Tom Savini
Encyclopedia
Thomas Vincent "Tom" Savini (born November 3, 1946) is an American
actor
, stuntman
, director
, award-winning special effects and makeup artist
. He is known for his work on the Living Dead
films directed by George A. Romero
, as well as Creepshow
, The Burning, Friday the 13th, The Prowler
, and Maniac
. He directed the 1990 remake
of Night of the Living Dead
. Though officially retired from special effects, he has continued to direct, produce and star in several movies. Savini has been known to refer movie make-up effects projects to graduates of his school. He has appeared in films such as Dawn of the Dead (and its remake
), From Dusk till Dawn
, Grindhouse, and Machete
.
. He was raised in the Catholic
religion and graduated from Central Catholic High School
, later attending Carnegie-Mellon University. Savini served in Vietnam
as a combat photographer. Savini continued to practice with makeup in Vietnam, often frightening indigenous peasants by appearing to suddenly transform into a "monster".
In 1970, while Savini was on guard duty, a flare
was triggered in the jungle area he was watching. Against military protocol, Savini fired into the bush without informing his superiors. Other soldiers likewise started firing until a duck wandered from the bush completely unharmed. Due to his failure to follow orders, Savini was taken off guard duty from his bunker the following evening. Later that same evening, the bunker came under attack and several soldiers were wounded or killed. As a result of this incident, Savini earned the nickname "Duck Slayer" and to this day will not eat duck
. Savini said his wartime experiences informed his eventual style of gory effects; "I hated that when I watched a war movie and someone dies," explaining "Some people die with one eye open and one eye half-closed, sometimes people die with smiles on their faces because the jaw is always slack. I incorporated the feeling of the stuff I saw in Vietnam into my work."
Savini is primarily known for his groundbreaking work in the field of special makeup effects. He got his breakthrough working with Pittsburgh filmmaker George A. Romero
, providing a convincing wrist slashing effect in the opening scenes of Martin
(1977). The following year, working with an expanded budget on Dawn of the Dead, Savini created his signature palette of severed limbs and bite-marks.
Savini has also worked on films by Dario Argento
(Trauma
, Two Evil Eyes
) and Tobe Hooper
(The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2). His signature realism livens otherwise plodding genre films such as Maniac
(1980). Perhaps Savini's most noteworthy special effects occurred in the zombie epic Day of the Dead.
Savini has noted that most of the characters he has played are bikers. He played a relatively straight, innocuous character in Martin
(1977), but played a menacing biker called 'Blades' in Dawn of the Dead (1978), a role he reprised with a brief cameo appearance
in the 2005 continuation of the series, Land of the Dead
. He also had a cameo as a sheriff in the 2004 remake
of Dawn.
Savini did have a much more prominent role as biker/Renaissance fair participant Morgan in George Romero's Knightriders
(1981), and had a small role as a biker in The Boy Who Loved Trolls
in (1984). In 1985, he had a small part in Twisted Sister
's video for their song Be Chrool to Your Scuel. He also played the whip-wielding, vampire-fighting biker 'Sex Machine' in the 1996 Quentin Tarantino
/Robert Rodriguez
film From Dusk till Dawn
. (This character was a riff on the "Blades" character Savini created for Dawn of the Dead replete with the same costume.)
As a director, Savini helmed episodes of the syndicated television series Tales from the Darkside
, the aforementioned 1990 color remake of Night of the Living Dead
and, House Call, the pilot of the proposed series The Chill Factor, which starred Pittsburgh actor Bingo O'Malley.
In 2006, Savini essayed the role of Prester John
, the mythical villain in the dreamlike Sea of Dust
. 2006 also saw the release of Johannes Roberts' Demonic (a.k.a. Forest of the Damned
), in which Savini played a mad hermit surrounded by angels cast from heaven. In 2007, Savini took on a role in Planet Terror, one of two stories in the film Grindhouse
. "Planet Terror" was directed by Robert Rodriguez
; the other story, Death Proof was directed by Quentin Tarantino. He plays Deputy Tolo, who tries to save his town from an infestation of zombie
s. In 2008, Savini played another vampire in the movie Lost Boys: The Tribe
and he has completed the film The Dead Matter, also featuring Andrew Divoff
and Jim O'Rear
.
He also voiced himself on the "Worst Episode Ever
" episode of The Simpsons
. He was making an appearance at Android's Dungeon where he performed his "Gutbuster" gag in which he covered the crowd in "blood and guts" and humiliated the Comic Book Guy
. He also made a brief appearance in Zack & Miri Make a Porno as a thieving slumlord
.
On 18 September 2009, Savini announced his plan to direct a new film entitled Death Island, with special make-up effects
by his former protege Greg Nicotero.
