Marilyn Burns (born Mary Lynn Ann Burns; May 7, 1949 – August 5, 2014) was an American actress. Burns was known for playing Sally Hardesty in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), which established her as a scream queen and a catalyst of the final girl trope. She reprised the role with a cameo in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995), and played Verna Carson in Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013), the latter being her last appearance in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. In 2009, she was inducted into the Horror Hall of Fame at the Phoenix Film Festival. While in college, Burns made her film debut as a tour guide in Robert Altman's experimental comedy film Brewster McCloud (1970). She played Linda Kasabian in the Emmy-nominated miniseries Helter Skelter (1976) and thereafter sporadically worked in acting, notably portraying Faye in Tobe Hooper's Eaten Alive (1977) and Dorothy Grim in Future-Kill (1985). Her final works include appearances in the slasher film Butcher Boys (2012), the independent feature Sacrament (2014) and the posthumously-released film In a Madman's World (2017). On August 5, 2014, Burns was found dead in her home at the age of 65. Her cause of death was not specified. Early life Burns was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, and was raised in Houston, Texas where she resided for most of her life. While in the seventh grade, she appeared in a musical production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. She attended the University of Texas at Austin, and graduated with a drama degree in 1971. Career In 1970, she made her first film appearance in Robert Altman's comedy film Brewster McCloud (1970). Burns was cast in Lovin' Molly (1974), but was replaced by Susan Sarandon. Burns stayed on as a stand-in for Sarandon and Blythe Danner. She also helped cast some of the extras in George Roy Hill's period drama The Great Waldo Pepper (1975).In 1974, Burns starred in Tobe Hooper's independent horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. She plays the character of Sally Hardesty, a teenager who travels with her brother and some friends to the cemetery where her grandfather is buried to investigate reports of grave vandalism, and then encounters a family of cannibals including the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface. Burns and Hooper had previously met during the production of Lovin' Molly the previous year. When a casting call was held, she auditioned and was given the lead role.