Paul A. Partain

Paul Alan Partain (November 22, 1946 – January 28, 2005) was an American actor, perhaps best known for his role in the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) as the wheelchair-using Franklin Hardesty.

Paul A. Partain
Born
Paul Alan Partain

(1946-11-22)November 22, 1946
Austin, Texas
DiedJanuary 28, 2005(2005-01-28) (aged 58)
Austin, Texas
OccupationActor
Years active1972–2003

Life and career

Partain was born in Austin, Texas. He served in the United States Navy in the Vietnam War, and on his return to the U.S., started working at an electronics manufacturing plant during the day, and at a dinner theater at night. In the fall of 1972, Partain found out he had been laid off from the plant, and while at the theater where he worked, was asked to audition for the part of Willy in the 1974 Sidney Lumet film Lovin' Molly, by the theater director there. Through the help of this director, Partain got the role and his acting career began.

The director got Partain his next movie role as well, by pointing Kim Henkel, the screenwriter and producer of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, toward Partain. Partain originally read for the part of the hitchhiker, but the film's director, Tobe Hooper, was not impressed. Hooper had Partain read for Franklin and cast him in that part instead.[1]

After appearing in two more films in the 1970s (Race with the Devil as Cal Mather and Rolling Thunder as the brother-in-law), Partain had stopped acting by 1978. Partain started appearing in movies again in the 1990s, starting with a cameo in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994), the third sequel to the 1974 original. One of his other roles in the 1990s was that of the Militia of Texas Minister in the 1997 movie Burying Lana.

For about 10 years, Partain worked as a Regional Sales Manager for Zenith Electronics Corporation. He was married to Jean E. Partain.

Death

Partain died from cancer on January 28, 2005 in Austin, Texas.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1974 Lovin' Molly Willy Uncredited
1974 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Franklin Hardesty
1975 Race with the Devil Cal Mathers
1977 Rolling Thunder Brother-in-Law
1994 Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation Hospital Orderly Uncredited
1997 Burying Lana Militia of Texas Minister
2003 The Life of David Gale Alcoholic Uncredited
Final film role

References
  1. Alison Macor. Chainsaws, Slackers, and Spy Kids 30 Years of Filmmaking in Austin, Texas University of Texas Press: Austin, 2010.
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