It is with heavy hearts that we report the passing of prolific horror filmmaker Jeff Burr, the director famously associated with “Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III.” Jeff Burr’s untimely death marks a significant loss to the horror film community.

At just 60 years old, Jeff Burr left a notable legacy in the world of horror cinema. Before gaining recognition for his work in the Chainsaw franchise with the fan-favorite third installment, Burr had earlier directed the 1987 film “From a Whisper to a Scream,” starring the legendary Vincent Price, and followed it up with 1989’s “Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy.” His contributions to the genre also included directing the 1993 sequel “Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings.”

Burr’s directorial credits span a variety of 1990s horror films, including “Puppet Master 4,” “Puppet Master 5,” and “Night of the Scarecrow.” His filmography extended to titles like “The Werewolf Reborn!,” “Phantom Town,” “The Boy With the X-Ray Eyes,” “Straight into Darkness,” “Devil’s Den,” “Resurrection,” “Gun of the Black Sun,” “Tornado Warning,” and more recently, “Puppet Master: Blitzkrieg Massacre.”

Friend and writer Shane Bitterling took to Twitter to share the sad news, saying, “Just got an awful phone call. One I’ve had far too many of recently. Our pal, Jeff Burr, suddenly passed away last night. One of my first friends in L.A., and one of the best. Sad, sad, sad days.” In a follow-up tweet, Bitterling encouraged everyone to explore Burr’s lesser-known work, specifically recommending “Straight into Darkness,” a film Burr held in high regard and considered one of his finest creations. Bitterling referred to it as “a visually stunning poem of war brutality… and freaks.”

Rest in Peace, Jeff.