Clayton Hill
Encyclopedia
Clayton Hill was an American actor who appeared in many films, but was best known for his role as the "sweater zombie" in the 1978 horror film Dawn of the Dead by director George A. Romero
.
He was an assistant director on Romero's 1981 Knightriders
and had casting responsibilities for several films. Shortly before his death he played a major role as "Father Clayton" in wrestling star Kurt Angle
's film End Game, and was to play a lead with Angle in the 2010 film River of Darkness.
. He enlisted in the United States Air Force
after completing high school and served for four years, where his duties included serving as a security officer for the king and queen of Thailand
.
After completing his military service, he worked at the Pittsburgh International Airport
as head of the facility's fire department. He later worked as a civilian contractor for the Air Force as a disaster preparedness officer, where he developed plans to deal with chemical
, biological
, and nuclear warfare
.
As a means to deal with on-the-job stress, his wife Sharon Ceccatti, an actress, convinced him to participate in acting classes at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, which he started in the early 1970s. While they were performing in operettas, he and his wife were approached about a director who was casting a horror film. Despite their unfamiliarity with zombie
s, they were hired to play the "lead zombies" in a film being directed by George Romero. A crew member described Hill's acting as making him "one of the most convincing zombies of the bunch", citing his skill at maintaining his stiff pose and rolling his eyes back into his head, including heading down the wrong way in an escalator while in character. He was also given responsibility for overseeing the use of weapons on the set.
In other films, Hill played such roles as a bum in a bar, a detective, a priest and was an announcer at a basketball game together with Marv Albert
. He played a security guard in the 1979 film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
which also starred Julius Erving
, a bailiff in the 1980 move Death Penalty, Kilroy in the 1985 film Rappin'
with Mario Van Peebles
and the priest in the 1992 horror film Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth
. He was second assistant director on Romero's 1981 Knightriders.
He started Sharclay Casting with his wife, recruiting individuals as extras and for minor roles. They appeared at zombie conventions. He cast extras and other additional roles for the films All the Right Moves
starring Tom Cruise
released in 1983, the 1986 film Gung Ho
directed by Ron Howard
and 1988's Dominick and Eugene
that starred Tom Hulce
and Ray Liotta
.
He and his wife returned to the screen with roles in the film End Game. He was cast in the horror film River of Darkness
with Kurt Angle
, which would have been his first lead role.
A resident of Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
, he died at the age of 78 on July 26, 2009, from pneumonia
. He was survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.
George A. Romero
George Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
.
He was an assistant director on Romero's 1981 Knightriders
Knightriders
Knightriders is a 1981 film written and directed by George A. Romero. It was filmed entirely on location in Pennsylvania, especially in Fawn Township and Natrona...
and had casting responsibilities for several films. Shortly before his death he played a major role as "Father Clayton" in wrestling star Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
's film End Game, and was to play a lead with Angle in the 2010 film River of Darkness.
Early life and career
Hill had been a child performer, pushed to earn money by singing on the stage in beer gardens at age 6, and performed on local radio show as a teenager. He participated in talent shows, including a loss to future-actor/comedian Frank GorshinFrank Gorshin
Frank John Gorshin, Jr. was an American actor and comedian. He was perhaps best known as an impressionist, with many guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show...
. He enlisted in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
after completing high school and served for four years, where his duties included serving as a security officer for the king and queen of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
After completing his military service, he worked at the Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
as head of the facility's fire department. He later worked as a civilian contractor for the Air Force as a disaster preparedness officer, where he developed plans to deal with chemical
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
, biological
Biological warfare
Biological warfare is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war...
, and nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
.
As a means to deal with on-the-job stress, his wife Sharon Ceccatti, an actress, convinced him to participate in acting classes at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, which he started in the early 1970s. While they were performing in operettas, he and his wife were approached about a director who was casting a horror film. Despite their unfamiliarity with zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
s, they were hired to play the "lead zombies" in a film being directed by George Romero. A crew member described Hill's acting as making him "one of the most convincing zombies of the bunch", citing his skill at maintaining his stiff pose and rolling his eyes back into his head, including heading down the wrong way in an escalator while in character. He was also given responsibility for overseeing the use of weapons on the set.
In other films, Hill played such roles as a bum in a bar, a detective, a priest and was an announcer at a basketball game together with Marv Albert
Marv Albert
Marv Albert is an American television and radio sportscaster. Honored for his work as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, he is commonly referred to as "the voice of basketball." From 1967–2004, he was also known as "the voice of the New York Knicks."Including Super Bowl XLII, Marv has called...
. He played a security guard in the 1979 film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh is an American sports/fantasy comedy film that was released in 1979. The movie was directed by Gilbert Moses and co-produced by David Dashev and Gary Stromberg. It was produced by Lorimar and distributed by United Artists. The rights to the film are currently owned by...
which also starred Julius Erving
Julius Erving
Julius Winfield Erving II , commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim....
, a bailiff in the 1980 move Death Penalty, Kilroy in the 1985 film Rappin'
Rappin'
Rappin is a 1985 film directed by Joel Silberg, written by Adam Friedman and Robert J. Litz and starring Mario Van Peebles. Van Peebles plays "Rappin' John Hood", an ex-convict, who attempts to save his neighborhood from developers and hoodlums...
with Mario Van Peebles
Mario Van Peebles
Mario "Chip" Cain Van Peebles is an American director and actor who has appeared in numerous Hollywood films. He is son of filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles.-Life and career:...
and the priest in the 1992 horror film Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth is a 1992 American horror film and third installment in the Hellraiser series, directed by Anthony Hickox and starring Terry Farrell, Doug Bradley, Paula Marshall and Kevin Bernhardt...
. He was second assistant director on Romero's 1981 Knightriders.
He started Sharclay Casting with his wife, recruiting individuals as extras and for minor roles. They appeared at zombie conventions. He cast extras and other additional roles for the films All the Right Moves
All the Right Moves
All the Right Moves is a 1983 drama film directed by Michael Chapman and starring Tom Cruise, Craig T. Nelson, Lea Thompson, Chris Penn, and Gary Graham...
starring Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
released in 1983, the 1986 film Gung Ho
Gung Ho (film)
Gung Ho is a 1986 Ron Howard comedy film, released by Paramount Pictures, and starring Michael Keaton and Gedde Watanabe. The film's story portrayed the takeover of an American car plant by a Japanese corporation...
directed by Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
and 1988's Dominick and Eugene
Dominick and Eugene
Dominick and Eugene is a 1988 American drama film directed by Robert M. Young about twin brothers, Dominick and Eugene. Dominick has an intellectual disability due to an accident in his youth. The film was directed by Robert M...
that starred Tom Hulce
Tom Hulce
Thomas Edward "Tom" Hulce is an American actor and theater producer. As an actor, he is perhaps best known for his Oscar-nominated portrayal of Mozart in the movie Amadeus and his role as "Pinto" in National Lampoon's Animal House. Additional acting awards included a total of four Golden Globe...
and Ray Liotta
Ray Liotta
[File:Ray Liotta is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in the crime-drama Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese and his role as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams...
.
He and his wife returned to the screen with roles in the film End Game. He was cast in the horror film River of Darkness
River of Darkness
River of Darkness is an American horror film by director Bruce Koehler. The film features professional wrestling stars Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash, and Sid Eudy as well as Ray Lloyd in a minor role.-Plot:...
with Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
, which would have been his first lead role.
A resident of Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
Burgettstown is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The population was 1,576 according to the 2000 census.-History:...
, he died at the age of 78 on July 26, 2009, from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. He was survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.