Next spring Savini will be starring in the Nazi Zombie film The 4th Reich directed by Shaun Robert Smith. Tom will play the character Standartenfuhrer Oskar Direlewanger, an SS Nazi Officer.
Savini appears as a character in the 2008 novel Bad Moon Rising by Jonathan Maberry
. Savini is one of several real-world horror celebrities who are in the fictional town of Pine Deep when monsters attack. Other celebrities include James Gunn, Brinke Stevens
, Ken Foree
, Stephen Susco
, Debbie Rochon
, Joe Bob Briggs
and blues man Mem Shannon
. He had a cameo in the 2010 film adaptation of the faux trailer Machete
. The American filmmaker Jason Baker filmed a biography of Savini entitled The Story of Tom Savini.
Savini also briefly took part in Jerry Lawler
's 2010 revival of the Memphis Wrestling pro wrestling television show. His on-screen character sent horror-movie monsters (played by wrestlers from the Memphis area) onto the show to get revenge for Savini who blamed Lawler for the death of Savini's friend Andy Kaufman
. The monsters' handler was manager "Hollywood" Jimmy Blaylock.
and is the author of several books on special effects including Grande Illusions I and II (1983, 1994) which detail the production and mechanical workings of many of his famous film effects. He is also associated with other books in the horror
genre including Book of the Dead
and Horror 101 for which he wrote the foreword. Savini is an associate of Dick Smith, who used to, but no longer, incorporates an advanced professional make-up seminar into the last semester of the program. Among other projects, Smith is known for his groundbreaking work in The Exorcist
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
, stuntman
Stunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, award-winning special effects and makeup artist
Makeup artist
thumb|[[Michelle Camaclang]], an international-certified professional makeup artistthumb|Special effects makeup techniquesA Make-up artist is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and prosthetics for theatrical, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions...
. He is known for his work on the Living Dead
Living Dead
Living Dead is a blanket term for various films, series, and other forms of media that all originated from, and includes, the seminal 1968 horror film Night of the Living Dead conceived by George A. Romero and John A. Russo...
films directed by 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:...
, as well as Creepshow
Creepshow
Creepshow is a 1982 American horror anthology film directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King. The film's ensemble cast included Ted Danson, Leslie Nielsen, Hal Holbrook, E.G...
, The Burning, Friday the 13th, The Prowler
The Prowler (1981 film)
The Prowler is an American slasher movie released in 1981, directed by Joseph Zito. The film has been praised by gore fans for its brutal and realistic murder scenes...
, and Maniac
Maniac (1980 film)
Maniac is a 1980 American slasher film , about a disturbed and traumatized serial killer who scalps his victims. It was directed by William Lustig and written by Joe Spinell and C. A. Rosenberg...
. He directed the 1990 remake
Night of the Living Dead (1990 film)
Night of the Living Dead is a 1990 American remake of George A. Romero's 1968 horror film of the same name and was directed by Tom Savini. Romero rewrote the original 1968 screenplay co-authored by John A...
of 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...
. Though officially retired from special effects, he has continued to direct, produce and star in several movies. Savini has been known to refer movie make-up effects projects to graduates of his school. He has appeared in films such as Dawn of the Dead (and its remake
Dawn of the Dead (2004 film)
Dawn of the Dead is a 2004 horror film directed by Zack Snyder in his directorial debut. It is a remake of George A. Romero's 1978 film of the same name and stars Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, and Jake Weber. The film depict a handful of human survivors living in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin shopping mall...
), From Dusk till Dawn
From Dusk Till Dawn
From Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino and Juliette Lewis.-Plot:...
, Grindhouse, and Machete
Machete (film)
Machete is a 2010 action film directed by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis. The "Machete" character originates from the 2001 Spy Kids film, written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. This film is an expansion of a fake trailer that was released together with Rodriguez's and Quentin Tarantino's...
.
Early life
Savini 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...
. He was raised in the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
religion and graduated from Central Catholic High School
Central Catholic High School (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Central Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic college preparatory school for boys in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a part of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and is administrated and partially staffed by the Brothers of the Christian Schools....
, later attending Carnegie-Mellon University. Savini served in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
as a combat photographer. Savini continued to practice with makeup in Vietnam, often frightening indigenous peasants by appearing to suddenly transform into a "monster".
In 1970, while Savini was on guard duty, a flare
Flare (pyrotechnic)
A flare, also sometimes called a fusee, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for signalling, illumination, or defensive countermeasures in civilian and military applications...
was triggered in the jungle area he was watching. Against military protocol, Savini fired into the bush without informing his superiors. Other soldiers likewise started firing until a duck wandered from the bush completely unharmed. Due to his failure to follow orders, Savini was taken off guard duty from his bunker the following evening. Later that same evening, the bunker came under attack and several soldiers were wounded or killed. As a result of this incident, Savini earned the nickname "Duck Slayer" and to this day will not eat duck
Duck (food)
Duck refers to the meat of several species of bird in the Anatidae family, found in both fresh and salt water. Duck is eaten in many cuisines around the world.-Types of ducks:The most common duck meat consumed in the United States is the Pekin duck...
