George A. Romero, director of Night Of The Living Dead, has died

George A. Romero, best known as the director of horror classic Night Of The Living Dead, has died at the age of 77.

In a statement released to media, Romero died in his sleep "brief but aggressive battle with lung cancer." The statement also read that Romero died listening to the soundtrack to 1952's The Quiet Man, a film made in Ireland and starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

Romero effectively kicked off the zombie genre with 1968's Night Of The Living Dead, which was followed by the 1978 sequel Dawn Of The Dead, 1985's Day Of The Dead, 1990's Land Of The Dead, 2007's Diary Of The Dead and 2009's Survival Of The Dead.

As well as the successful Dead franchise, Romero also directed 1973's The Crazies, 1981's Knightriders - which starred a young Ed Harris - and 1982's horror comedy Creepshow, which was written by Stephen King.

Romero is survived by his daughter, Tina Romero, and wife Suzanne Desrocher.

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