Parents
    • Mary Lynn Ann Burns
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Found dead by family members at her Houston, Texas home on August 5, 2014.
  • Nickname
    • The Scream Queen

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