. Savini said his wartime experiences informed his eventual style of gory effects; "I hated that when I watched a war movie and someone dies," explaining "Some people die with one eye open and one eye half-closed, sometimes people die with smiles on their faces because the jaw is always slack. I incorporated the feeling of the stuff I saw in Vietnam into my work."
Career
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:...
, providing a convincing wrist slashing effect in the opening scenes of Martin
Martin (film)
Martin is a 1978 American horror film written and directed by George A. Romero.Romero claims that Martin is the favorite of all his films...
(1977). The following year, working with an expanded budget on Dawn of the Dead, Savini created his signature palette of severed limbs and bite-marks.
Savini has also worked on films by Dario Argento
Dario Argento
Dario Argento is an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in the horror film genre, particularly in the subgenre known as giallo, and for his influence on modern horror and slasher movies....
(Trauma
Trauma (1993 film)
Trauma is a 1993 film directed by Dario Argento who also co-wrote the screenplay. The film can be described as a giallo, that is a film with influences from the horror, mystery, and thriller genres.-Plot synopsis:...
, Two Evil Eyes
Two Evil Eyes
Two Evil Eyes is a 1990 double feature horror film written and directed by the Italian Dario Argento and the American George A. Romero. The two had previously worked together on the immensely popular Dawn of the Dead in 1978.-Overview:...
) and Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper is an American film director and screenwriter, best known for his work in the horror film genre. His works include the cult classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre , along with its first sequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 ; the three-time Emmy-nominated Stephen King film adaptation...
(The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2). His signature realism livens otherwise plodding genre films such as Maniac
Maniac (1980 film)
Maniac is a 1980 American slasher film , about a disturbed and traumatized serial killer who scalps his victims. It was directed by William Lustig and written by Joe Spinell and C. A. Rosenberg...
(1980). Perhaps Savini's most noteworthy special effects occurred in the zombie epic Day of the Dead.
Savini has noted that most of the characters he has played are bikers. He played a relatively straight, innocuous character in Martin
Martin (film)
Martin is a 1978 American horror film written and directed by George A. Romero.Romero claims that Martin is the favorite of all his films...
(1977), but played a menacing biker called 'Blades' in Dawn of the Dead (1978), a role he reprised with a brief cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in the 2005 continuation of the series, Land of the Dead
Land of the Dead
For the disambiguation page on anything else on this topic, come here to Land of the Dead .Land of the Dead is a 2005 horror film written and directed by George A...
. He also had a cameo as a sheriff in the 2004 remake
Dawn of the Dead (2004 film)
Dawn of the Dead is a 2004 horror film directed by Zack Snyder in his directorial debut. It is a remake of George A. Romero's 1978 film of the same name and stars Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, and Jake Weber. The film depict a handful of human survivors living in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin shopping mall...
of Dawn.
Savini did have a much more prominent role as biker/Renaissance fair participant Morgan in George Romero's Knightriders
Knightriders
Knightriders is a 1981 film written and directed by George A. Romero. It was filmed entirely on location in Pennsylvania, especially in Fawn Township and Natrona...
(1981), and had a small role as a biker in The Boy Who Loved Trolls
The Boy Who Loved Trolls
The Boy Who Loved Trolls is a 1984 American Fantasy/Adventure film. The story was adapted by James A. DeVinney from a play by John Wheatcroft. The original play, entitled Ofoeti, was telecast in 1966, on NET Playhouse.-Plot:...
in (1984). In 1985, he had a small part in Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
's video for their song Be Chrool to Your Scuel. He also played the whip-wielding, vampire-fighting biker 'Sex Machine' in the 1996 Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
/Robert Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez
Robert Anthony Rodríguez is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native Texas and Mexico. He has directed such films as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet...
film From Dusk till Dawn
From Dusk Till Dawn
From Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino and Juliette Lewis.-Plot:...
. (This character was a riff on the "Blades" character Savini created for Dawn of the Dead replete with the same costume.)
As a director, Savini helmed episodes of the syndicated television series Tales from the Darkside
Tales from the Darkside
Tales from the Darkside is an anthology horror TV series produced by George A. Romero; it originally aired from 1983 to 1988. Similar to Amazing Stories, The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, The Outer Limits, and Tales From The Crypt, each episode was an individual short story that ended with a plot...
, the aforementioned 1990 color remake of Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead (1990 film)
Night of the Living Dead is a 1990 American remake of George A. Romero's 1968 horror film of the same name and was directed by Tom Savini. Romero rewrote the original 1968 screenplay co-authored by John A...
and, House Call, the pilot of the proposed series The Chill Factor, which starred Pittsburgh actor Bingo O'Malley.
