Film director George A. Romero, who was often referred to as the “Father of the Zombie Movie” for movies such as “Night of the Living Dead” and “Dawn of the Dead,” has died after a brief battle with lung cancer. He was 77 years old. (more)
Romero died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday while surrounded by his wife and daughter in Toronto, according to his manager, Chris Roe. He said Romero passed away while listening to the score of “The Quiet Man,” which was one of his favorite movies.
“He died peacefully in his sleep following a brief but aggressive battle with lung cancer, and leaves behind a loving family, many friends, and a filmmaking legacy that has endured, and will continue to endure, the test of time,” the family said in a statement.
Born in New York in 1940, Romero went on to become one of the most influential directors in the horror genre, directing movies such as the cult classic “Night of the Living Dead,” which was released in 1968 and has since been selected by the Library of Congress to be preserved in the National Film Registry.
Romero went on to direct 5 additional movies in what would become known as the “Living Dead” film series, including the successful 1978 movie “Dawn of the Dead.” The more recent installments, such as “Diary of the Dead” and “Survival of the Dead,” performed poorly among the general public.
Nonetheless, Romero’s work earned him the nicknames “Father of the Zombie Movie” and “Godfather of the Dead.”
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