Curiosidades

Frequently cast African-Americans as the heroes of his films, although the roles weren't usually written specifically for any particular race, going against the stereotype of the black character dying early in horror films.

Began making movies at the age of 14 with an 8mm camera.

He passed away "peacefully in his sleep" while "listening to the score of Depois do Vendaval (1952)", one of his all-time favorite films.

Was originally set to direct two Stephen King stories that would later turn into television features: Os Vampiros de Salem (1979) and A Dança da Morte (1994).

His favorite of his own films, saying it's closest to the vision he had for it, is Martin (1977). He spent much of the time since his smash directorial debut, A Noite dos Mortos-Vivos (1968), trying to distance himself from the horror genre but has said the satisfying experience of creating "Martin" energized him to make Zombie - O Despertar dos Mortos (1978), which would become his greatest financial and critical success.

At age 19, he worked briefly as a page-boy on the set of Intriga Internacional (1959). He later said he was unimpressed by Alfred Hitchcock's directing style while there, saying that it seemed mechanical and passionless. Coincidentally, Romero and Intriga Internacional (1959) co-star Martin Landau died one day apart.

Became a dual Canadian-American citizen and resided in Toronto, Ontario (2009).

He was known for his affability and remaining good friends with former collaborators with whom he had ceased collaboration due to creative or financial reasons.

Was originally attached to write and direct Resident Evil: O Hóspede Maldito (2002), but left the project on account of creative differences over the screenplay (1999).

According to his former producing partner Richard P. Rubinstein on the DVD commentary of Zombie - O Despertar dos Mortos (1978) (The Extended Cut Version), he had offered Romero the opportunity to make his fourth zombie in the early 1990s. Rubinstein offered Romero $3 million and he could make the film however he wanted it. However, Romero was at the time developing the scripts for A Múmia (1999) for Universal and the ghost story "Before I Wake" for MGM. He decided that he wanted to pursue those projects instead of his fourth zombie film. In the end, however, "Before I Wake" ended up in "development hell" and Universal decided to scrap his version and went with Stephen Sommers' version. However, Romero finally made his fourth zombie film, Terra dos Mortos (2005).

He was posthumously awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6604 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 25, 2017.

The 2002 Sight & Sound Greatest Films Poll (2002) listed his Top Ten films as Os Irmãos Karamazov (1958), Casablanca (1942), Dr. Fantástico (1964), Matar ou Morrer (1952), As Minas do Rei Salomão (1950), Intriga Internacional (1959), Depois do Vendaval (1952), Repulsa ao Sexo (1965), A Marca da Maldade (1958), and Contos de Hoffmann (1951).

Originally set to direct Cemitério Maldito (1989), but when filming was delayed he dropped out and Tom Savini was given the opportunity to direct the film. Savini also eventually passed on it. Finally, Mary Lambert stepped in.

Contos de Hoffmann (1951) inspired Romero to become a director.

George's father, Jorge Romero, was from a family from A Coruña, Galicia, Spain, and was of Castilian descent. He moved to Cuba as a child. George's mother, Ann (Dvorsky), was Lithuanian, and was the daughter of Vincent Dvorsky and Mary Shadrik.

Attended Carnegie-Mellon Institute (art, theatre, design), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Spent the years between A Metade Negra (1993) and A Máscara do Terror (2000) working on several projects which never escaped from development hell.

Prior to A Noite dos Mortos-Vivos (1968) he was better known as an industrial filmmaker, who created TV commercials, promotional featurettes and industrial training films. One of his assignments was to shoot short films that were used on the television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968).

When discussing his influences, he has aid that the Universal horror classics made a strong impression on him and his favorite horror film as a child was O Monstro do Ártico (1951). However, the film he said made him want to be a director was Os Sapatinhos Vermelhos (1948). While discussing the directors who made a strong impression on him, he said that Orson Welles and Howard Hawks were his favorites, surpassing Alfred Hitchcock.

Had three children--George C. Romero (director of Staunton Hill (2009)--from his first marriage to Nancy Romero from 1974-78. Daughter Tina Romero and youngest son Andrew Romero (who are both in the club scene of A Máscara do Terror (2000) at the film's ending) are from his second marriage to Christine Forrest. Tina is a dancer on the side of the stage while The Misfits are playing; Andrew is a little devil with laser pointer rod riding on another character's shoulders.

Was slated to direct a theatrical version of Stephen King's novel "The Stand", adapted for the screen by Rospo Pallenberg. The film never materialized. Instead, the novel was adapted into a television miniseries, A Dança da Morte (1994).

Was a huge fan of The Archers (aka the British team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger) movie Contos de Hoffmann (1951), based on Jacques Offenbach's operetta. He was interviewed at length about his love for the film and especially its artistic direction, use of color and use of fantasy/horror themes in a special feature included on the Criterion Collection's 2005 DVD release of the film. Before videotape and DVD versions of the film were available, Romero would frequently rent a 16mm copy--as would Martin Scorsese, he subsequently learned, from the very same New York City rental company. Alas, Romero reported that the two fans have not yet become aware of each other.

He has directed one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: A Noite dos Mortos-Vivos (1968).

Madrugada dos Mortos (2004), the remake of his movie Zombie - O Despertar dos Mortos (1978), was released before the fourth part of his zombie series Terra dos Mortos (2005) was even filmed.