Personal details
- Birth Date: 1933-12-17
- Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
- Birth Location: Beaver, Iowa, USA
- Children: (divorced, 2 children) John Benjamin Eastman
- Parents: Verne Malcolm Johnson
- Professions: Actress, Make-Up Department
Marilyn Eastman, born in Iowa, ended up making a serious mark on Pittsburgh’s entertainment scene. She wasn’t just some random face in the crowd either—she hustled her way onto a bunch of local radio programs, really making a name for herself. After meeting Karl Hardman (her partner in crime and, honestly, in just about everything else), they decided, “Hey, let’s run our own show,” and boom—Hardman/Eastman, Inc. came to life. But the real magic started when they teamed up with The Latent Image, Inc., which, if you’re into horror movies at all, you’ll know was helmed by George A. Romero. That crew? Absolute legends. Together, they cooked up Night of the Living Dead in 1967—shot all around Pittsburgh, released in ’68, and, let’s be real, it changed horror forever. Marilyn wasn’t just acting in it, either. She was all over the production—handling makeup, props, and even helping shape the script. Seriously, she did everything except maybe run the projector. After Night of the Living Dead blew up, Marilyn kept cranking out work with Hardman, doing a bunch of industrial flicks and commercials, and even hitting the theater stage. She didn’t just fade away into trivia, either—she popped up in the 25th Anniversary special for Night of the Living Dead in 1993, sharing stories and celebrating the film’s wild ride and cult status. She might not be a household name, but anyone who knows horror knows Marilyn Eastman brought way more to the table than just a scream.
She’s actually Kyra Schon’s godparent, which is kind of wild if you’re a fan of classic horror flicks. You know, Kyra’s the little girl from “Night of the Living Dead” who made everyone sleep with the lights on for a week. There’s just something oddly sweet about the behind-the-scenes connections in old Hollywood—like all these cult legends were basically one big, weird family. People forget that being a godparent isn’t just a title, it usually means you’re pretty close with the parents, or at least trusted enough to be part of the kid’s life. Imagine showing up to a family barbecue and realizing the person who’ll teach you how to ride a bike also helped create zombie movie history. That’s the kind of random, charming trivia that makes movie lore so fun. It’s not just about the films themselves, but all the strange, unexpected bonds between the people who made them.
December 17, 1933
5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
Konidela Ram Charan
Beaver, Iowa, USA
Yes, John Benjamin Eastman
Verne Malcolm Johnson and Surekha
91 years old