In 2006, Savini essayed the role of Prester John
Prester John
The legends of Prester John were popular in Europe from the 12th through the 17th centuries, and told of a Christian patriarch and king said to rule over a Christian nation lost amidst the Muslims and pagans in the Orient. Written accounts of this kingdom are variegated collections of medieval...
, the mythical villain in the dreamlike Sea of Dust
Sea of Dust (film)
Sea of Dust is a 2008 horror-fantasy film starring Tom Savini and Ingrid Pitt that takes its name from the boundary separating reality from religious "truth," a boundary epitomized by Prester John's Sea of Dust.- Production :...
. 2006 also saw the release of Johannes Roberts' Demonic (a.k.a. Forest of the Damned
Forest of the Damned
Forest of the Damned is a 2005 horror feature film directed by Johannes Roberts.- Background :...
), in which Savini played a mad hermit surrounded by angels cast from heaven. In 2007, Savini took on a role in Planet Terror, one of two stories in the film Grindhouse
Grindhouse
A grindhouse is an American term for a theater that mainly shows exploitation films. It is named after the defunct burlesque theaters located on 42nd Street in New York City, where 'bump n' grind' dancing and striptease were featured.- History :...
. "Planet Terror" was directed by Robert Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez
Robert Anthony Rodríguez is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native Texas and Mexico. He has directed such films as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet...
; the other story, Death Proof was directed by Quentin Tarantino. He plays Deputy Tolo, who tries to save his town from an infestation of zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
s. In 2008, Savini played another vampire in the movie Lost Boys: The Tribe
Lost Boys: The Tribe
Lost Boys: The Tribe is a 2008 sequel to the successful 1987 vampire horror film, The Lost Boys; directed by P. J. Pesce. It stars Autumn Reeser, Tad Hilgenbrink, Angus Sutherland and Corey Feldman...
and he has completed the film The Dead Matter, also featuring Andrew Divoff
Andrew Divoff
Andrew Daniel Divoff is a Venezuelan film and television actor, best known for playing the evil Djinn in the two first Wishmaster films and the villains Cherry Ganz in Another 48 Hrs., Boris Bazylev in Air Force One, Ivan Sarnoff in CSI: Miami and Mikhail Bakunin in Lost.- Early life :Divoff was...
and Jim O'Rear
Jim O'Rear
Jim O'Rear is an American actor, screenwriter, and director.Primarily known for his work in the horror and science fiction film genres, O'Rear has worked as an actor, stuntman, screenwriter, producer, and director for over 25 years.- Biography :O’Rear began his professional career in the...
.
He also voiced himself on the "Worst Episode Ever
Worst Episode Ever
"Worst Episode Ever" is the eleventh episode of The Simpsons twelfth season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 4, 2001. In the episode, Bart and Milhouse are banned from The Android's Dungeon after stopping Comic Book Guy from buying a box of priceless...
" episode of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. He was making an appearance at Android's Dungeon where he performed his "Gutbuster" gag in which he covered the crowd in "blood and guts" and humiliated the Comic Book Guy
Comic Book Guy
Comic Book Guy is a recurring fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Hank Azaria, and first appeared in the second-season episode "Three Men and a Comic Book", which originally aired on May 9, 1991. He is the proprietor of a comic book store, The...
. He also made a brief appearance in Zack & Miri Make a Porno as a thieving slumlord
Slumlord
A slumlord is a derogatory term for landlords, generally absentee landlords, who attempt to maximize profit by minimizing spending on property maintenance, often in deteriorating neighborhoods. They may need to charge lower than market rent to tenants...
.
On 18 September 2009, Savini announced his plan to direct a new film entitled Death Island, with special make-up effects
Special effect
The illusions used in the film, television, theatre, or entertainment industries to simulate the imagined events in a story are traditionally called special effects ....
by his former protege Greg Nicotero.
Next spring Savini will be starring in the Nazi Zombie film The 4th Reich directed by Shaun Robert Smith. Tom will play the character Standartenfuhrer Oskar Direlewanger, an SS Nazi Officer.
Savini appears as a character in the 2008 novel Bad Moon Rising by Jonathan Maberry
Jonathan Maberry
Jonathan Maberry is the multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Ghost Road Blues, the first of the Pine Deep Trilogy, a series of supernatural horror novels...
. Savini is one of several real-world horror celebrities who are in the fictional town of Pine Deep when monsters attack. Other celebrities include James Gunn, Brinke Stevens
Brinke Stevens
Brinke Stevens is an American actress, model and writer.-Life and career:Born in San Diego, California, Stevens has studied several foreign languages, including Esperanto, and gained a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from San Diego State University and a Master of Science in Marine...
