Marilyn Burns, 65, perhaps best known as the heroine in the 1974 horror movie The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, has died at her Houston-area home.
Her manager, Chris Roe, confirmed that Ms. Burns was found unresponsive by a family member Tuesday. The Harris County Medical Examiner's Office has not determined a cause of death.
Her career included roles in several horror films spanning 40 years, including last year's Texas Chainsaw 3D and this year's Sacrament. The 3-D version of Chainsaw debuted at No. 1, a testament to the continuing popularity of the franchise.
In the 1974 film, her character was the only one among a group of friends to escape the rampage of the chainsaw-wielding maniac Leatherface.
In 1976, she played a member of the Manson family in the TV miniseries Helter Skelter.
Roe said she played an important role in establishing that women could play the hero in film.
