Edwin Neal (Born July 12, 1945) is an American actor, perhaps best known for his role as the hitchhiker in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. He has been a voice talent and actor for years appearing on screen and off, including three voices in Wii's Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. He set a record doing 26 different voices in the only completely unedited version of all 103 episodes of Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets), which included the lead villain Berg Katse. Neal also provides three voices in the DC Universe Online game; those of Two-Face, Killer Croc, and Harvey Bullock.
Early life and career
Neal, after high school, studied at Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas, before moving on to acting and directing studies at the University of Texas at Austin. While there, Neal auditioned for the role of the Hitchhiker in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and got it. He has said that when auditioning he acted as an eccentric relative of his. The movie went on to become a cult classic.
Neal still continues to act. His most notable roles since The Texas Chain Saw Massacre were playing the Mercer interrogator in Oliver Stone's JFK, and one of Big Chuck's Henchmen in the 1993 movie My Boyfriend's Back. He has also done some voice work, for films, computer games and cartoons. Neal also annually tours worldwide making many public appearances as "The Hitchhiker" at horror conventions and related gatherings.
Honors
Neal was inducted into the "Hollywood Horror Hall of Fame" in 1993 alongside Vincent Price, and owns one of the world's largest movie poster collections, from 1900 to the present day. He received a Bronze Star for Valor during his service in Vietnam in 1969.
Filmography
Film roles
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) - Nubbins Sawyer / The Hitchhiker
My Two Loves (1986) - Telephone Man
Future-Kill (1985) - Splatter
Good Girl, Bad Girl - Nolan
JFK (1991) - Mercer
My Boyfriend's Back (1993) - Big Chuck's Henchman
Mr Hell (2001) - Freemont
Holy Hell (2005) - Bolton
Satan's Playground (2006) - Boy
Shudder - Frances
Dropping Evil - President Strode
Bone Boys - Freddy
The Best Laid Plans (2019) - Jimmy
Anime roles
Blade of the Phantom Master
Final Fantasy: Unlimited - Pist Shaz
Gatchaman - Berg Katse (ADV dub) Gatchaman: The Movie - Berg Katse (BTVA Award for Best male supporting vocal performance in an anime movie/special.) GetBackers - Mr. Sasakida Getter Robo Armageddon - Gai Happy Lesson - Tanuki Jing: King of Bandits - Emcee Lost Universe - Drunk, Barker, Superintendent General, Roy Glen Mazinger - Professor Morimori, Nuke Moeyo Ken TV - Nekomaru Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water || Jean's Uncle, Newspaper Editor Ninja Resurrection - Souiken Mori Sakura Wars - Financier, Gojii Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie - Dr. Robotnik, President, Metal Robotnik Soul Hunter - Lisei Steam Detectives - Dr. Guilty Wedding Peach - Jamapon Zaion: I Wish You Were Here - Dr. Domeki
Video game roles
Voice roles
Love Lost in a Boat - Narration
References
External links
Living people
American male film actors
American male television actors
American male video game actors
American male voice actors
American military personnel of the Vietnam War
American people of Irish descent
Lon Morris College alumni
Male actors from Texas
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
Year of birth missing (living people)