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IMDbPro

John A. Russo(I)

  • Writer
  • Actor
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
John A. Russo is the co-creator of the 1968 classical zombie film ''Night of the Living Dead''.  He finished the script which based on the original story of George A. Romero.    Photographed and edited by the professional filmmaker Ryota Nakanishi.
In 1968, the dead walked... 

Now the dead will talk. 

After more than 40 years since filming, the 'dead' return in an all-new documentary featuring original cast and crew members who are interviewed--many for the very first time--about their experiences in making the classic horror film, Night of the Living Dead.
Play trailer5:43
Autopsy of the Dead (2009)
3 Videos
1 Photo
With twenty books published internationally and nineteen feature movies in worldwide distribution, John Russo has been called a "living legend." He began by co-authoring the screenplay for Night of the Living Dead, which has become recognized as a "horror classic."

His three books on the art and craft of movie making have become bibles of independent production, and one of them, Scare Tactics, won a national award for Superior Nonfiction. Quentin Tarantino and many other noted filmmakers have stated that Russo's books helped them launch their careers.

John Russo wants people to know he's "just a nice guy who likes to scare people" - and he's done it with novels and films such as Return of The Living Dead, Midnight, The Majorettes, The Awakening and Heartstopper. He has had a long, rewarding career, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Recently his screenplay for Escape of The Living Dead was made into a five-part comic book released by Avatar to great acclaim; it made the Top Ten of Horror Comics nationally and spawned two graphic novels and ten sequels.

Russo's recent novel, The Hungry Dead, was published by Kensington Books. He is also slated to direct two movies: a remake of his cult hit, Midnight, and a brand new take on the "zombie phenomenon" entitled Spawn of The Dead.

Russo's latest novel Dealey Plaza was published by Burning Bulb Publishing. His short story Channel 666 appears in The Big Book of Bizarro.

His popularity among genre fans remains at a high pitch. He appears at many movie conventions each year as a featured guest, and he considers his appearance at the Orion Festival, hosted by Kirk Hammett and Metallica, one of the highlights of his career.
BornSeptember 2, 1939
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornSeptember 2, 1939
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro

Known for:

Marilyn Eastman, Duane Jones, and Judith Ridley in Night of the living dead (1968)
Night of the living dead
7.8
  • Writer(as John Russo)
  • 1968
Elävien kuolleiden paluu (1985)
Elävien kuolleiden paluu
7.3
  • Writer(as John Russo)
  • 1985
Elävien kuolleiden yö (1990)
Elävien kuolleiden yö
6.8
  • Writer
  • 1990
Night of the Living Dead
  • Writer(creator)

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Writer

    • Night of the Living Dead
      • created by (creator)
      • Pre-production
    • Escape of the Living Dead
      • Writer
      • In Development
    • Rufus Buck
      • novel, writer
      • In Production
    • The Night They Came Home
      • written by
      • Post-production
    • Martin Charles in Legends of the Undead (2023)
      Legends of the Undead
      • based on a screenplay by
      • 2023
    • Dead of Night (2022)
      Dead of Night
      • based on a screenplay by
      • 2022
    • Dead Good Night (2021)
      Dead Good Night
      • original story
      • 2021
    • Night of the Animated Dead (2021)
      Night of the Animated Dead
      4.6
      • story by
      • 2021
    • Midnight (2020)
      Midnight
      4.7
      • Writer
      • 2020
    • Debbie Rochon, John A. Russo, and Sarah French in My Uncle John Is a Zombie! (2016)
      My Uncle John Is a Zombie!
      5.2
      • written by
      • 2016
    • Another Night of the Living Dead (2011)
      Another Night of the Living Dead
      3.4
      • Writer
      • 2011
    • Brianna Brown and Sid Haig in Night of the Living Dead (2006)
      Night of the Living Dead
      3.1
      • Writer (1968 screenplay)
      • 2006
    • Benefit for the Living Dead (2005)
      Benefit for the Living Dead
      4.2
      Video
      • Writer (1968 screenplay)
      • 2005
    • Saloonatics (2002)
      Saloonatics
      5.0
      Video
      • written by
      • 2002
    • Scott Vladimir Licina in Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition (1999)
      Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition
      2.7
      Video
      • new scenes
      • 1999
    • Scream Queens' Naked Christmas (1996)
      Scream Queens' Naked Christmas
      4.4
      • Writer
      • 1996
    • Santa Claws (1996)
      Santa Claws
      2.9
      • written by (as John Russo)
      • 1996
    • Zombie Jamboree: The 25th Anniversary of Night of the Living Dead (1993)
      Zombie Jamboree: The 25th Anniversary of Night of the Living Dead
      5.1
      Video
      • Writer
      • 1993
    • Midnight 2 (1993)
      Midnight 2
      4.1
      • writer
      • 1993

