Tobe Hooper, director of groundbreaking horror The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, has died at the age of 74.

Shot on a small budget of just $300,000, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre went on to become one of the most influential films ever made and was praised for its brutal, realistic approach and heavy use of gore and shock. Hooper would go on to direct the TV adaptation of 'Salem's Lot in 1979, considered as one of the sharpest retellings of Stephen King's work. 

In 1982, Hooper began work on Poltergeist - a film which has been the subject of speculation for years as to who, in fact, directed. Recently, an on-set worker confirmed the long-held rumour that Steven Spielberg effectively directed the film whilst Tobe Hooper's name appeared on the credits; the arrangement coming out due to complex contractual obligations on Spielberg's part.

Hooper would work again in television, directing episodes in such series like The Equalizer and Tales From The Crypt. Hooper's last film, Djinn, was released in 2013.

Hooper is survived by his two sons.