2016 was a particularly rough year when it came to celebrities passing away. But just because we’ve entered a new year doesn’t mean death has been put on hold.George Kosana, who made his feature film debut playing Sheriff McClelland in the 1968 horror classicNight of the Living Dead, hasdiedat the age of 81. While his untimely demise was reported by a number of outlets today, the actor’s longtime friendJohn Russo, who co-wroteNight of the Living DeadwithGeorge A. Romero, broke the news in a Facebook post yesterday. Here’s what the writer had to say in his statement.
“George Kosana, R.I.P. My close friendGeorge Kosana, who played the sheriff in NOLD, has regrettably passed away after a long battle withvarious illnesses. He will be greatly missed by me, by his fellow NOLD cast and crew members and by his many fans. For the past few days, I have been constantly reliving my many good and often funny remembrances of him.”
George Kosanawas born in Clairton, Pennsylvania on August 17, 2025, and while little is known about his early life, he made his feature film debut inNight of the Living Deadas Sheriff McClelland. He also served as the production manager on thehorror classic, and he also appeared inGeorge A. Romero’s 1971 filmThere’s Always Vanillaand 1976’sThe Booby Hatch, which was co-written and co-directed byJohn Russo. He would return to acting in 2009’sIncest Death Squadafter a long hiatus, and he also reprised his Sheriff McClelland role in 2012’sLiving Deadand the upcomingMy Uncle John Is a Zombie!, whichJohn Russowrote and is co-directing.
Unfortunately, just months before thelate actorpassed,George Kosanawas in dire financial trouble, withJohn Russosetting up a You Caring fundraising campaign on his old friend’s behalf. According toJohn Russo’s You Caring campaign intro, his old friend of over 50 years was in financial trouble thanks to “an unscrupulous relative who cleaned him out of his life savings by taking advantage of him while he was in the hospital having a series of life-threatening operations”. The You Caring campaign also revealed he was suffering from emphysema, COPD, macular degeneration, while he was recovering from four bypasses and two valve replacements.
John Russoalso stated in the You Caring campaign intro that he befriended theNight of the Living Deadstar while they were both in their 20s, because he liked his, “gruff, off-beat, adventurous personality.” They both served in the military, although in different branches, withGeorgein the Marines andJohn Russoin the Army.George Kosanais survived by his older brotherStephen, three nieces, Lise (Prestine), Deborah (Kosana), and Kimberly (Bednarek), two great-nieces, Katherine (Prestine) and Anna (Bednarek), and one great-nephew, Robert (Bednarek).
