George A. Romero

Profession: Director

Nationality:

Biography: George A. Romero was an influential American-Canadian filmmaker, writer, and editor, regarded by many as the "Father of the Zombie Film." He is best known for his series of gruesome and satirical horror films about a zombie apocalypse, beginning with the now-classic Night of the Living Dead (1968).

Born in New York to a Cuban-born father and a Lithuanian-American mother, Romero's interest in film began at a young age. He subsequently attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where he studied art, design, and theater. It was in Pittsburgh that he would later film Night of the Living Dead, which became a cult classic and touchstone for the horror genre.

Night of the Living Dead was noteworthy for its explicit gore, social commentary, and the fact that it was one of the first films to feature a black actor, Duane Jones, in a lead role, breaking racial barriers of the time. The film was made on a modest budget with the guerrilla filmmaking techniques that Romero used throughout his career.

Romero's "Dead" series—which includes Dawn of the Dead (1978), Day of the Dead (1985), Land of the Dead (2005), Diary of the Dead (2007), and Survival of the Dead (2009)—was not only pivotal in shaping the horror genre but also in using the medium for social commentary. The films tackled issues such as consumerism, militarism, class conflict, and the breakdown of societal norms.

Outside of the "Dead" series, Romero worked on other projects that explored different horror themes, though his most profound impact remained within the world of the undead. His style was characterized by combining the grotesque with the political, often marrying the visceral thrill of horror with deeper critiques of contemporary issues.

Romero's influence extends beyond film to television, video games, and literature. His vision of a zombie apocalypse has been a template for countless works and has shaped the global pop culture conception of zombies. The modern zombie archetype—as a reanimated, flesh-eating creature—can largely be attributed to Romero's imagination.

Born: February 4, 1940
Birthplace: NYC, New York, USA

Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rabbit
Star Sign: Aquarius

Died: July 16, 2017 (aged 77)