#3- Duane Jones as Ben in George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Duane Jones as Ben in George A. Romero’s ‘Night of the Living Dead’- Courtesy of Image Ten
“Now get the hell down in the cellar. You can be the boss down there, but I’m boss up here!” – Ben
Our list continues with zombie killing, as Duane Jones saving a horde of bad actors comes in at number 3.
Crediting the role as his first onscreen performance, Jones’ portrayal of Night of the Living Dead hero Ben is one of horror’s most powerful displays of pure performance.
Performing as a strong black man against the backdrop of historically radical racism, Jones should be applauded for having the courage to simply be in the film. Throw in the fact that he’s on screen slapping a white woman in 1968, and it’s entirely admirable.
Moreover, Jones’ take on a man trying to survive the beginning of society’s horrific breakdown is insanely brilliant. He’s strong, fiercely focused, and intelligently untouchable.
Today’s actors can certainly learn a thing of two from the underrated thespian. George A. Romero certainly saw Jones’ brilliance when casting the 1968 classic.
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