Len Richmond was an American film director, writer and producer who worked from the 1950s to the 1980s. He was known for his contributions to the horror genre, particularly his work on the cult classic Night of the Living Dead.
Richmond was born in Hollywood, California in 1927. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles and graduated with a degree in cinema production in 1948. After college, he worked as a freelance production assistant and assistant director on a number of films, including the 1951 classic The Day the Earth Stood Still.
In the mid-1950s, Richmond began directing his own films. His first feature was the 1957 low budget horror film House on Haunted Hill. This film was a success and led to several more horror films, including The Tingler (1959) and 13 Ghosts (1960). All of these films were produced by William Castle Productions.
In 1968, Richmond directed Night of the Living Dead, which is widely considered to be his greatest work. This film was a critical and commercial success, and it began a new wave of zombie films.
Richmond continued to work in the horror genre throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He directed several made-for-TV movies and worked as a producer on the 1981 cult classic The Evil Dead.
In addition to his work in film and television, Richmond wrote several books, including The Art of Horror Movies (1973) and A History of Horror Films (1984). He also wrote articles for various magazines and newspapers.
Len Richmond passed away in 1989 at the age of 62. He left behind a legacy of horror films that have become timeless classics and continue to influence filmmakers today.
