Dawn of the Dead Alumni that I have met...
Dawn of the Dead is without a doubt my favorite movie of all time. It also served as the inspiration for Robert Kirkman when he began writing "The Walking Dead". I have been steadily meeting cast members of Dawn of the Dead since 1995. There are still several key people from the movie that I would like to meet. Currently I have a poster & script signed by the cast members listed below. One such cast member, Molly McCloskey, I had the pleasure of meeting when I was 4 years old while she hosted the show "Romper Room".
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- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Large, likable, and muscular actor Ken Foree was born as Kentotis Alvin Foree on February 29, 1948, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Foree attended Loyola University in Chicago and studied acting at Michael Shulman's Performing Gallery in New York City. He began his career in off-Broadway theater and worked as an assistant manager at a restaurant in Greenwich Village, in order to keep himself afloat during his salad days.
Ken made his film debut in The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976). He has since amassed a substantial array of often strong and commanding characters on either side of the law in both movies and television, alike. Foree gave a fine and impressive performance as tough swat team officer, "Peter Washington", in George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978). He also had a sizable supporting part in Romero's offbeat follow-up feature, Knightriders (1981). Ken was marvelously engaging as affable cop, Buford "Bubba" Brownlee, in Stuart Gordon's From Beyond (1986) and was, once again, solid as rugged survivalist "Benny" in Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990). Foree portrayed hard-nosed police officers in such pictures as The Dentist (1996), Sleepstalker (1995), True Blood (1989) and Terror Squad (1987). He had a cameo as a stern televangelist in the Dawn of the Dead (2004) remake by Zack Snyder. More recently, Ken had a terrific role as super mack daddy pimp, "Charlie Altamont", in The Devil's Rejects (2005) and made a brief-yet-memorable appearance as rough-n-tumble truck driver, "Big Joe Grizzley", in the remake of Halloween (2007) by Rob Zombie. Foree showed a softer and more sensitive side as "Roger Rockmore" on the hit Nickelodeon TV series, Kenan & Kel (1996). He also played a recurring part on the popular daytime soap opera General Hospital (1963). Among the TV shows on which Ken has done guest spots are Due South (1994), The X-Files (1993), Babylon 5 (1993), Matlock (1986), Dallas (1978), Cheers (1982), Quantum Leap (1989), Hunter (1984), Beauty and the Beast (1987), Moonlighting (1985), Knight Rider (1982), The Fall Guy (1981), Benson (1979), The A-Team (1983), Hill Street Blues (1981), The Dukes of Hazzard (1979) and Kojak (1973). His hobbies include surfing, boxing, weightlifting and watching basketball. In addition, Foree enjoys history and traveling. Ken Foree lives in Los Angeles.Peter. I have met Mr. Foree 6 times.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Scott H. Reiniger, born in New York City, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater Arts majoring in Acting/Directing at Rollins College in Florida. Following graduation from college. Reiniger went back to New York to train professionally at The American Stanislavsky Theatre for three years and subsequently at The American Conservatory Theater (ACT) in San Francisco and Circle Repertory in New York. As an actor he worked on stage continuously and then moved to directing and developing new plays and continues to do so.
He starred as 'Roger' in George A. Romero's original film classic, "Dawn of the Dead" and performed roles in Film and Television. He also appeared as the 'Army General' in the 2004 remake of "Dawn of the Dead" directed by Zach Schneider.
As Director, he has worked with hundreds of actors and performers including Ryan Phillippe, Bruce Davison, Jean Smart, Jonathan Silverman, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Dan Ackroyd, Tom Selleck, Lee Grant, Ed Asner, Holland Taylor and Bill Macy. With over 20 professional stage productions in Los Angeles, New York, and major Regional LORT theaters throughout the country. Reiniger has also worked extensively with playwrights developing and directing numerous new works and moving them into production including the Pulitzer Prize Winner, "The Kentucky Cycle", by Robert Schenkkan and with screenwriters.
