Birthday's to share this week : 1st - 7th February 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week? 
George A. Romero does, on 4th February - check out the tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 75, at the end of this feature.

Do you also share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer, Singer/Songwriter or Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming seven days? Then, look no further! Whilst there will be too many to mention in this small but not insignificant and beautifully written and presented Blog, here are the more notable and noteworthy icons of the big screen, and the small screen, that you will recognise, and that you might just share your birthday with in the week ahead. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Sunday 1st February

• Linus Roache - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actor
• Peter Sallis - Born 1921, turns 94 - Actor | Director

Monday 2nd February

• Gemma Arterton - Born 1986, turns 29 - Actress
• David Jason - Born 1940, turns 75 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director

Tuesday 3rd February

• Isla Fisher - Born 1976, turns 39 - Actress
• Michael Cimino - Born 1939, turns 76 - Director | Writer | Producer

Wednesday 4th February

• Gabrielle Anwar - Born 1970, turns 45 - Actress
• Natalie Imbruglia - Born 1975, turns 40 - Singer | Songwriter | Actress
• George A. Romero - Born 1940, turns 75 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor 
• Alice Cooper - Born 1948, turns 67 - Singer | Songwriter | Actor
• Patrick Bergin - Born 1951, turns 64 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter

Thursday 5th February

• Jennifer Jason Leigh - Born 1962, turns 53 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Barbara Hershey - Born 1948, turns 67 - Actress
• Charlotte Rampling - Born1946, turns 69 - Actress
• Laura Linney - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actress | Producer
• Michael Mann - Born 1943, turns 72 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Michael Sheen - Born 1969, turns 46 - Actor | Producer
• Tom Wilkinson - Born 1948, turns 67 - Actor

Friday 6th February

• Rip Torn - Born 1931, turns 84 - Actor
• Patrick Macnee - Born 1922, turns 93 - Actor
• Kevin Whately - Born 1951, turns 64 - Actor
• Jim Sheridan - Born 1949, turns 66 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor

Saturday 7th February

• James Spader - Born 1960, turns 55 - Actor | Producer
• Ashton Kutcher - Born 1978, turns 37 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Chris Rock - Born 1965, turns 50 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• Eddie Izzard - Born 1962, turns 53 - Actor | Producer | Writer

George Andrew Romero was born in The Bronx district of New York City to a Cuban born father working as a commercial artist and a Lithuanian American mother. He attended Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University and graduated in 1960 whereupon he began shooting short films and television commercials, although he had started making short films from the age of 14 using a Super 8mm camera.

With friends he formed 'Image Ten Productions' in the early 60's, each of them investing US$10K to start up their fledgling company, and soon they went on to produce one of the most celebrated horror films of all time - 'Night of the Living Dead' in 1968. It was filmed in black and white, cost US$114K to make and has so far grossed over US$30M making it one of the most successful horror films of all time commercially, and quickly established itself as a cult classic of the genre.

Always keeping his films relevant with the zeitgeist of the era, social comment and political commentary he went on to make 'There's always Vanilla' in 1971, 'Hungry Wives' in 1972, 'The Crazies' in 1973, 'Martin' in 1977 and then back to the zombie gore fare to follow up 'Night' with 'Dawn of the Dead' in 1978. This film took Romero back to his cult classic cinematic crescent with a production budget of US$650K and a return of US$55M and much critical acclaim among lovers of the genre, and garnering cult status too along with it's predecessor.

This was followed up by 'Knightriders' in 1981 starring the young emerging Ed Harris, and then 'Creepshow' in 1982 written by horror master Stephen King. His next return to the 'Dead' series came in 1985 with 'The Day of the Dead' which was less well received by the critics and the fans, and whilst made for a much bigger budget this time of US$3.5M it still grossed ten times that at US$34M. 'Day' also introduced the world to Greg Nicotero who worked as actor and make up artist on the film and went onto to provide make up expertise on many Hollywood horror and mainstream films, and most recently has been seen Directing, Producing and making-up on televisions hugely successful 'The Walking Dead' series now in its fifth season.

'Monkey Snines' came next in 1988, 'Two Evil Eyes' in 1990, 'The Dark Half' in 1993 again penned by Stephen King, and then 'Bruiser' in 2000. Next in line in the 'Dead' franchise came in 2005 with 'Land of the Dead' this time attracting some bigger name stars including Simon Baker, Dennis Hopper, John Leguizamo and Asia Argento. The production budget this time was ramped up to US$15M and it grossed US$47M. 

'Diary of the Dead' came along in 2007 trying to take the series in a different direction albeit set in the same time. This time Romero independently Produced the film for just US$2M and it made less than US$6M despite reasonable reviews and all of his usual touchstones. 'Survival of the Dead' came in 2009 which cost US$4M but tanked critically and commercially.

Since then there has been talk of other back to back films in the series, other non-zombie horror offerings and TV series based on similar themes. He continues to Produce, to Write and is active in these areas if not Directing at this time.

He was married to his first wife Nancy Romero from 1971 to 1978 with whom they have a son Cameron who is himself active in the movie business. He then married Christine Forrest in 1981 with who he has a daughter Tina and another son Andrew - Tina is also active in the movie business. In 2011 he married Suzanne Desrocher whom he met while filming 'Land of the Dead'. He lived in Pittsburgh for much of his life and would shoot many of his earlier films in and around the city and throughout Pennsylvania. He now also has Canadian citizenship and lives in Toronto - where he also shoot his movies.

Romero has 12 Award wins to his name and a further four nominations. He has 27 Writer credits, 19 Director credits, 15 Actor credits, 12 Producer credits and nine Editor credits to his name so far. A number of his films have subsequently been remade more recently for a new audience and a whole new treatment of the blood, gore & viscera.

George Romero - the Master of horror, the Grand Daddy of gore, the Chancellor of carnage and the Captain of creeps, shocks and the undead - and all with something to say and a social conscience. We applaud your achievements and your legacy - Happy Birthday from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-