Edwin Neal

Edwin Neal (born Joseph Edwin Neal Jr. on July 12, 1945 in Houston, Texas) is a veteran American actor whose career spans more than five decades, encompassing iconic horror cinema, mainstream film, and prolific voice‑over work for video games and anime. He first achieved cult fame in 1974 when director Tobe Hooper cast him as the unsettling “Hitchhiker” in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, a role that not only defined a generation of slasher aesthetics but also cemented Neal’s reputation as a master of unsettling physicality and chilling vocal delivery. After graduating from high school, Neal attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas, where he honed his craft and auditioned for the part that would launch his legend, reportedly drawing on an eccentric relative for inspiration during the audition. Beyond the horror milestone, Neal has demonstrated remarkable versatility, appearing as Mercer, the ruthless interrogator, in Oliver Stone’s JFK (1991) and as one of Big Chuck’s henchmen in the off‑beat teen comedy My Boyfriend’s Back (1993). Since the 1990s he has become a sought‑after voice talent, lending his distinctive timbre to more than two dozen characters in anime dubs—including the villain Berg Katse in Gatchaman—and to video game titans such as Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and DC Universe Online, where he portrays Two‑Face, Killer Croc, and Harvey Bullock. Neal’s vocal range is highlighted by his record‑setting feat of providing 26 separate voices for the unedited Japanese series Gatchaman, a testament to his adaptability and stamina. In addition to his on‑screen and off‑screen work, Neal is a celebrated guest at horror conventions worldwide, where he appears as “The Hitchhiker”, sharing anecdotes and connecting with fans of the genre. His contributions to horror cinema were recognized in 1993 with induction into the Hollywood Horror Hall of Fame alongside legends like Vincent Price. An avid collector, Neal owns one of the world’s largest private movie‑poster archives, spanning from the early 1900s to the present, and he is a decorated Vietnam veteran who earned a Bronze Star for Valor in 1969. His enduring presence in film, television, and interactive media continues to influence new generations of performers and genre enthusiasts.