George A. Romero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George A. Romero
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Romero at the 2009 Venice Film Festival
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George Andrew Romero
February 4, 1940 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | July 16, 2017 (aged 77) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Alma mater | Carnegie Mellon University |
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| Years active | 1960–2017 |
| Known for | Films based on an imagined zombie apocalypse |
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| Children | 3 |
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George Andrew Romero (born February 4, 1940 – died July 16, 2017) was a famous American-Canadian filmmaker. He was a writer, editor, and actor too. He is best known for his movies about a zombie apocalypse.
His most famous series, Night of the Living Dead, started with the 1968 film. This movie greatly shaped how we imagine zombies today. Other popular films in this series include Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Day of the Dead (1985).
Romero also made other movies like The Crazies (1973) and Creepshow (1982). He created the TV show Tales from the Darkside (1983–1988). Many people call him the "Father of the Zombie Film" because of his big influence on horror movies.
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Early Life and Education
George Romero was born on February 4, 1940, in the Bronx, New York City. His mother was from Lithuania, and his father was from Spain. His father was an artist.
Growing up, George often took the subway to Manhattan. He would rent film reels to watch at home. He loved movies from a young age. He later went to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
George Romero's Career
Starting Out in the 1960s
After college in 1960, Romero began making short films and TV commercials. One of his early jobs was for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He filmed a segment where Fred Rogers had a tonsillectomy.
In the late 1960s, Romero and nine friends formed Image Ten Productions. This company made Night of the Living Dead (1968). Romero directed and co-wrote this movie. It became a huge hit and changed modern horror films forever.
Films of the 1970s and 1980s
Romero made three films after Night of the Living Dead. These were There's Always Vanilla (1971), Jack's Wife / Season of the Witch (1972), and The Crazies (1973). The Crazies was about a disease that made people go crazy. Martin (1978) was a well-known film about vampires.
In 1978, Romero returned to zombies with Dawn of the Dead. This movie was very successful around the world. He then made the third zombie film, Day of the Dead, in 1985.
Between these zombie films, Romero directed Knightriders (1981). This movie was about modern-day knights who jousted on motorcycles. He also made Creepshow (1982), written by Stephen King. Creepshow was a collection of horror stories. Its success led to Romero's TV show, Tales from the Darkside. This show aired from 1983 to 1988. Later, he directed Monkey Shines (1988) about a service animal.
Work in the 1990s
Romero helped create the 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead. He updated the script and was an executive producer. Tom Savini directed this version. Savini also did the special effects for many of Romero's films.
In the early 1990s, Romero directed Two Evil Eyes (1990). This film was based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe. He also directed The Dark Half (1993), based on a Stephen King novel. In 1991, he had a small role in the movie The Silence of the Lambs.
In 1994, Romero filmed Jacaranda Joe, a short movie about Bigfoot. This was his first film made outside of Pittsburgh. In 1998, he directed a commercial for the video game Resident Evil 2. The Resident Evil games were greatly influenced by Romero's zombie movies.
Projects in the 2000s
In 2000, Romero released Bruiser. Later, Universal Studios made a remake of Dawn of the Dead in 2004. Romero was not involved in this remake.
Romero directed a fourth "Dead" movie, Land of the Dead, released in 2005. This film starred actors like Simon Baker and Dennis Hopper. It received good reviews.
In 2006, Romero started a project called Zombisodes. These were online videos showing how his 2007 film, George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead, was made. This film followed college students filming a horror movie who then record a real zombie uprising.
In 2008, Diary of the Dead was released on DVD and Blu-ray. Romero's next film, Survival of the Dead (2009), began shooting in 2008. This movie was about two families fighting over how to deal with zombies on an island.
Many people believe Romero's films often had hidden meanings. Night of the Living Dead reflected the 1960s. Dawn of the Dead made fun of consumerism (people buying too much). Land of the Dead explored differences between social classes. His later films looked at new media and conflict.
The 2010s and Final Works
In 2010, Romero was asked to direct a 3D remake of the film Deep Red. He decided not to do it. Romero had plans for two more "Dead" movies that would connect to Diary of the Dead.
Romero appeared in the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops in 2011. He was a non-playable zombie "boss" character in the "Call of the Dead" map. He was featured alongside other famous actors. In 2012, he voiced a villain in the "Zombie Squash" video game.
In 2014, Marvel Comics released Empire of the Dead, a comic series written by Romero. This series featured both zombies and vampires. There were plans to turn it into a TV show.
In May 2017, Romero announced plans for two more zombie films. The first was George A. Romero Presents: Road of the Dead. He co-wrote this film, but another director would make it. The story was about zombie prisoners racing cars for entertainment. The second film was "Twilight of the Dead". This was meant to be the final part of his zombie series. It would explain what happened to the zombies and humanity. Romero started writing the script, but he passed away before finishing it. In 2021, it was announced that his wife, Suzanne Romero, would help finish the film.
Personal Life
Romero was married three times. His first marriage was to Nancy from 1971 to 1978. They had one child, Cameron, who also became a filmmaker.
He met his second wife, actress Christine Forrest, while filming Season of the Witch (1973). They married in 1981 and had two children, Andrew and Tina. Christine often had small roles in his movies. They divorced in 2010.
Romero met Suzanne Desrocher while making Land of the Dead (2005). They married in 2011 and lived in Toronto. He became a Canadian citizen in 2009, having dual citizenship with the U.S.
Death
George A. Romero died on July 16, 2017. He had a short but serious battle with lung cancer. He passed away while listening to music from one of his favorite films, The Quiet Man. His wife, Suzanne, and daughter, Tina, were with him.
Influences
Romero shared his top ten favorite films of all time. His absolute favorite was The Tales of Hoffmann. He said this movie made him want to make films himself.
Filmography
Awards and Recognition
On October 27, 2009, Romero received the Mastermind Award at Spike TV's Scream 2009. Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino presented the award. He said that the "A" in George A. Romero stood for "A Genius."
Legacy
George Romero is known as the "Godfather of the Dead" and the "father of the modern movie zombie." His work, especially Night of the Living Dead, has influenced many filmmakers and artists. These include comic writer Robert Kirkman and directors like John Carpenter.
The TV show The Walking Dead dedicated an episode to Romero after he died. The show's creator said they owed a lot to Romero for his impact on popular culture. In 2019, the University of Pittsburgh got Romero's archives. They plan to create an exhibit for the public.
George A. Romero Foundation
The George A. Romero Foundation is a group that works to keep Romero's legacy alive. His wife, Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, started it in 2018. The Foundation supports creativity in horror films and independent filmmaking. It also helps new filmmakers and artists.
See also
In Spanish: George A. Romero para niños