, Ken Foree
Ken Foree
Kentotis Alvin "Ken" Foree is an American actor probably most famous as the hero Peter in Dawn of the Dead and Kenan & Kel as Roger, Kenan's dad.- Early life and career :Foree was born in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, Stephen Susco
Stephen Susco
Stephen Susco is a film and television screenwriter who is most famous for writing the hit movies The Grudge and The Grudge 2.-Career:...
, Debbie Rochon
Debbie Rochon
Debbie Rochon is a Canadian B-movie actress and former stage performer, best known for her work in Troma films.-Biography:...
, Joe Bob Briggs
Joe Bob Briggs
John Irving Bloom , who uses the pseudonym Joe Bob Briggs, is a syndicated American film critic, writer and comic performer.-Early years:...
and blues man Mem Shannon
Mem Shannon
Mem Shannon is an American blues musician. He is currently signed to Toronto's NorthernBlues Music. Shannon is a former taxi-cab driver turned bluesman.-Early life:...
. He had a cameo in the 2010 film adaptation of the faux trailer Machete
Machete (film)
Machete is a 2010 action film directed by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis. The "Machete" character originates from the 2001 Spy Kids film, written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. This film is an expansion of a fake trailer that was released together with Rodriguez's and Quentin Tarantino's...
. The American filmmaker Jason Baker filmed a biography of Savini entitled The Story of Tom Savini.
Savini also briefly took part in Jerry Lawler
Jerry Lawler
Jerry O'Neil Lawler is an American professional wrestler, wrestling commentator, musician, businessman, commercial artist and film actor, known throughout the wrestling world as Jerry "The King" Lawler. He is currently signed to WWE, working on its Raw brand as the color commentator and occasional...
's 2010 revival of the Memphis Wrestling pro wrestling television show. His on-screen character sent horror-movie monsters (played by wrestlers from the Memphis area) onto the show to get revenge for Savini who blamed Lawler for the death of Savini's friend Andy Kaufman
Andy Kaufman
Andrew Geoffrey "Andy" Kaufman was an American entertainer, actor and performance artist. While often referred to as a comedian, Kaufman did not consider himself one...
. The monsters' handler was manager "Hollywood" Jimmy Blaylock.
FX education
Savini runs the Special Effects Make-Up and Digital Film Programs at the Douglas Education Center in Monessen, PennsylvaniaMonessen, Pennsylvania
Monessen is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,669 at the 2000 census. In 1940, 20,257 people lived there. In 1990 the population was 13,026. Steel-making was a prominent industry in Monessen, which was a Rust Belt borough in the "Mon Valley" of...
and is the author of several books on special effects including Grande Illusions I and II (1983, 1994) which detail the production and mechanical workings of many of his famous film effects. He is also associated with other books in the horror
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...
genre including Book of the Dead
Book of the Dead (anthology)
Book of the Dead is an anthology of horror stories first published in 1989, edited by John Skipp and Craig Spector. All the stories in the anthology are united by the same premise seen in the apocalyptic films of George A. Romero, depicting a worldwide outbreak of zombies and various reactions to it...
and Horror 101 for which he wrote the foreword. Savini is an associate of Dick Smith, who used to, but no longer, incorporates an advanced professional make-up seminar into the last semester of the program. Among other projects, Smith is known for his groundbreaking work in The Exorcist
The Exorcist (film)
The Exorcist is a 1973 American horror film directed by William Friedkin, adapted from the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty and based on the exorcism case of Robbie Mannheim, dealing with the demonic possession of a young girl and her mother’s desperate attempts to win back her...
.
