Paul A. Partain
Encyclopedia
Paul A. Partain was an American
actor, perhaps best known for his role in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
(1974) as the "annoying" handicapped Franklin Hardesty.
Partain was born in Austin, Texas
. He served in the United States armed forces
during 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 was begun.
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.
After appearing in two more films in the 1970s (Race with the Devil
(1975) as Cal Mather and Rolling Thunder (1977) as the brother-in-law), Partain had stopped acting by 1980. 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
.
Partain died from cancer on January 27, 2005 in Austin, Texas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor, perhaps best known for his role in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American independent horror film directed and produced by Tobe Hooper, who cowrote it with Kim Henkel. It stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, and Gunnar Hansen, who respectively portray Sally Hardesty, Franklin Hardesty, the...
(1974) as the "annoying" handicapped Franklin Hardesty.
Partain was born in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. He served in the United States armed forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, and on his return to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, started working at an electronics manufacturing plant during the day, and at a dinner theater
Dinner theater
Dinner theater is a form of entertainment that combines a restaurant meal with a staged play or musical. Sometimes the play is incidental entertainment, secondary to the meal, in the style of a sophisticated night club, or the play may be a major production with dinner less important, or in some...
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
Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumet was an American director, producer and screenwriter with over 50 films to his credit. He was nominated for the Academy Award as Best Director for 12 Angry Men , Dog Day Afternoon , Network and The Verdict...
film Lovin' Molly
Lovin' Molly
Lovin' Molly is a 1974 drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Anthony Perkins, Beau Bridges, Blythe Danner in the title role, Ed Binns, and Susan Sarandon. The film is based on one of Larry McMurtry's first novels, Leaving Cheyenne...
, by the theater director there. Through the help of this director, Partain got the role and his acting career was begun.
The director got Partain his next movie role as well, by pointing Kim Henkel
Kim Henkel
Kim Henkel is an American screenwriter, director and producer.Henkel was born in Virginia and grew up in several small towns in South Texas. He started at the University of Texas at Austin in 1964 majoring in English and graduated in 1969...
, 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
Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper is an American film director and screenwriter, best known for his work in the horror film genre. His works include the cult classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre , along with its first sequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 ; the three-time Emmy-nominated Stephen King film adaptation...
, was not impressed. Hooper had Partain read for Franklin and cast him in that part instead.
After appearing in two more films in the 1970s (Race with the Devil
Race with the Devil
Race with the Devil is a 1975 occult thriller and action film starring Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit and Lara Parker. This was the second of three films Fonda and Oates would star in together...
(1975) as Cal Mather and Rolling Thunder (1977) as the brother-in-law), Partain had stopped acting by 1980. Partain started appearing in movies again in the 1990s, starting with a cameo in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation is a 1994 independent American comedy-horror film written and directed by Kim Henkel, and starring Renée Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey, both before they became mainstream stars...
(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
Zenith Electronics
Zenith Electronics Corporation is a brand of the South Korean company LG Electronics. The company was previously an American manufacturer of televisions and other consumer electronics, and was headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois. LG Electronics acquired a controlling share of Zenith in 1995...
.
Partain died from cancer on January 27, 2005 in Austin, Texas.