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Paul A. Partain (May 3, 1946 - January 27, 2005) 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... MORE

Paul A. Partain (May 3, 1946 - January 27, 2005) 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 LESS