As actor
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Martin Martin (film) Martin is a 1978 American horror film written and directed by George A. Romero.Romero claims that Martin is the favorite of all his films... |
Arthur | First film with 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:... |
| 1978 | Dawn of the Dead | Blades | Second film with George A. Romero |
| 1980 | Maniac Maniac (1980 film) Maniac is a 1980 American slasher film , about a disturbed and traumatized serial killer who scalps his victims. It was directed by William Lustig and written by Joe Spinell and C. A. Rosenberg... |
Disco boy | |
| Friday the 13th | Man the Knife Killer (uncredited) | First film with Sean S. Cunningham | |
| 1981 | Effects | Nicky | |
| Knightriders Knightriders Knightriders is a 1981 film written and directed by George A. Romero. It was filmed entirely on location in Pennsylvania, especially in Fawn Township and Natrona... |
Morgan | Third film with George A. Romero | |
| 1982 | Creepshow Creepshow Creepshow is a 1982 American horror anthology film directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King. The film's ensemble cast included Ted Danson, Leslie Nielsen, Hal Holbrook, E.G... |
Garbage Man #2 | Fourth film with George A. Romero, Cameo |
| 1984 | The Boy Who Loved Trolls The Boy Who Loved Trolls The Boy Who Loved Trolls is a 1984 American Fantasy/Adventure film. The story was adapted by James A. DeVinney from a play by John Wheatcroft. The original play, entitled Ofoeti, was telecast in 1966, on NET Playhouse.-Plot:... |
Motorcyclist | |
| 1985 | The Ripper | Jack the Ripper | |
| 1986 | Twisted Sister: Come Out and Play | Teacher | Cameo |
| Maximum Overdrive Maximum Overdrive Maximum Overdrive is a 1986 American action-horror-science fiction film written and directed by novelist Stephen King. The screenplay was inspired by and loosely based on King's short story, Trucks, which was included in King's first collection of short stories, Night Shift.Maximum Overdrive is... |
Loman Face Stealer (uncredited)(scenes deleted) | First film with Stephen King | |
| 1990 | Two Evil Eyes Two Evil Eyes Two Evil Eyes is a 1990 double feature horror film written and directed by the Italian Dario Argento and the American George A. Romero. The two had previously worked together on the immensely popular Dawn of the Dead in 1978.-Overview:... |
The Monomaniac (Uncredited) | Fifth film with George A. Romero |
| 1992 | Innocent Blood Innocent Blood (film) Innocent Blood is a 1992 American horror-crime film directed by John Landis. The film stars Anne Parillaud as a vampire who finds herself against a blood-sucking legion of mobsters after biting a notorious crime boss played by Robert Loggia.... |
News Photographer | |
| 1994 | Heartstopper John A. Russo John A. Russo , sometimes credited as Jack Russo or John Russo, is an American screenwriter and film director most commonly associated with the 1968 horror classic Night of the Living Dead. As a screenwriter, his credits include Night of the Living Dead, The Majorettes, Midnight, and Santa Claws.... |
Lt. Ron Vargo | |
| 1995 | The Demolitionist | Roland | |
| 1996 | Mr. Stitch | Chemical Weapons Engineer | Television movie |
| From Dusk till Dawn From Dusk Till Dawn From Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino and Juliette Lewis.-Plot:... |
Sex Machine | ||
| 2000 | Sheena Sheena (TV series) Sheena is an American action-adventure/fantasy television series which was produced for first-run syndication from 2000 to 2002.Based upon the comic book character Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, which previously spawned a popular 1950s TV series of the same title, the 2000s series updated the... |
Peter Reynolds | episode – Lost Boy |
| 2001 | The Monster Man | Uncle Joe | |
| Web of Darkness | Rouge | ||
| Children of the Living Dead Children of the Living Dead Children of the Living Dead is a 2001 American direct-to-video zombie film written by Karen L. Wolf and directed by Tor Ramsey. Executive produced by John A. Russo, the film serves as a sequel to Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition, a recut version of the original film that Russo... |
Deputy Hughs | ||
| The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie... |
Himself | episode – Worst Episode Ever Worst Episode Ever "Worst Episode Ever" is the eleventh episode of The Simpsons twelfth season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 4, 2001. In the episode, Bart and Milhouse are banned from The Android's Dungeon after stopping Comic Book Guy from buying a box of priceless... |
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| 2002 | Eyes Are Upon You | Eddie Rao | |
| Ted Bundy Ted Bundy (film) Ted Bundy is a 2002 film by American film director and writer Matthew Bright. The film dramatizes the crimes of serial killer Ted Bundy. It stars Michael Reilly Burke in the title role, and Boti Bliss as Bundy's girlfriend, Lee .-Cast:*Michael Reilly Burke as Ted Bundy*Boti Bliss as Lee... |
Salt Lake City Detective | ||
| 2003 | Blood Bath | Stranger | |
| Zombiegeddon Zombiegeddon Zombiegeddon is a 2003 film directed by Chris Watson. The horror/comedy, distributed by Troma Films.- Plot :The movie follows two bad cops who find themselves engaged in a battle against evil Hellspawn.- Cast :... |
Jesus Christ | New York City Horror Film Festival New York City Horror Film Festival The New York City Horror Film Festival was established by Michael J. Hein in 2001. It takes place each year in New York City for a week in October or November and specializes in the horror film genre.... Lifetime Achievement Award |
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| 2004 | Vicious | Kane | |
