Unearthing The Undead 26 - JOHN MESSENGER

John Messenger played the coroner/medical examiner in Night of the Living Dead .  He can be seen around Ivy Booth who played the nurse.

John Messenger is also the one driving the "City of Willard Dept. of Public Health" vehicle on it's way to the farmhouse.  He was also a neighbor of Karl Hardman's.

John C. was known as “Jack” to his friends and family. Jack had a lifelong interest in stage, radio and film activities. He joined his  high school plays, wrote for Rege Cordic at KDKA, and was invited to NOTLD by his friend Karl.

He gathered all of the long guns in the house and family, set off for Butler and spent a great day with friends. “Uncle Bill” mentioned that because Jack had a “speaking part”, he received more than the stipend-du-jour and all the hot-dogs and refreshment you could hold.

Subsequently, he joined Karl for TV commercial recordings, though we, his kids, don’t know how those actually played out. We do know that his own productions of “The Man from MONY”, created and produced for "party-entertainment” of a major Insurance Industry player, at that time, were loved and reside safely in the stewardship of his good  friend Bob, who took shrapnel in his leg from some special effects.

Jack, Lois and Bob were recruited several times to plan and facilitate those MONY parties.  Jack was born and raised in Pittsburgh. Joined the US Coast Guard after high school. Returned from that time and reunited with Lois Edwards. Jack and Lois married and shared four children.

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Researched and compiled by John Vullo

Text and photos © Image Ten, Inc.

If you know of any family, friends or acquaintances that appeared as extras in the original Night of the Living Dead, please contact John Vullo at jmv3683@gmail.com

#UnearthingTheUndead #NightOfTheLivingDead #GeorgeARomero #HorrorLegends #ZombieReveals #ClassicHorror #JohnMessenger

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