Tom Savini

Actor/SFX wizard/stuntman/director Tom Savini was born in Pittsburgh. Inspired by the film Man of a Thousand Faces (1957), a young Savini became fascinated with the magic and illusion of film. He spent his youth in his room creating characters by tirelessly practicing make-up. Later, as a combat photographer in Vietnam, Savini saw first-hand the gruesome carnage for which he later gained fame, simulating it on screen.

Was originally supposed to be a special effects make-up artist on Night of the Living Dead (1968), however Tom enlisted to serve in Vietnam.

In Savini's insightful book "Grande Illusions", he speaks of his early attempts at applying prosthetics to his face using "spearmint gum", having misinterpreted that he was meant to actually use "spirit gum"! His first work was in low-budget fare, providing SFX and make-up for independently made horror films such as Deranged: Confessions of a Necrophile (1974) and Martin (1977). He really caught the attention of horror buffs with his grisly effects in the cult George A.

Romero-directed zombie film Dawn of the Dead (1978), and then in the controversial slasher film Friday the 13th (1980), the movie generally identified as the kickstart for the aforementioned "splatter movie" genre.

He has acquired a remarkable cult following among film fans, primarily due to his ground-breaking SFX in the "splatter movie" explosion of the early 1980s.

Along with fellow special make-up legends Dick Smith and Rob Bottin, Savini was one of the key SFX people behind the startling make-up & EFX seen in the fantasy/horror genre films of the 1980s-'90s. Savini was heavily influenced by the remarkable silent-era actor Lon Chaney, and he sought to emulate the amazing theatrical make-up effects that were a hallmark of Chaney's career.

Savini also contributed the incredible EFX & make-up to other splatter thrillers such as Maniac (1980), The Burning (1981), Creepshow (1982) and Romero's third "Dead" film, Day of the Dead (1985) (for which he won a Saturn Award).

Turned down Friday the 13th - Part II (1981) to work on The Burning (1981).

Turned down the chance to direct Pet Sematary (1989).

In 1990, Savini directed his feature film debut Night of the Living Dead (1990), the remake of the original zombie-classic.

Was supposed to play the part of the second biker in Oliver Stone's U-Turn (1997), after Stone saw him in From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). But due to scheduling conflict, Stone cast his producer Richard Rutowski in that part instead.

Provided his voice to the horror game "City of the Dead" - a spin-off to George A. Romero's Dead films, but the game's distributer Hip Interactive went bankrupt, and the game was never released (2006).

His role in Sea of Dust (2008) (Prester John) was written by Scott Bunt with Savini in mind.