Karl Hardman
Encyclopedia
Karl Hardman was an American horror film
producer
and actor
. He produced George A. Romero
's Night of the Living Dead
(1968) and also co-starred as Harry Cooper. He also appeared in Santa Claws
(1996) as Bruce Brunswick. He was born Karl Hardman Schon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
.
. Even before his role in Night of the Living Dead, Hardman was an institution in Pittsburgh for his longtime work on Pittsburgh's early morning, highly-rated Cordic and Company"show hosted by Rege Cordic, first at WWSW, then at KDKA
, where it ran from 1954-1965 featuring Cordic hosting a very early version of the "morning madness" style of radio programming. Hardman was part of the cast along with Bob Trow
and Sterling Yates. Hardman's voice contributions included the characters of Louie the Garbageman, Roquefort Q. LaFarge and Mr. Murchison. Hardman continued collaborating with Cordic after the host moved to Los Angeles
in 1965. He later owned a Pittsburgh recording studio.
Hardman's partner in business was Night of the Living Dead co-star Marilyn Eastman
, who played his wife in the film, although she was not romantically involved with him. He had one daughter, Kyra Schon
, who also appeared in Night of the Living Dead as the couple's daughter. The couple was together for 44 years. Hardman died September 22, 2007 at the age of 80 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He produced George A. Romero
George A. Romero
George Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
's Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
(1968) and also co-starred as Harry Cooper. He also appeared in Santa Claws
Santa Claws
Santa Claws is a 1996 horror film written and directed by John A. Russo. It stars Debbie Rochon as a Scream Queen B-movie actress who is stalked by an obsessed fan....
(1996) as Bruce Brunswick. He was born Karl Hardman Schon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
.
Life and career
Hardman was born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Even before his role in Night of the Living Dead, Hardman was an institution in Pittsburgh for his longtime work on Pittsburgh's early morning, highly-rated Cordic and Company"show hosted by Rege Cordic, first at WWSW, then at KDKA
KDKA (AM)
KDKA is a radio station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Created by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation on November 2, 1920, it is one of the world's first modern radio stations , a distinction that has also been challenged by other stations, although it has claimed to be the first in...
, where it ran from 1954-1965 featuring Cordic hosting a very early version of the "morning madness" style of radio programming. Hardman was part of the cast along with Bob Trow
Bob Trow
Robert Trow was an American radio celebrity, actor, and craftsman.Raised in the Beltzhoover neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, Trow began his career in radio. He later became well known for his acting roles on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as Bob Dog and Robert Troll, characters from the...
and Sterling Yates. Hardman's voice contributions included the characters of Louie the Garbageman, Roquefort Q. LaFarge and Mr. Murchison. Hardman continued collaborating with Cordic after the host moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1965. He later owned a Pittsburgh recording studio.
Hardman's partner in business was Night of the Living Dead co-star Marilyn Eastman
Marilyn Eastman
Marilyn Eastman is an American actress known for her role as Helen Cooper in the film Night of the Living Dead . She also appeared in the films Houseguest and Santa Claws ....
, who played his wife in the film, although she was not romantically involved with him. He had one daughter, Kyra Schon
Kyra Schon
Kyra Schon is an American actress known for her role in the George A. Romero film Night of the Living Dead as Karen Cooper, the trowel-wielding zombie girl. She is a regular contributor to Dread Central, an online magazine dedicated to horror entertainment...
, who also appeared in Night of the Living Dead as the couple's daughter. The couple was together for 44 years. Hardman died September 22, 2007 at the age of 80 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.