    Actor

    • Crackcoon
      • Lewis Smith
      • Post-production
    • Slice 2! Children of the Course (2023)
      Slice 2! Children of the Course
      • John A. Russo
      • 2023
    • Curse of the Reefer Beast (2023)
      Curse of the Reefer Beast
      7.8
      • Professor Hawkins
      • 2023
    • Return of the Mothman (2022)
      Return of the Mothman
      • Dr. Hamilton
      • 2022
    • The Indie Escape Network (2021)
      The Indie Escape Network
      8.9
      TV Series
      • (2021)
      • 2021
    • Midnight (2020)
      Midnight
      4.7
      • Father Stephen
      • 2020
    • Killer Campout (2017)
      Killer Campout
      4.1
      • Burt
      • 2017
    • Debbie Rochon, John A. Russo, and Sarah French in My Uncle John Is a Zombie! (2016)
      My Uncle John Is a Zombie!
      5.2
      • Uncle John
      • 2016
    • The Devil Ant (1999)
      The Devil Ant
      4.3
      Video
      • (as John Russo)
      • 1999
    • Teri Polo, Peter Crombie, and Adrian Pasdar in Frankensteinin kartano (1997)
      Frankensteinin kartano
      5.2
      TV Mini Series
      • Honor Guard
      • 1997
    • Santa Claws (1996)
      Santa Claws
      2.9
      • Detective (as John Russo)
      • 1996
    • The Inheritor (1990)
      The Inheritor
      3.8
      • 1990
    • The Majorettes (1986)
      The Majorettes
      4.5
      • Coroner - Dr. Gibson (as John Russo)
      • 1986
    • The Booby Hatch (1976)
      The Booby Hatch
      4.1
      • Bearded Doctor
      • Various Characters (uncredited)
      • 1976
    • There's Always Vanilla (1971)
      There's Always Vanilla
      5.1
      • Music Producer (uncredited)
      • 1971
    • Marilyn Eastman, Duane Jones, and Judith Ridley in Night of the living dead (1968)
      Night of the living dead
      7.8
      • Washington Military Reporter (uncredited)
      • 1968

    Director

    • Escape of the Living Dead
      • Director
      • In Development
    • Michael Paré, Duane Whitaker, Sam Schweikert, Susan Elle, Gina Vitori, and Rich Sands in The Red Tide Massacre (2022)
      The Red Tide Massacre
      7.5
      • Director
      • 2022
    • Debbie Rochon, John A. Russo, and Sarah French in My Uncle John Is a Zombie! (2016)
      My Uncle John Is a Zombie!
      5.2
      • Director
      • 2016
    • Witches, Vampires & Zombies (2008)
      Witches, Vampires & Zombies
      Video
      • Director
      • 2008
    • Saloonatics (2002)
      Saloonatics
      5.0
      Video
      • Director
      • 2002
    • Scott Vladimir Licina in Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition (1999)
      Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition
      2.7
      Video
      • Director
      • 1999
    • Scream Queens' Naked Christmas (1996)
      Scream Queens' Naked Christmas
      4.4
      • Director
      • 1996
    • Santa Claws (1996)
      Santa Claws
      2.9
      • Director (as John Russo)
      • 1996
    • Zombie Jamboree: The 25th Anniversary of Night of the Living Dead (1993)
      Zombie Jamboree: The 25th Anniversary of Night of the Living Dead
      5.1
      Video
      • Director
      • 1993
    • Midnight 2 (1993)
      Midnight 2
      4.1
      • Director
      • 1993
    • Scream Queens Swimsuit Sensations (1992)
      Scream Queens Swimsuit Sensations
      2.8
      Video
      • Director (as John Russo)
      • 1992
    • Monster Makeup
      Video
      • Director
      • 1989
    • Heartstopper (1989)
      Heartstopper
      4.6
      • Director (as John Russo, directed by)
      • 1989
    • Greg Besnak, John Hall, Charles Jackson, and Melanie Verlin in Midnight (1982)
      Midnight
      4.9
      • Director (as John Russo)
      • 1982
    • The Booby Hatch (1976)
      The Booby Hatch
      4.1
      • Director (as John Russo)
      • 1976
    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos3

    Autopsy of the Dead
    Trailer 5:43
    Autopsy of the Dead
    Autopsy of the Dead
    Trailer 5:06
    Autopsy of the Dead
    Autopsy of the Dead
    Trailer 6:40
    Autopsy of the Dead

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • Official Site
    • Alternative name
      • John Russo
    • Height
      • 1.73 m
    • Born
      • September 2, 1939
    • Other works
      Book: "How To Make Your Own Feature for $10,000 or Less".
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Interview

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Was one of the original creators of the Living Dead Legacy.

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