He then studied Film and Television Production and Cinematography at the University of California's (UCLA) Certificate Program, The Sony Institute and Screenwriting at Truby's Writers Studio in Los Angeles. He is Head of the Camera Department at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles and continues to develop and write new work.
In 2004 Reiniger discovered that he's the great, great, great grandson of Josiah Harlan, who was the first American to set foot in Afghanistan. This in turn makes Scott Reiniger the prince of the Western province of Ghor. Wow. That was a shock and a surprise.Roger- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Gaylen Ross was born as Gail Rosenblum in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was managing editor of the poetry journal, "Antaeus" and Ecco Press from 1975 to 1977. Ross was an actress for brief 4 years only, making an impressive film debut as the heroine "Francine" in George Romero's outstanding Dawn of the Dead (1978), followed by her portrayal of Leslie Nielsen's adulterous wife "Becky Vickers" in the George Romero and Stephen King's "Something to Tide You Over" segment of the hugely enjoyable horror anthology,Creepshow (1982). For the past two decades Gaylen has been a documentary filmmaker making acclaimed and award-winning documentaries that have been broadcast on PBS, BBC, A&E Television, The Learning Channel, UK's Channel 4, and Israeli networks. Her films have premiered at many international film festivals among them Berlin Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Haifa Film Festival, Nyon Documentary Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, The Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights, and Margaret Mead Film Festival among others. Her film Dealers Among Dealers (1995) won a Gold Plaque at the Chicago Film Festival and was named "Best of Fest" at the Edinburgh Film Festival. She co-produced and wrote Blood Money: Switzerland's Nazi Gold (1997) which won an Emmy Award. Her film Killing Kasztner (2008) about the Jewish rescuer Rezso Kasztner who negotiated with Adolf Eichmann for the lives of thousands during the war, has been seen in theaters and festivals in more than 11 countries, named by the Los Angeles Times as one of the best documentary films of 2010. and won Best Documentary of both Boston Jewish Film Festival and Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival. Her most recent documentary is Caris' Peace (2011) about the actress Caris Corfman who lost her short term memory after a brain tumor, yet made a triumphant return to the stage. The film features friends and colleagues of Caris including Kate Burton, Tony Shalhoub , and Lewis Black. Her others films and television projects have covered such diverse subjects as cabaret and Broadway Theater star Laurie Beechman Listen to Her Heart: The Life and Music of Laurie Beechman (2003), bank fraud, gambling in America, and Russian mail-order brides. She has also directed productions for both "The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous" and the "UJA Federations of North America".Fran- Actor
- Additional Crew
David Emge was born in 1946 in Evansville, Indiana. Emge studied drama at the University of Evansville and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While attending college David got drafted and served in the army during the Vietnam war. He began his acting career on stage at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in 1971. Emge made his film debut in the lowbrow comedy "The Booby Hatch." In addition, he briefly lived in Washington, D.C., where he performed in dinner theater. Emge moved to New York City in 1976. David was working as a chef at a New York City restaurant when he was cast as the meek and bumbling helicopter pilot Stephen in George Romero's outstanding "Dawn of the Dead." Emge went back to acting in live theater following his "Dawn of the Dead" stint. David Emge has acted in only two other movies to date: he's grotesquely malformed freak Half Moon in "Basket Case 2" and activist reporter Robert in "Hellmaster."Flyboy. The very 1st cast member I had the pleasure of meeting at Chiller Theatre, Oct. 1995.- Producer
- Writer
- Director
George A. Romero never set out to become a Hollywood figure; by all indications, though, he was very successful. The director of the groundbreaking "Living Dead" films was born February 4, 1940 ,in New York City to Ann (Dvorsky) and Jorge Romero. His father was born in Spain and raised in Cuba, and his mother was Lithuanian. He grew up in New York until attending the renowned Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.
