Today we remember Duane Jones, born April 11, 1937.
To Night of the Living Dead fans, Duane will always be remembered as Ben — the strong, intelligent, unforgettable hero of a landmark horror film. Duane won the part ofBen through the strength of his audition, and his performance helped shape one of the most important films in horror history.
But Duane Jones’s legacy reaches far beyond Night of the Living Dead. He was also a gifted educator, scholar, actor, and director. He taught literature, helped develop educational programs, worked with Harlem Preparatory School in its earliest days, and later became a leading figure in theatre, serving as director of the Maguire Theater at SUNY Old Westbury, artistic director at the Richard Allen Center for Culture and Art in Manhattan, and executive director of the Black Theater Alliance.
Today, on his birthday, we honour Duane Jones not only for his unforgettable work on screen, but for the lasting impact he made in education, theatre, and culture.
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