Duane L. Jones, a director and actor, born April 11, 1937, died Friday 22 july 1988, in Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, L.I. He was 51 years old and lived in Westbury, L.I.
Marva Jones Brooks, Mr. Jones's sister and the City Attorney of Atlanta, said death was caused by cardiopulmonary arrest.
Mr. Jones was director of the Maguire Theater at the State University College at Old Westbury and artistic director at the Richard Allen Center for Culture and Art in Manhattan.
He directed many stage productions, including Vy Higgensen's ''Mama, I Want to Sing,'' a gospel musical. Among the more than 20 productions he staged for the Richard Allen Center were ''The Estate'' by Ray Aranha, ''God's Trombones'' by James Weldon Johnson and ''Black Picture Show'' by Bill Gunn. He directed ''The Medium'' and ''Sojourner'' for Opera Ebony. On TV and in Films
Mr. Jones was executive director of the Black Theater Alliance, a federation of theater companies, from 1976 to 1981. He acted with the Negro Ensemble Company, the Actors Playhouse and the National Black Theater. He also worked in television and appeared in such films as ''Ganja and Hess,'' ''Beat Street,'' ''Night of the Living Dead'' and ''Losing Ground.''
Before his theatrical career, he was an academician. He headed the literature department at Antioch College from 1972 to 1976, was a Phelps-Stokes exchange scholar in Niger, taught literature at Long Island University, developed English-language training programs for the Peace Corps and helped design Harlem Preparatory School, where he was head of the English department.
The script for Night of the Living Dead had Ben's Character as a tough guy truck driver, but no mention of the character's race. Rudy Ricci was originally cast to play Ben the truck driver.
Duane got to know the crew working on Night as he was friends with Betty Ellen Haughey and Rudy Ricci, According to Russ Streiner, Duane was in town visiting his family for Easter weekend, when he auditioned for the role,
at the audition the group, including Rudy, unanimously voted to give the role to Duane as he was a great actor.
Here's a little bit about Duane Jones that may be new to you.
During the tail end of filming Night of the Living Dead and into 1968, Duane Jones was teaching English to kids that were basically pushed out into the streets of NYC, as well as college aged adults looking for a second chance at the Harlem Prep School during its first year of opening.
In fact, Harlem Prep was the only high school in central Harlem and was community funded.
Headmaster Edward F. Carpenter said about Jones "One of the most brilliant men I know. And I'd like to see him be headmaster here one day". Hard to argue. What a lovely and incredible man was Duane Jones.
https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/the-story-of-harlem-prep-cultivating-a-community-school-in-new-york-city
Researched and compiled by Daz Sargeant & John Vullo
Text and photos © Image Ten, Inc.
If you know of any family, friends or acquaintances that appeared as extras in the original Night of the Living Dead, please contact John Vullo at jmv3683@gmail.com
