Cast and crew

Tony Pantanella

Photo © Image Ten, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Photo © Image Ten, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Anthony was a letter carrier for more than 30 years after holding several  other jobs.

He began doing pyrotechnics with Lisbon Fireworks Company in Ohio and for Zambelli in New Castle.

Tony was a Korean War veteran, member of the American Legion Post 490 for more than 38 years and member of the PGI.

While working on Night of the Living Dead, he created the Special Effects and explosions along side his good friend Regis Survinski. Tony also starred in the film as a posse member, hunting down the undead ghouls.

According to Regis Survinski, Tony had also played a Ghoul for one night while filming, but it wasn't until the recent "Who's that Ghoul" episode of NIGHT Talk, that Gary Streiner identified his Ghoul character in the film.

Tony plays both a Ghoul and a Posse Member in Night of the Living Dead

In some of the scenes this Ghoul can be seen standing next to an area where Harry Coopers Molotov cocktails land and explode. As Tony was a pyrotechnician,

he would probably have been setting the fire as George shouted action.

Tony Pantanella standing next to the Molotov cocktail explosion

He regularly attended the Living Dead Festivals in evans City, PA, where he would meet Night of the Living Dead fans, signing autograph.

George Romero, Tony Pantanella and Russ Streiner at the Living Dead Festival 2014. Photo Daz Sargeant.

Sadly Tony passed away, age 82 of Castle Shannon, on Monday, March 30, 2015.

Beloved husband of Maureen (DeSensi) and the late Donna (Gregg); devoted father of Anthony (Jing qi), Cynthia Pagesh (Ray Gintner), Richard, and Joseph (Jackie); stepfather of Vincent (Jaime) DeSensi; loving grandfather of Nicholas (Angela), Vincent, Adrienne and Joseph Pantanella: Philip & Donna Kyler, Jakeb Pagesh; great grandfather of Kyrie, Autumn and Taryn Pantanella, uncle of Linda (Guy) Matola, Joseph Colizoli and there families.

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