After graduation he began shooting mostly short films and commercials. He and his friends formed Image Ten Productions in the late 1960s and they all chipped in roughly $10,000 apiece to produce what became one of the most celebrated American horror films of all time: Night of the Living Dead (1968). Shot in black-and-white on a budget of just over $100,000, Romero's vision, combined with a solid script written by him and his "Image" co-founder John A. Russo (along with what was then considered an excess of gore), enabled the film to earn back far more than what it cost; it became a cult classic by the early 1970s and was inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress of the United States in 1999. Romero's next films were a little more low-key but less successful, including The Affair (1971), The Crazies (1973), Season of the Witch (1972) (where he met future wife Christine Forrest) and Martin (1977). Though not as acclaimed as "Night of the Living Dead" or some of his later work, these films had his signature social commentary while dealing with issues--usually horror-related--at the microscopic level. Like almost all of his films, they were shot in, or around, Romero's favorite city of Pittsburgh.
In 1978 he returned to the zombie genre with the one film of his that would top the success of "Night of the Living Dead"--Dawn of the Dead (1978). He managed to divorce the franchise from Image Ten, which screwed up the copyright on the original and allowed the film to enter into public domain, with the result that Romero and his original investors were not entitled to any profits from the film's video releases. Shot in the Monroeville (PA) Mall during late-night hours, the film told the tale of four people who escape a zombie outbreak and lock themselves up inside what they think is paradise before the solitude makes them victims of their own, and a biker gang's, greed. Made on a budget of just $1.5 million, the film earned over $40 million worldwide and was named one of the top cult films by Entertainment Weekly magazine in 2003. It also marked Romero's first work with brilliant make-up and effects artist Tom Savini. After 1978, Romero and Savini teamed up many times. The success of "Dawn of the Dead" led to bigger budgets and better casts for the filmmaker. First was Knightriders (1981), where he first worked with an up-and-coming Ed Harris. Then came perhaps his most Hollywood-like film, Creepshow (1982), which marked the first--but not the last--time Romero adapted a work by famed horror novelist Stephen King. With many major stars and big-studio distribution, it was a moderate success and spawned a sequel, which was also written by Romero.
The decline of Romero's career came in the late 1980s. His last widely-released film was the next "Dead" film, Day of the Dead (1985). Derided by critics, it did not take in much at the box office, either. His latest two efforts were The Dark Half (1993) (another Stephen King adaptation) and Bruiser (2000). Even the Romero-penned/Tom Savini-directed remake of Romero's first film, Night of the Living Dead (1990), was a box-office failure. Pigeon-holed solely as a horror director and with his latest films no longer achieving the success of his earlier "Dead" films, Romero has not worked much since, much to the chagrin of his following. In 2005, 19 years after "Day of the Dead", with major-studio distribution he returned to his most famous series and horror sub-genre it created with Land of the Dead (2005), a further exploration of the destruction of modern society by the undead, that received generally positive reviews. He directed two more "Dead" films, Diary of the Dead (2007) and Survival of the Dead (2009).
George died on July 16, 2017, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was 77.Stood in line for 5 hours in the rain to finally meet Mr. Romero.- Actor
- Make-Up Department
- Special Effects
Actor/SFX wizard/stuntman/director Tom Savini was born in Pittsburgh. Inspired by the film Man of a Thousand Faces (1957), a young Savini became fascinated with the magic and illusion of film. He spent his youth in his room creating characters by tirelessly practicing make-up. Later, as a combat photographer in Vietnam, Savini saw first-hand the gruesome carnage for which he later gained fame, simulating it on screen.
He has acquired a remarkable cult following among film fans, primarily due to his ground-breaking SFX in the "splatter movie" explosion of the early 1980s. Along with fellow special make-up legends Dick Smith and Rob Bottin, Savini was one of the key SFX people behind the startling make-up & EFX seen in the fantasy/horror genre films of the 1980s-'90s. Savini was heavily influenced by the remarkable silent-era actor Lon Chaney, and he sought to emulate the amazing theatrical make-up effects that were a hallmark of Chaney's career. In Savini's insightful book "Grande Illusions", he speaks of his early attempts at applying prosthetics to his face using "spearmint gum", having misinterpreted that he was meant to actually use "spirit gum"! His first work was in low-budget fare, providing SFX and make-up for independently made horror films such as Deranged (1974) and Martin (1977).
