The History of Bob Burns

Robert Burns surely knew that the first paragraph of his obituary would mention that he was the art director of the ’70s horror movie classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

But it would have irked him, because there was so much more to him — all of it quirky.

Burns, 60, was found dead at his home in Seguin on Tuesday morning by police, who investigated the death as a suicide. About a month earlier, Burns had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

He kept his illness private, wanting those around him to remain happy rather than burdened by the reality he faced.

True to form, Burns approached his farewell with irreverent humor. On his website, he left a “Farewell Address to the Troops,” accompanied by a photo of himself lying before a mock tombstone bearing his own name.

“I’ve never understood why people would stay in the theater after it became obvious that the rest of the movie would not be enjoyable… so I left the theater (me and Elvis, you know.)”

Burns graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in drama. His creative talents spanned special effects, acting, writing, music, and sculpture.

He worked on films such as The Howling, starred in Confessions of a Serial Killer, and appeared in The Stars Fell on Henrietta and The Substitute Wife.

In Austin, Burns became a beloved eccentric long before “Keep Austin Weird” became a slogan. His outrageous costumes, absurd performances, and fearless wordplay made him unforgettable.

Among his creations were parody songs like “She’s Got Colonel Sanders Thighs”, performed with mock sincerity and razor-sharp humor.

One of his most famous Chainsaw creations was The Arm Chair — a chair fitted with prosthetic human arms — a perfect encapsulation of his dark wit.

Burns spent his later years restoring an old river walk behind his home in Seguin. He requested cremation, with his ashes scattered over the creek he lovingly restored.

He is survived by his father, Ed Burns of Austin, and his brothers Morris, Ross, and Fred Burns.