| Dawn of the Dead Dawn of the Dead (2004 film) Dawn of the Dead is a 2004 horror film directed by Zack Snyder in his directorial debut. It is a remake of George A. Romero's 1978 film of the same name and stars Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, and Jake Weber. The film depict a handful of human survivors living in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin shopping mall... |
The County Sheriff | Remake of the 1978 film Dawn of the Dead | |
| Death 4 Told | Man | Cameo | |
| Unearthed | Victor Tonelli | ||
| 2005 | Forest of the Damned Forest of the Damned Forest of the Damned is a 2005 horror feature film directed by Johannes Roberts.- Background :... |
Stephen | |
| Land of the Dead Land of the Dead For the disambiguation page on anything else on this topic, come here to Land of the Dead .Land of the Dead is a 2005 horror film written and directed by George A... |
Machete Zombie | Sixth film with George A. Romero | |
| 2006 | A Dream of Colour in Black and White | Caddy | |
| Beyond the Wall of Sleep | Sheriff | ||
| The Absence of Light | The Higher Power | ||
| 2007 | Grindhouse | Deputy Tolo | Segment – Planet Terror Planet Terror Planet Terror is a 2007 American action horror film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, about a group of people attempting to survive an onslaught of zombie-like creatures as they feud with a military unit, including a go-go dancer searching for a way to use her "useless talents." The film, a... |
| Loaded Dice | The Bishop | ||
| 2008 | Silent Vengeance | Daniel Phillips | |
| It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To | Uncle Tom | ||
| Lost Boys: The Tribe Lost Boys: The Tribe Lost Boys: The Tribe is a 2008 sequel to the successful 1987 vampire horror film, The Lost Boys; directed by P. J. Pesce. It stars Autumn Reeser, Tad Hilgenbrink, Angus Sutherland and Corey Feldman... |
David Van Etten | Sequel to the 1987 film – The Lost Boys The Lost Boys The Lost Boys is a 1987 American teen comedy horror film directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland, Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest, Edward Herrmann, Alex Winter, Jamison Newlander, and Barnard Hughes.... |
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| 2009 | Zack and Miri Make a Porno Zack and Miri Make a Porno Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a 2008 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, distributed by The Weinstein Company, and starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. It is Smith's second film not to be set within the View Askewniverse and the first not set in New Jersey. It was... |
Jenkins | |
| Sea of Dust Sea of Dust (film) Sea of Dust is a 2008 horror-fantasy film starring Tom Savini and Ingrid Pitt that takes its name from the boundary separating reality from religious "truth," a boundary epitomized by Prester John's Sea of Dust.- Production :... |
Prester John | ||
| 2009 | Eldorado | ||
| 2010 | The Dead Matter | Sebed | |
| Machete Machete (film) Machete is a 2010 action film directed by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis. The "Machete" character originates from the 2001 Spy Kids film, written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. This film is an expansion of a fake trailer that was released together with Rodriguez's and Quentin Tarantino's... |
Osiris Amanpour | ||
| Horrorween Horrorween Horrorween is a 2010 horror comedy film directed by Joe Estevez and written by Mike Muscat, Judd Rubin, Jason Sanchez and Ed Meyer. It stars Lloyd Kaufman, Kathy Garver and Tom Savini.-Plot:A group of people hunt Zombies... |
Killer | ||
| The 4th Reich | Standartenfuhrer Oskar Dirlewanger | ||
| Aqua Teen Hunger Force Aqua Teen Hunger Force Aqua Teen Hunger Force , retitled Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1 in 2011, is an American animated television series on Cartoon Network late night programing block, Adult Swim, as well as Teletoon's Teletoon at Night block and later G4 Canada's ADd block in Canada... |
Cop | episode – One Hundred |
As make-up artist/special effects technician
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Deathdream Deathdream Deathdream is a 1972 Canadian horror film, directed by Bob Clark and written by Alan Ormsby. It was inspired by the W.W. Jacobs short story The Monkey's Paw.-Plot summary:... |
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| Deranged Deranged Deranged is a Canadian/American horror film made in 1974 and directed by Alan Ormsby and Jeff Gillen. It is also known by the title Deranged: The Confessions of a Necrophile in the USA... |
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| 1977 | Martin Martin (film) Martin is a 1978 American horror film written and directed by George A. Romero.Romero claims that Martin is the favorite of all his films... |
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| 1978 | Dawn of the Dead | Nominated: Saturn Award Saturn Award The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within... for Best Make-Up Effects |
| 1980 | Friday the 13th | |
| Effects | ||
| Maniac Maniac (1980 film) Maniac is a 1980 American slasher film , about a disturbed and traumatized serial killer who scalps his victims. It was directed by William Lustig and written by Joe Spinell and C. A. Rosenberg... |
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| 1981 | Eyes of a Stranger Eyes of a Stranger (1981 film) Eyes of a Stranger is a 1981 slasher film directed by Ken Wiederhorn. It features makeup effects by Tom Savini and stars Jennifer Jason Leigh in one of her earliest roles.-Plot:... |
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| The Burning | ||
