Robert A. Burns
{{Short description|American art director and production designer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Robert A. Burns
| image = Robert A. Burns publicity photo.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Robert A. Burns
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1944|5|27}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2004|5|31|1944|5|27}}{{cite web|title='Chainsaw Massacre' art director, 60, dies|url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2004/06/03/Chainsaw-Massacre-art-director-60-dies/88921086280586/|publisher=United Press International|date=June 3, 2004|accessdate=January 18, 2017}}
| nationality =
| occupation = Art director
| years_active = 1974–1989
| employer =
| organization =
| notable_works = The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Howling
Re-Animator
| television =
}}
Robert A. Burns (May 27, 1944 – May 31, 2004) was an American art director, production designer, and actor who worked on many films including The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,{{cite journal | last =Kosanke | first =Dave| title =30 Years of The Howling | journal =HorrorHound | volume =1 | issue =29 | pages =41 | date =May 2011 }} The Hills Have Eyes,{{cite book|last=Muir|first=John Kenneth|title=Wes Craven: The Art of Horror|page=59|publisher=McFarland & Company|year=2004|ISBN=9780786419234}} The Howling, Re-Animator, and From Beyond.
Career
Burns attended the University of Texas where he was editor of The Texas Ranger.{{cite web|last=Whittaker|first=Robert|title=Cowboys vs. Hippies: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Subtext|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2014-10-03/cowboys-vs-hippies-the-texas-chain-saw-massacre-subtext/|publisher=The Austin Chronicle|date=October 3, 2014 |accessdate=April 14, 2017}}
Burns met Tobe Hooper at an Austin party and would assist in production of Hooper's 1966 short documentary film Down Friday Street and then design the press kit for Hooper's 1969 film Eggshells. {{cite book|last=Rose|first=James|title=The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Devil's Advocate)|page=37|year=2013|publisher=Liverpool University Press|ISBN=1906733643}}
Burns next worked for Hooper as the casting director{{cite book|last=Hansen|first=Gunnar|author-link=Gunnar Hansen|title=Chain Saw Confidential|page=15|year=2013|publisher=Chronicle Books|ISBN=9781452129501}} and art director of Tobe Hooper's 1974 horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. His work on the film is notable for the realistic "bone decor" of the Sawyer Family's farm house.{{cite book|last=Muir|first=John Kenneth|title=Eaten Alive at a Chainsaw Massacre: The Films of Tobe Hooper|page=14|publisher=McFarland & Company|year=2009|ISBN=9781476613352}}
His work garnered notice in the industry and work on other future horror classics followed including Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes, Joe Dante's The Howling, and Stuart Gordon's Re-Animator.
Burns was also an expert on Rondo Hatton{{cite book|last=Jaworzyn|first=Stefan|title=The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Companion|publisher=Titan Books|year=2003|page=251|ISBN=9781840236606}} and had aspired to make a film about the actor.{{cite web|last=Duryea|first=Bill|title=In love with a monster|url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/62799/Floridian/In_love_with_a_monste.shtml|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|date=June 27, 1999 |accessdate=January 18, 2017}} His passion was such that he held parties to celebrate Hatton's birthday.{{cite web|title=Bill "Leatherface" Johnson Interview!!!|url=https://brain-hammer.com/2011/10/05/leatherface/|publisher=Brain Hammer's Picks From The Crypt|date=October 5, 2011|accessdate=January 18, 2017}} The 2020 documentary titled [https://www.rondoandbob.com/ Rondo and Bob] {{cite web|title=Rondo and Bob|url=http://www.rondoandbob.com|accessdate=June 4, 2017}} looks at the lives of both Burns and Hatton.{{cite web|title=Documentary on man who put the gore in ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’|url=http://www.mystatesman.com/news/local/kelso-documentary-man-who-put-the-gore-texas-chainsaw-massacre/qQbExCy6rJbEwP6aYz68kI/|publisher=Austin American-Statesman|date=June 4, 2017|accessdate=June 4, 2017}}
Death
Burns died on May 31, 2004. It was reported that he was suffering from kidney cancer.{{cite book|last=Lentz III|first=Harris M.|title=Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2004: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture|publisher=McFarland & Company|year=2005|page=62|ISBN=9780786452095}} His death was investigated as a suicide: he had left a farewell note on his website with a photo of himself stretched out in front of a tombstone with his name on it.{{cite web|last=Kelso|first=John|title='Texas Chainsaw Massacre' art director dead at 60|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/statesman/obituary.aspx?pid=2290467|publisher=Austin American-Statesman|date=June 2, 2004 |accessdate=April 14, 2017}}
Selected filmography
=Art director=
=Actor=
- The Howling – Porn store patron
- Microwave Massacre – Homeless Man
- Confessions of a Serial Killer – Daniel Ray Hawkins
- Walker, Texas Ranger – Man in Overalls (ep. "The Big Bingo Bamboozle")
- The Stars Fell on Henrietta – Franklin
=Director=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0122857}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burns, Robert A.}}
Category:American art directors
Category:American production designers
{{American-film-bio-stub}}