He really caught the attention of horror buffs with his grisly effects in the cult George A. Romero-directed zombie film Dawn of the Dead (1978), and then in the controversial slasher film Friday the 13th (1980), the movie generally identified as the kickstart for the aforementioned "splatter movie" genre. Savini also contributed the incredible EFX & make-up to other splatter thrillers such as Maniac (1980), The Burning (1981), Creepshow (1982) and Romero's third "Dead" film, Day of the Dead (1985) (for which he won a Saturn Award). In 1990, Savini directed his feature film debut Night of the Living Dead (1990), the remake of the original zombie-classic.
Not content with only being behind the lens, however, Savini has appeared in dozens of films, and can be seen demonstrating his capable acting skills as "Morgan, the Black Knight" in Knightriders (1981), as "Blades", one of the biker gang members in Dawn of the Dead (1978) and as "Sex Machine", another leather-clad biker--but this time with a groin-mounted gun--in the wild vampire film From Dusk Till Dawn (1996).Blades- David Crawford is known for Dawn of the Dead (1978), Night of the Living Dead: Genesis and Lady Beware (1987).Dr. Foster
- David Early was born on 30 May 1938 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for Creepshow (1982), One for the Money (2012) and Dawn of the Dead (1978). He died on 23 March 2013 in Clearwater, Florida, USA.Mr. Berman
- Actor
- Make-Up Department
Born in the Italian section of East Boston to a hardworking Italian family (his father was professional trombonist with the Les Brown Orchestra), Pilato admits that his flair for performing was discovered quite by accident, when he became an alter boy. Still, it wasn't until his college years that he took the big step towards honing his love for performance into a craft. Unfortunately, once he got there, he realized that his only points of reference for law were those found on television and film. He realized quickly that he didn't want to be a lawyer, so much as he wanted to PLAY a lawyer. Acting classes followed at Emerson College and Suffolk University, in Boston, and soon he was on stage with such notable troupes as Boston Repertory Theatre, Stage One Theatre Company and Reality Theatre. Though the progression seems almost natural, he still credits both religion and law as his main influences for taking the big leap of faith. Savagely bitten by the acting bug, the fledgling actor made his way to New York City, where he was an original member of the Working Theatre, studying with such luminaries as Joe Chalkin, Kristin Linklatter and Peter Kass. It was while in New York that he also began his collaboration with Jersey Growtowski's Polish Laboratory Theatre. In the late 70s, Pilato relocated to Pittsburgh, where he was a resident actor with the Pittsburgh Public Theatre and the Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival. He also picked up a few gigs as an acting coach at local colleges. His career took an upswing when he became a member of the Pittsburgh Film Family and consequently met the Godfather of cult cinema, George A. Romero. As odd as it may seem for a theatrically trained actor to pair up with a filmmaker of Romero's stature, the match appeared to be a heavenly one. Pilato's first role, a small part in 'Dawn Of The Dead' (as a police officer), led to yet another small part in 'Knight Riders' (as a disgruntled fair worker), alongside Ed Harris, followed closely by his signature role as Captain Rhodes in 'Day Of The Dead.' In fact, it's his memorable death scene that really grabbed the attention of fans. Since that auspicious "debut," Pilato's resume has grown over the years to include roles in Ron Howard's 'Gung Ho,' Charlie Peter's 'Music From Another Room,' and Quentin Tarantino's 'Pulp Fiction' (as Dean Martin), as well as such cult fare as Bob Kurtzman's 'The Demolitionist' and 'Wishmaster,' 'Alienators,' 'The Ghouls,' 'Last Seduction' and Zebediah de Soto's 'Wardog.' His voiceover work includes that of Metal Greymon in the children's animated series, 'Digimon.' It's also a little known fact that Pilato was in the original trailer for the low-budget version of Tarantino's 'From Dusk Til Dawn,' where he can be seen wearing the infamous black suit, white shirt, and black tie, which later became a Tarantino trademark in such films as 'Reservoir Dogs' and the afore-mentioned 'Pulp Fiction.' Even so, he's never forgotten the role that made him famous and can often be seen at conventions, signing autographs and talking to enthusiastic fans about his experiences on the film. Ask him what his favorite roles to date have been, however, and you may be surprised. Though Captain Rhodes will always be near and dear to his heart, he waxes nostalgic about his roles as a professional Christmas caroler at Gimbel's Department Store in Pittsburgh, where he founded the Dickens Carolers, and as a stand-in for Robert DeNiro in 'The Deer Hunter.'Officer at Police Dock- Additional Crew