| The Prowler The Prowler (1981 film) The Prowler is an American slasher movie released in 1981, directed by Joseph Zito. The film has been praised by gore fans for its brutal and realistic murder scenes... |
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| Knightriders Knightriders Knightriders is a 1981 film written and directed by George A. Romero. It was filmed entirely on location in Pennsylvania, especially in Fawn Township and Natrona... |
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| 1982 | Xiao sheng pa pa | |
| Creepshow Creepshow Creepshow is a 1982 American horror anthology film directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King. The film's ensemble cast included Ted Danson, Leslie Nielsen, Hal Holbrook, E.G... |
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| Alone in the Dark Alone in the Dark (1982 film) Alone in the Dark is a 1982 slasher film directed by Jack Sholder. It was the director's debut film and was the first motion picture to be released by New Line Cinema. The film's tagline is: "They're out... for blood! Don't let them find you--"-Plot:... |
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| Midnight | ||
| 1984 | Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is a 1984 slasher film. It is the fourth film in the Friday the 13th film series. Though it was billed as "The Final Chapter," there have been many further sequels in the franchise. The popularity and financial success of the film, which grossed over $32 million,... |
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| Maria's Lovers | ||
| 1985 | Day of the Dead | Saturn Award Saturn Award The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within... for Best Make-Up Effects |
| 1986 | Twisted Sister: Come out and Play | |
| The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 | ||
| 1987 | Creepshow 2 Creepshow 2 Creepshow 2 is an American horror comedy anthology film directed by Michael Gornick, who was George A. Romero's cinematographer on the original Creepshow. Released in 1987, the screenplay for Creepshow 2 was penned by Romero , and once again based upon stories by Stephen King... |
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| 1988 | Tales From the Darkside | episode – Family Reunion |
| Monkey Shines Monkey Shines Monkey Shines may refer to:* Monkey Shines, a 1988 film written and directed by George A. Romero* Monkey Shines , a 1997 shareware game for the Apple Macintosh... |
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| Red Scorpion Red Scorpion Red Scorpion is a 1989 film directed by Joseph Zito starring Dolph Lundgren.-Plot:The plot centers on Lundgren's character Nikolai, a Soviet Spetsnaz-trained KGB agent who is sent to an African country where Soviet, Czechoslovakian and Cuban forces are helping the government fight an anti-communist... |
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| 1990 | Two Evil Eyes Two Evil Eyes Two Evil Eyes is a 1990 double feature horror film written and directed by the Italian Dario Argento and the American George A. Romero. The two had previously worked together on the immensely popular Dawn of the Dead in 1978.-Overview:... |
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| 1991 | Heartstopper Heartstopper "Heartstopper" was the third promotional release for the Fisherman's Woman record. This was released as a 7" vinyl single, enhanced CD Single and promo CD single... |
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| Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh | ||
| 1993 | Killing Zoe Killing Zoe Killing Zoe is a 1994 film, written and directed by Roger Avary. The story details a safe cracker named Zed who returns to France to aid an old friend in performing a doomed bank heist... |
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| Trauma | ||
| H.P. Lovecraft's: Necronomicon | ||
| 1994 | Backstreet Justice | |
| 1997 | Cutting Moments | |
| 1999 | Cold Hearts | |
| 2001 | Web of Darkness | |
| 2002 | Ted Bundy Ted Bundy (film) Ted Bundy is a 2002 film by American film director and writer Matthew Bright. The film dramatizes the crimes of serial killer Ted Bundy. It stars Michael Reilly Burke in the title role, and Boti Bliss as Bundy's girlfriend, Lee .-Cast:*Michael Reilly Burke as Ted Bundy*Boti Bliss as Lee... |
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| 2011 | Death from Above Death from Above (film) Death from Above is a 2011 horror film by director Bruce Koehler. The film features professional wrestling stars Kurt Angle, Sid Eudy , James Storm, Matt Morgan, Terry Gerin and Jessica Kresa.-Cast:* Kurt Angle - Thule* Tom Savini - Sheriff Raynick... |
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| 2012 | Redd Inc |
As director
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1984–1988 | Tales from the Darkside Tales from the Darkside Tales from the Darkside is an anthology horror TV series produced by George A. Romero; it originally aired from 1983 to 1988. Similar to Amazing Stories, The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, The Outer Limits, and Tales From The Crypt, each episode was an individual short story that ended with a plot... |
TV, 3 episodes |
| 1990 | Night of the Living Dead Night of the Living Dead (1990 film) Night of the Living Dead is a 1990 American remake of George A. Romero's 1968 horror film of the same name and was directed by Tom Savini. Romero rewrote the original 1968 screenplay co-authored by John A... |
Remake of the 1968 film |
| 2004 | Chill Factor: House Call | |
| 2011 | The Theatre Bizarre The Theatre Bizarre The Theatre Bizaree is a 2011 horror anthology film. The six segments are directed by Douglas Buck, Buddy Giovinazzo, David Gregory, Karim Hussain, Tom Savini and Richard Stanley.-Cast:*James Gill as Donnie*Kaniehtiio Horn as The Writer... |
1 segment |