Night of the Living Dead zombie was cut from The Walking Dead

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

The Walking Dead special effects artist Greg Nicotero, who also serves as an executive producer and frequent episode director on the show, is known for working in zombies that are tributes to popular horror films of the past. DAWN OF THE DEAD, DAY OF THE DEAD, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, ZOMBIE, JAWS, BLACK SABBATH, TALES FROM THE CRYPT, EVIL DEAD 2, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, they've all received a nod on The Walking Dead in some way, some of them more than once.

With season six of the show having reached its finale back on April 3rd, Nicotero took to his Instagram account to reveal that he had intended to feature an homage to his friend George A. Romero's immortal classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD back on the sixth episode of the season's sixteen episode run, the episode titled Always Accountable. Unfortunately, this is one tribute zombie who didn't make it on air.

Nicotero says, 

The tribute Walker that hit the cutting room floor from episode 6 of this last season… Johnny from the one and only Night of the Living Dead! After the fact I realized I should have used him in the premiere and he would have been in black and white. Damn!!

While it's sad that this tribute to the movie I've watched more times than any other didn't make it onto the show, it's cool to see the picture of what he looked like. And who knows, maybe he'll pop up in season seven.