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Actor
Nick Tallo was born on 29 April 1947 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for Dawn of the Dead (1978), Striking Distance (1993) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). He died on 14 December 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.Motorcycle Raider- Actor
- Casting Director
- Make-Up Department
Capable and likable baby-faced actor John Amplas was born on June 23, 1949 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Amplas was outstanding as a troubled and disturbed teenager who thinks he's a vampire in George Romero's fantastic horror winner "Martin." John has appeared in several other pictures for Romero: he's a Hispanic gang member, Zombie, and Biker in the immortal "Dawn of the Dead" (Amplas was also the casting director for this film), a jester in the quirky "Knightriders," a lethal shambling zombie in the immensely enjoyable anthology outing "Creepshow," and a nerdy scientist in the grim "Day of the Dead." Amplas was miscast, but still solid as an FBI agent in "Bloodeaters" and was chilling as a vicious backwoods Satanist in "Midnight." He gave a fine performance as a weary single blue collar guy in the poignant "No Pets." More recently John played an evil, greedy priest in the offbeat "Daddy Cool." Outside of his regrettably sparse film work, Amplas has had a long and distinguished stage career as both an actor and director. He's a founding member and the Associate Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Playhouse Repertory Company. John received a lot of accolades for his portrayal of Ricky Roma in an Axiom Theater stage production of David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross." Other plays he's acted in are "American Buffalo," "The Lion in the Winter," "Breaker Morant," "On the Beach," "Colonel Bird," and "Morat/Sade." Among the plays Amplas has directed are "Hair," "Driving Miss Daisy," "The Threepenny Opera," "Quills," "The Prince," "Suburbia," and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". Moreover, John Amplas teaches acting as an Associate Professor with the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University.- Actor
- Casting Department
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clayton Hill started entertaining at an early age. When he was six years old, he sang in beer gardens with 3 piece combos where they would throw money at him. When he was a teenager, he sang on the radio station, WTAE-Pittsburgh on Saturday mornings in front of crowds of thousands of people. He went into the U.S. Air Force for four years and sang with swing bands at the officers and service clubs. When he was discharged, he immediately started acting and singing in plays on the stage in Pittsburgh. He was particularly in operettas where he sang and danced. He went to drama school for two semesters at the Pittsburgh Playhouse/Point Park College and appeared in many student productions. Clayton then landed a role as lead zombie in George Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978) where he was also weapons coordinator. He is known as the "sweater zombie" in the United States and the "escalator zombie" in Germany. He has had credited and uncredited speaking roles in many movies such as; All The Right Moves (1983), Lady Beware; Knightriders (1981); Hellraisers III; Kid Brother; Silent Witness; Maria's Lovers; The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh; Rappin'; and Death Penalty. Clayton was featured in such movies as Gung Ho; Mrs. Soffell; Stuck with Each Other, and Children of the Corn II where he also did stunts work. Clayton has worked with such directors as George A. Romero, where he was 2nd assistant director for the movie Knightriders (1981) and Ron Howard, etc. He has cast over 25 movies as a location casting director along with his wife, Sharon Ceccatti. Clayton has done location scouting for movies in many cities and in other countries such as Spain & Morocco.
