Biography for
S. William Hinzman More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

24 October 1936, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, USA

Date of Death

5 February 2012, Darlington, Pennsylvania, USA (cancer)

Birth Name

Samuel William Hinzman

Nickname

Bill

Height

6' 2" (1.88 m)

Spouse

Bonnie Hinzman

(? - 5 February 2012) (his death) 1 child

Trivia

Father of actress Heidi Hinzman.

Uncle of actor Mark Hinzman.

Saved Gary Streiner, brother of actor/producer Russell Streiner, from severe burns on the set of Night of the Living Dead (1968). When Streiner's arm caught fire during an effects mishap, he began running in terror, and Hinzman (in full zombie makeup) tackled him to the ground and helped extinguish the flames.

Said in an interview for the 30th anniversary edition of the movie that, while playing the Graveyard Zombie, he was to smash the window of the Pontiac LeMans Judith O'Dea was trapped in at the cemetery with a rock. Because it was a real car window, and not a breakable fake, he had to hit it three times before it finally shattered. On the third time, the rock flew out of his hand and bounced off the lens of the camera, which was being operated by George Romero. Hinzman was convinced that he had accidentally killed Romero, who luckily was not hurt.

Passed away on same day as Josephine Streiner, who also played a zombie in Night of the Living Dead (1968).