Wlliam Vail born November 30 1950 is an American set decorator and actorbest known for his role as Kirk in the 1974 American horror classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Vail was born in San Antonio Texas He began his film career in 1974 when he played the character of Kirk in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre He then starred in three more films titled Poltergeist 1982 Mausoleum 1983 and Glitch 1988 He then decided to switch as a Set Decorator in the film A Cry for Help The Tracey Thurman Story 1989 He continues to work as a Set Decorator and has recently helped with the TV Movie The Craigslist Killer 2011