Leatherface is a fictional character in the The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies. One of the first slasher film villains, he has appeared in all six of the series' films since the release of the original in 1974. The character wears masks made of human skin, a practice which led to his name, and is a cannibal.
Leatherface is portrayed as "severely mentally retarded and mentally disturbed," and often uses a chainsaw and sledgehammer to slaughter his victims. He lives with a family of mentally disturbed fellow cannibals, who are often abusive and violent towards him. The character was inspired in part by notorious serial killer Ed Gein, who also wore the skin of his victims
