kriegerg69 Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Original 'Night of the Living Dead' zombie Bill Hinzman dies at 75 By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper He wasn't the first-ever movie zombie, but he was the first to appear in George A. Romero's 1968 classic, "Night of the Living Dead." Actor Bill Hinzman has died of cancer at 75, horror site Dread Central is reporting. His character, dubbed the Graveyard Zombie, makes an appearance early in the film, staggering towards brother and sister Barbara and Johnny in a cemetery, and killing Johnny. The line, "They're coming to get you, Barbara" is famously delivered by Johnny just before Hinzman comes after the siblings. Other creatures called zombies had been depicted in film, but it was Romero who introduced the slow-walking, flesh-eating undead that we now think of when we hear the term. The movie is a cinema classic, and thousands of variously decaying zombies have attacked humans in films since then, but Hinzman was the first. Dread Central had high praise for Hinzman. "Afixture on the convention circuit, Bill was always there with a smile for fans, often appearing in costume as the famed ghoul we all grew up with," site contributor Uncle Creepy wrote. Hinzman later acted in other horror films, and wrote, produced, edited, directed and starred in 1988's "Flesh Eater," in which he appears to play the same zombie from "Night of the Living Dead." He continued to represent the film that made him famous, even answering questions at a Chicago production of "The Musical of the Living Dead." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowanMartin68 Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 the first zombie I ever seen... he set the standard for how zombies would be portrayed in pop culture for years to come. a true visionary. r.i.p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phroso Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 If there was ever an actor who I wanted to rest in peace, it's Bill Hinzman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicalnovelty Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 If your name is Barbara or Johnny, watch out if you go and visit his grave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepiatone Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I feel he'd somehow be tickled by being remembered at all. RIP Bill Sepiatone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phroso Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 A couple of news stories have claimed that Bill will be cremated, according to his wishes. He would joke that if they tried to bury him, he would only have to come back to life anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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