'Chainsaw Massacre' art director, 60, dies

AUSTIN, Texas, June 3 (UPI) -- Robert Burns, art director for "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," has died at his Seguin, Texas home at age 60, it was reported Thursday.

Burns' body was found Tuesday by police who were investigating the death as a suicide, the Austin, Texas, the American-Statesman reported.

Burns was diagnosed with terminal cancer one month ago and opted not to undergo cancer treatment, Jan Lewis, Burns' friend, told the newspaper.

Burns, who also worked on special effects for "The Howling," was known for his wry and irreverent humor, which he displayed when saying goodbye to friends on his Web site, www.Robert-A-Burns.com.

"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," Burns wrote. "Due to physical and psychological reasons too tedious to bore anyone with, it became obvious that the rest of my movie would not be enjoyable, so I left the theater (me and Elvis, you know.)"

The message was accompanied by a photo of Burns stretched in front of a mock tombstone.