His wife, Sharon, was an assistant to David Copperfield. Clayton traveled with the crew and appeared in Illusions with David Copperfield, one on one in Caesar's Palace in Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City and Las Vegas. He appeared on tour in other countries such as Germany, Spain, Czech Republic and many others. He is currently scheduled to appear in two cities in Germany, December 2003.Escalator Zombie. Rest In Pease.- Casting Department
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Sharon Ceccatti (Hill) began her career in show business singing and dancing on stage in the Pittsburgh area, performing mostly in operettas. When she wasn't working, she made a living as a hospital nurse for a downtown Pittsburgh hospital. She is best known for playing the "lead zombie nurse" in the horror movie, Dawn of the Dead (1978). She has become a horror zombie legend all across Europe especially and her face as the zombie nurse is featured as such on posters and many books.
She usually appeared as uncredited extras in movies some of which include, Hellraiser III, Knightriders (1981), Maria's Lovers, Death Penalty, Silent Witness, Kid Brother, and many more. Sharon has had a long career for over 20 years as a movie and location casting director in casting principles, day players and extras. She has cast such films as, Dominick and Eugene, starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Ray Liotta; Lady Beware, starring Diane Lane and Michael Woods; Gung Ho, starring Michael Keaton; Mrs. Soffell, starring Diane Keaton and Mel Gibson; and All The Right Moves (1983) starring Tom Cruise, Leah Thompson and Craig T. Nelson. She has worked with directors such as Ron Howard, George A. Romero, Michael Chapman, Andrei Konchalovsky, and many more.
From there she became Assistant Director of Operations for eight years at a 26,000 seat amphitheater where she had an office backstage where she could keep a handle on all theatre activities. During the season she had approximately 450 people working for her during the shows. Some of the acts that came thru were Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Janet Jackson, Van Halen, Jimmy Buffett, AC DC, Rod Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne, Brooks & Dunn, Steve Miller, Neil Young, Reba McIntyre, and many more. Moving on and joining the "David Copperfield Tour" the world's greatest magician as his personal assistant and appeared on stage with him traveling all over the world to Hungary, Czech Republic, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Switzerland and 11 cities in Germany, putting on 500 shows a year, as well as playing at Caesar Palace in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Lake Tahoe.
Since then, Sharon has been scouting locations for movies. The most interesting scouting was for a month in Spain and some days in Morocco looking primarily for bullrings. Occasionally being sent movie scripts, breaking down parts to see who is best suited to appear in the movie.Nurse Zombie- Actor
- Composer
Mike Christopher is best known for his character, the "Hare Krishna Zombie" in the 1978 George Romero classic "Dawn of the Dead." Following the release of "Dawn" he moved to Los Angeles to perform laser light shows for Laserium and Laser Media, Tangerine Dream and New Kids on the Block. Heavily interested in technology, he spend the next 2 decades with Oberheim Electronics as a Quality Technician and studio musician, Color Systems Technology as an animator, freelancing in Hollywood and Burbank as a quality technician for Videotape mastering and finally digitizing film and shooting EFX back to 35mm. Totally unaware of the growing cult popularity of "Dawn of the Dead" he relocated to the Tampa FL area in 1996. As of 2013 he is in the process of reinventing himself as a character actor and electronic music composer. He is living in East Central Florida.Hare Krishna Zombie- Director
- Editor
- Actor
Leonard Lies was born on 11 April 1955 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He is a director and editor, known for The Most Important Number is One (2016).Machete Zombie- Actress
- Special Effects
- Make-Up Department
Molly McCloskey is known for Knightriders (1981) and Romper Room (1953)."My turn for the coat."- Actor
- Casting Department
- Director
- Transportation Department
- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
Frank A. Serrao was born on 14 February 1952. He was an actor, known for Striking Distance (1993), Out of the Black (2001) and Geronimo: An American Legend (1993). He died on 18 July 2012.Grey Suit Zombie- Stunts
