George A. Romero

Director George A. Romero pioneered the "zombie" movie with his landmark 1968 horror classic Night of the Living Dead. He has since written and directed a number of memorable horror films, including four Living Dead sequels. Romero is best known for his work with zombie movies including being the first to have zombies eat brains, but he directed many other films as well including The Crazies. Romero acted as executive producer for the 2010 remake of The Crazies starring Timothy Olyphant and Rahda Mitchell. Romero often adds social messages to his works including an anti-consumerism message in his film Dawn of the Dead and messages about the dangers of scientific experiements and the military particularly when paired together in Day of the Dead and The Crazies. Romero is a master of studying interpersoanl relationships under stress.

Fast Facts:

Born February 4, 1940 in New York City, New York
Began making movies at the age of 14 with an 8mm camera
Directed a segment of Mister Rogers Neighborhood
Films generally set in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Height: 6' 5"
Directed a commercial for the video game Resident Evil 2

Beginnings

After graduating Carnegie Mellon University in 1960, Romero started making commercials and short films. He formed the company Image Ten Productions with some friends, and together they raised about $10,000 a piece to produce Living Dead independently.

Return of the Dead

Romero followed up the cult success of Living Dead with a number of other low-budget, socially-conscious horror films, including The Crazies, about a toxic spill that sets off a wave of homicides, and Martin, about a reluctant vampire. Though these films later found audiences, particularly on home video, they were largely unnoticed in their own time.

In 1978, Romero received $500,000 to shoot a follow-up to Living Dead entitled Dawn of the Dead, a satirical take on modern consumerism in which an army of zombies threatens survivors who have holed up in an abandoned shopping mall.

The film eventually grossed $55 million worldwide, and paved the way for more entries in the series - Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, and the most recent incarnation, 2007's Diary of the Dead. Romero also collaborated on a 1990 remake of his original Night of the Living Dead, directed by his frequent collaborator, effects and make-up specialist Tom Savini.

In September of 2008, Romero started production for another installment to his zombie film line. The film is unofficially titled Island of the Dead. Paying homage to his roots, Romero's new production company is called Blank of the Dead. In 2010, Romero was the executive producer on a remake of The Crazies starring Timothy Olyphant and Rahda Mitchell.