Famed zombie movie director dead at 77

US filmmaker George A. Romero, whose 1968 cult classic

Night of the Living Dead spawned the zombie movie genre, has died aged 77.

Tributes poured in from Hollywood and beyond for the legendary director who according to his manager Chris Roe passed away following a brief but aggressive battle with lung cancer.

Shot in black-and-white on a budget of just over $100,000,

Night of the Living Dead daringly featured black actor Duane Jones as its lead in a script about a group of people attempting to survive an attack by re-animated corpses.

The film grossed over $30 million worldwide and led to five sequels. Other notable works include 1981’s Knightriders, about a traveling medieval reenactment troupe that jousts on motorcycles, and 1982’s horror anthology Creepshow written by author Stephen King.

King tweeted: “Sad to hear my favorite collaborator – and good old friend – George Romero has died. George, there will never be another like you”.