- Actress
Trudy Gray is known for Knightriders (1981) and Zombies and Bikers (2020).- Producer
- Director
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
- Sound Department
Tony Buba was born on 20 October 1943 in Braddock, Pennsylvania, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Lightning Over Braddock: A Rustbowl Fantasy (1988), Struggles in Steel: The Fight for Equal Opportunity (1996) and Dawn of the Dead (1978).- Actor
- Art Director
- Producer
In 1970, Bob was hired as a "Creative Apprentice" at Mel Richman Creative Marketing Services in Pittsburgh. In 1974, he moved on as a graphic production artist with Dick Z Associates, again in downtown Pittsburgh. Bob is one of the "pioneers" of the independent horror publishing field. His first book was THE COLLECTORS GUIDE TO MONSTER MAGAZINES in 1977, self-published along with Dick Zdinak, it was considered the "bible" for film-monster magazine collecting. Bob published an updated second COLLECTORS GUIDE in 1988 complete with Jack Davis cover art. In 1978, he partnered up with Bill Wilson to design and co-publish a slick sci-fi magazine called QUESTAR under the business name of MW Communications and that magazine reached 100,000 circulation at its peak in 1981. In 1979, The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films presented him with their Lifetime Achievement Saturn Award.
In 1981 he formed IMAGINE, INC. and began a long career publishing and designing some now classic trade paperback titles including Tom Savini's GRANDE ILLUSIONS & GRANDE ILLUSIONS BOOK 2, Dick Smith's MONSTER MAKE-UP HANDBOOK, THE COMPLETE NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD FILMBOOK, EROTICISM IN THE FANTASY CINEMA (intro by Chris Lee), FORREST J ACKERMAN, FAMOUS MONSTER OF FILMLAND (Intro by Vincent Price) and BRUNO SAMMARTINO, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WRESTLING'S LIVING LEGEND.
Bob also began working a full time job as a production artist in the WQED Design Center in the early eighties and worked his way up to Print Production Manager until he left in 1993.
In 1993, Bob acted as Chairman for the ZOMBIE JAMBOREE...The 25th Anniversary Convention for the film NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD in Pittsburgh, PA that brought together the original cast for the first time in twenty-five years. He had previously chaired two other cons in Pittsburgh FANTASY FILM CELEBRITY CON & CON 2 in 1978 & 1979. The '79 show was Caroline Munro's first US con appearance.
Other publishing projects include another magazine titled SCREAM QUEENS ILLUSTRATED with over twenty Playboy style issues published (Edited by John Russo and Art Directed and Designed by Bob), SCREAM BEAT, DRIVE-IN CINEMA and MAKING MOVIES and several trading card sets including five series of SCREAM QUEENS, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (with FANTACO), TOM SAVINI GRANDE ILLUSIONS (with FANTACO), WRESTLING LEGENDS, FANTASY GIRLS series 1&2, YOU SLAY ME, two series of DARK SHADOWS cards and three DARK SHADOWS limited edition 18X24 illustrated prints by John Graziano.
In 1978, Bob played the "SCOPE ZOMBIE" in George Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD, he also played a priest in CHILDREN OF THE LIVING DEAD and a cop in John Russo's SANTA CLAWS. In 1979, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. Bob's wife Dee and daughter Dawn acted in John Russo's SANTA CLAWS and Dee was the ZOMBIE MOM and Dawn was the ZOMBIE DAUGHTER in the NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 30th Anniversary Edition in 1998.
In 2000, Bob reunited with former partner, Jim Aiello, Sr. and worked on a restaurant project called SORRISO PIZZA PERFECT, PASTA PERFECT located in Greenville, PA and in 2001, he managed a full service Italian Restaurant called LOCANTE'S PIZZA & PASTA CAFE located in Mt. Lebanon, PA until late 2004. In 2004 he began and managed, Rossi's Pop-Up Marketplace in North Versailles, PA, a converted twenty screen theater into a discount shopping mall and flea market. As of 2016, he continues as General Manager. Bob's current projects include compiling and publishing his most recent two books titled MEMORIES OF THE LIVING DEAD and "Bob Michelucci's MONSTERous Portfolio". His latest project is creating THE GREATER PITTSBURGH ENTERTAINMENT MUSEUM and a companion book titled "THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE GREATER PITTSBURGH ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY".
Bob just played himself in the film CHASING ZOMBIES in 2023 produced and directed by Mike Ancas.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Stunts
Randy Kovitz was born in Arlington, Virginia, USA. Randy is an actor, known for Lightweight (2011), Dawn of the Dead (1978) and The Fault in Our Stars (2014).- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Marty Schiff was born on 25 September 1956 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Dawn of the Dead (1978), Creepshow (1982) and Dallas (1978).- Actor
- Art Department
- Stunts
Butchie George appeared as Butchie, the Wild Haired, Bearded Biker riding the Harley-Davidson Panhead Motorcycle with Larry Vaira's Tommy-Gun Biker character Mousey in the sidecar in George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978). He then worked as one of the art department crew members for the Night of the Living Dead (1990) remake which he also appeared in as a Biker cameo at the very end of the movie where the towns people celebrate the killing of Zombies at the picnic party.- Stunts
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Taso N. Stavrakis was born on 12 July 1957. He is an actor, known for Day of the Dead (1985), The Mask of Zorro (1998) and Dawn of the Dead (1978).- Actor
Before Paul Musser appeared as his famous, iconic bald plaid-shirted zombie character in the airport chart house scene (who also appears on the Dawn of the Dead (1978) posters, video, DVD, Blu Ray and soundtrack album covers, and some of Day of the Dead (1985)'s releases) in George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978), he first started out as the saxophonist and clarinetist of a Cover Rock band called Changes (which was previously a rock band called Sunnn). The band played at The Lounge Circuit and other kinds of Rock bars from 1973-1976. They played song covers of music by Elton John, Aerosmith, The The J. Geils Band, the late legendary Ben E. King and many more spectacular artists and bands. Their band later evolved into the popular Theatrical Space-Themed Rock band Fluid. The musicians shaved their heads. And then the band played together as a sextet of six bald musicians in Pittsburgh, Homestead and Meyersdale, Pennsylvania from 1976-1979.
Paul's previous band mates from Changes who then played together as Fluid at the time were Tedd Arnold on lead vocals and flute, Mike Christopher (who played the Hare Krishna Zombie in Dawn of the Dead (1978). Who also previously played keyboards and Hammond Organ for the Pittsburgh Space-Themed Rock band UFO from 1972-1973) on keyboards, David "Styckz' Hayden on organ and string synthesizer, Michael James (XXVI)' (who played the Bald Red Sweatered Zombie in our four heroes' battle scene in Monroeville Mall (however you could only see him for a brief minute twice in a crowd scene) in Dawn of the Dead (1978)) on bass, and Mike's youngest brother Arl Christopher on drums and percussions.
Fluid composed the music for Leonard Lies and Michael Lies' short experimental independent movie soundtracks "Headprints" and "A Ride Through The Fields" in 1977. The entire band also starred in "Headprints" itself as Aliens. Michael Lies was actually responsible for taking a "Fluid" band promo shot to the talented George Romero's people.
Fluid rehearsed and performed their concerts in the New Leona Theater in Homestead, Pennsylvania where the talented actor and filmmaker Joe Shelby (who played Martinez, The Puerto Rican Ghetto Gang Leader/Biker, Van Driver (wearing cowboy hat & glasses) in Dawn of the Dead (1978). Who also previously appeared in "Headprints" and "A Ride Through The Fields") managed the entire theater, the bar next door and he also worked as the band's manager for awhile. Around that time and lots of the people associated with the New Leona were involved with Dawn of the Dead (1978). And that's how Paul, Mike Christopher, and Michael James got the parts for playing Bald Zombies in Dawn of the Dead (1978) itself.
After Fluid had disbanded, Paul left to join the Army band.