George A. Romero Has Passed Away

2017/07/16 21:53:18 +00:00

The team here at Daily Dead is incredibly saddened to share the news that George A. Romero, the Godfather of the Living Dead, has passed away at the age of 77.

According to a statement provided to the LA Times from Romero's producing partner, Peter Grunwald, Romero passed away after a “brief but aggressive battle with lung cancer." He was with his family at the time of his passing, and was listening to the score to 1952's The Quiet Man, one of his favorite films.

Romero's influence on the horror genre is both immortal and immeasurable. His 1968 film Night of the Living Dead invented the modern zombie as we know it, paving the way for countless films and shows like The Walking Dead.

His films—both the living dead ones and otherwise—always had a lot on their minds and intriguingly reflected and commented on pressing societal issues. He was a thought-provoking filmmaker who challenged his audiences and entertained them at the same time, and he will be dearly missed. Our thoughts are with his family and friends in this difficult time.

Editor's Note: It's a fact that without George A. Romero, this site wouldn't exist and I'm absolutely crushed by the news of his passing. My brief time with him over the years has had an incredible influence on me, and the team here at Daily Dead will be paying tribute to George A. Romero later this month, reflecting on his filmmaking career and our encounters with him.

Longtime friends of Romero have shared their remembrances and respects online, including makeup effects masters Tom Savini and Greg Nicotero, as well as Stephen King, with whom Romero collaborated on several projects, including one of the all-time great horror anthologies, Creepshow: