Actress Marilyn Eastman has died at the age of 87.
The Night of the Living Dead star's death was confirmed by her son on Facebook. He said his mother passed away in her sleep in Florida on Sunday.
He wrote: "Marilyn was a stage, television and radio performer as well as a writer and producer. More importantly, she was a hard-working single mother who raised my brother and I on her own.
“I cannot overstate how much she enjoyed the affection and attention shown to her by countless NOLD fans, and up until several weeks ago [she] was planning personal appearances.”
She was best known for her role as Helen Cooper in the 1968 movie as she played a woman who is trapped in a farmhouse by ghouls before dying and reanimating.
As well as acting in the hit by George A Romero alongside her life partner later in life Karl Hardman, Marilyn also did makeup on the classic horror film as well as playing a zombie too.
In 1996, she appeared in the movie Santa Claws.
She was born in 1933 in Iowa before moving to Pittsburgh in the 1960s and was business and life partners of Hardman until he died in 2007.
Her son revealed it was his mother's wishes to have her funeral in Pittsburgh.
Fans of the star took to social media to pay their respects following the news.
One fan wrote on Twitter : "I’ll never forget the impact her death scene in NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD had on me as a kid. RIP Marilyn Eastman."
Another penned: "Saying goodbye to an Icon today. You will be missed Marilyn Eastman aka Mrs. Cooper."
And a third commented: "RIP Marilyn Eastman, so brilliant as Helen Cooper in Night of the Living Dead, the film that changed horror cinema forever."
The George A Romero Foundation's official account also tweeted: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm the passing of Marilyn Eastman on 8/22/21. Please join us in wishing her family peace at this painful time. Godspeed, Marilyn. Give our love to Karl."
She is survived by her sons John and Michael, her five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033.
