Tom Savini chose the gray color for the zombies' skin, since A Noite dos Mortos-Vivos (1968) was in B&W and the zombie skin-tone was not depicted. He later said it was a mistake, because many of them ended up looking quite blue on film.
The outdoor scene where hunters, emergency crew and soldiers are shooting at zombies was done using local volunteers. Several local hunters arrived on-scene with their own weapons, the local National Guard division showed up in full gear, and local emergency crew (police, fire and ambulance) were present, all voluntarily.
Extras who appeared in this film were reportedly given $1 in cash, a donut, and a Dawn of the Dead T-shirt.
The two zombie children who attack Peter in the airport chart house are played by Melissa Dunlap and Mike Savini, the real-life niece and nephew of Tom Savini. These are the only zombies in all of George A. Romero's "Dead" films that spontaneously run and never do the trademark "Zombie shuffle."
The bit in the movie where Roger slides down between the escalators was Scott H. Reiniger's idea, Savini recalls how he and other cast and crew members did the same thing during the film's production. He does joke that you can't do that now, since all escalators have metal posts sticking up at the bottom. "You think that's because of us?" asks George. "I'd love to say that it's because of Dawn of the Dead," Savini replies.
Joseph Pilato: as a policeman at the boat dock. Pilato had auditioned for the role of Stephen, and would play Captain Rhodes in Dia dos Mortos (1985).
John Amplas: In 3 roles: Rico, the last Puerto Rican bandit to be shot on the ghetto apartment rooftop, Mall Parking Lot Zombie whose arm is pulled off and Zombie thrown over the mall balcony by Peter.
George A. Romero: plays both the director in the television studio, and "Old Nick" the Santa Claus biker (briefly visible in biker raid).