George Kosana Explained

George Kosana
Birth Date:December 22, 1935
Death Place:Clairton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Years Active:1968–2016

George Kosana (December 22, 1935 – December 30, 2016) was an American actor, best known for his role of Sheriff McClelland in George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead.[1]

Career

Kosana had been a member of Image Ten films, whereupon he worked on the crew and was one of the original ten investors in the 1968 classic. Kosana worked on other Image Ten films to include 'The Booby Hatch' and 'There's Always Vanilla', and had often made appearances at horror conventions. Concomitant with his film roles, Kosana worked in a steel mill in Clairton, Pennsylvania, an occupation which led to numerous heath issues. His last film, My Uncle John is a Zombie, wrapped shortly before his death.[2] In this final film as well as Living Dead, Kosana reprised and lampooned his role as Sheriff McClelland in Night.

Death

Kosana was found dead on December 30, 2016, at his home in Clairton, Pennsylvania. His death followed years of battling various illnesses,[3] [4] including emphysema/COPD and macular degeneration.[5]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1968Night of the Living Dead Sheriff McClelland
1971There's Always Vanilla Abortionist Thug #2
1976The Booby Hatch Police Chief
2009Incest Death Squad George
2012Living Dead Sheriff McClelland (archive footage)
2012Celluloid Bloodbath: More Prevues from Hell Himself
2014Psychotic State Himself
2017My Uncle John is a Zombie! Sheriff McClelland (final film role)

Notes and References

  1. News: George Kosana, sheriff in 'Night of the Living Dead,' dies. Whack. Errin Haines. 3 January 2017. Associated Press. 2017-01-03. Xfinity.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170104163246/http://my.xfinity.com/articles/entertainment-movies/20170103/US-Obit-George-Kosana/?cid=featuredmovies_media_kosana. 4 January 2017.
  2. News: Night Of The Living Dead's George Kosana Has Died. Peters. Megan. 2 January 2017. ComicBook.com. 2017-01-03.
  3. News: 'Night of the Living Dead' Actor George Kosana Dies at 81. Thorne. Will. 3 January 2017. Variety. 2017-01-04.
  4. News: George Kosana, 'Night of the Living Dead' Actor (and Investor), Dies at 81. Barnes. Mike. 3 January 2017. The Hollywood Reporter. 2017-01-04.
  5. News: R.I.P. 'Night of the Living Dead' Star George Kosana Has Passed Away. Squires. John. 2 January 2017. Bloody Disgusting. 2017-01-04.