Duane Jones
Duane Jones | |
---|---|
Born | Duane Lionel Jones April 11, 1937 New York City, U.S. |
Died | July 22, 1988 Mineola, New York, U.S. | (aged 51)
Other names | Duane L. Jones |
Alma mater | University of Pittsburgh (B.A.) New York University (M.A.) |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1968–1988 |
Duane Lionel Jones (April 11, 1937 – July 22, 1988) was an American actor. He was best known for his lead role as Ben in the 1968 horror film Night of the Living Dead.[1][2] He was later director of the Maguire Theater at the State University of New York at Old Westbury, and the artistic director of the Richard Allen Center for Culture and Art in Manhattan.
Early life and education
Jones was born in New York City to Mildred Jones (née Gordon). He had a sister, Marva (later Marva Brooks), and a brother, Henry.[3] He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, before training as an actor in New York City. He later completed an M.A. in Communications at New York University in between shooting Night of the Living Dead.
Prior to becoming an actor, Jones was a Phelps-Stokes exchange scholar in Niger and taught literature at Long Island University. He created English-language training programs for the Peace Corps and helped design Harlem Preparatory School, where he headed the English department.[3]
Acting
His role in the 1968 film Night of the Living Dead marked the first time an African-American actor was cast as the star and hero of a horror film, and one of the first times in American cinema where an important role was given to a Black actor when the script did not explicitly call for one. While some saw the casting as significant, director George A. Romero stated Jones' race was not a factor in his casting; Romero cast him simply because "Jones was the best actor we met to play Ben."[4]
Jones continued working in film after Night of the Living Dead in Ganja & Hess (1973), Losing Ground (1982), and Beat Street (1984), among others.[3] Despite his other film roles, Jones worried that people only recognized him as Ben.[5]
From 1972 to 1976, Jones oversaw the literature department at
Death and legacy
Jones died of
The Duane L. Jones Recital Hall at the State University of New York at Old Westbury is named after him.[3] In the zombie comic book series The Walking Dead, the character Duane Jones is named in his honour.[7]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1968 | Night of the Living Dead | Ben | |
1973 | Ganja & Hess | Doctor Hess Green | Also released as "Blood Couple" |
1982 | Losing Ground | Duke | |
1984 | Beat Street | Robert | |
1986 | Vampires | Charles Harmon | |
1988 | To Die For | Simon Little | Posthumously released |
Negatives | Charles Harmon | Archive footage from Vampires | |
1989 | Fright House | Charles Harmon | Archive footage from Vampires, (segment "Abadon"), (final film role) |
References
- ^ Maçek, J.C. III (June 15, 2012). "The Zombification Family Tree: Legacy of the Living Dead". PopMatters. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
- The Scotsman. March 6, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Fraser, C. Gerald (July 28, 1988). "Duane L. Jones, 51, Actor and Director of Stage Works, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
- The Wrap.
- ^ Jones, Duane (2002). Bonus interviews (DVD). Night of the Living Dead. Millennium Edition. Elite Entertainment.
- ISBN 9781476625997.
- ^ Davis, Brandon (September 6, 2017). "Robert Kirkman Writes Tribute To 'Walking Dead' Inspiration George Romero". Comicbook.com. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
External links
- Duane Jones at IMDb
- Duane Jones at Find a Grave