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Tobe Hooper

Tobe Hooper

Highest Rated: 89% Salem's Lot (1979)

Lowest Rated: 15% The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)

Birthday: Jan 25, 1943

Birthplace: Austin, Texas, USA

Though he worked in the horror and dark fantasy genres for decades, writer and director Tobe Hooper made significant contributions to the genre with just two films: "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974) and "Poltergeist" (1982).Though produced under very different circumstances - the former was an ultra-low-budget exploitation potboiler while the latter was a major studio spectacular - both films were major commercial successes that reflected the zeitgeist of their day. Surprisingly, neither had quite the salutary effect on Hooper's career as one might have expected. Following "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," Hooper had trouble finding his Hollywood footing with "Eaten Alive" (1977) and "The Funhouse" (1981), before being handed the reigns to "Poltergeist" by producer Steven Spielberg. But that proved to be more of a burden than a blessing, particularly after the film released and became a huge success; several cast members and crew claimed that Spielberg was the true director of the film, having exerted creative control over Hooper. Subsequently dismissed, Hooper entered into a disastrous period, directing three straight flops for Cannon Pictures after signing an ill-fated deal. With his feature directing career in tatters, he found new life on the small screen, directing made-for-television horror movies as well as episodes of "Nowhere Man" (UPN, 1995-96), "Dark Skies" (NBC, 1996-97) and "Masters of Horror" (Showtime, 2005-07). A popular artist who once changed the face of horror, Hooper devolved into a struggling, work-for-hire director who nonetheless maintained a high-level of craftsmanship in all of his work. Tobe Hooper died in Sherman Oaks, California on August 26, 2017. He was 74.

Highest rated movies

29% 32% Sleepwalkers

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet We Blew It Self - 2017
27% 23% Leatherface Executive Producer - 2017
No Score Yet 9% Djinn Director - 2013
20% 40% Texas Chainsaw Executive Producer - 2013
15% 53% The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Writer $39.5M 2006
No Score Yet 18% Mortuary Director - 2005
53% 33% Toolbox Murders Director - 2004
67% 74% American Nightmare Self - 2000
No Score Yet 18% Crocodile Director - 2000
No Score Yet 0% The Apartment Complex Director - 1999
27% 18% The Mangler Director $1.8M 1995
73% 43% Body Bags Director - 1993
No Score Yet 13% Night Terrors Director - 1993
29% 32% Sleepwalkers Forensic Tech (Character) $28.1M 1992
No Score Yet 18% Spontaneous Combustion Director - 1990
No Score Yet 19% I'm Dangerous Tonight Director - 1990
50% 46% The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 Director $6.2M 1986
38% 33% Invaders From Mars Director $4.8M 1986
56% 46% Lifeforce Director - 1985
88% 79% Poltergeist Director $121.8M 1982
67% 43% The Funhouse Director - 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Funhouse Director - 1981
89% 65% Salem's Lot Director - 1979
33% 30% Eaten Alive Director,
Original Music
- 1976
84% 82% The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Windsplitter Joby (Character) - 1971
No Score Yet No Score Yet Eggshells Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer,
Cinematographer,
Film Editing
- 1969
No Score Yet 57% Eggshells Director - 1969
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Heisters Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer,
Film Editing
- 1964

TV

Credit
63% 79% Masters of Horror Director 2005-2006
No Score Yet No Score Yet Perversions of Science Director 1997
82% 90% Tales From the Crypt Director 1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Equalizer Director 1988
No Score Yet 82% Amazing Stories Director 1987