‘This Is Ben’: The Story Behind Tony Todd’s Night Of The Living Dead Audition That Kicked Off His Legendary Horror Career

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Tony Todd passed away in November 2024 at the age of 69, and his impact on the entertainment world may not be equaled for many years, possibly decades. I recently found a short but moving tribute to the Candyman actor, focusing on one of his first and most memorable performances: as Ben in Tom Savini’s version of Night of the Living Dead.

I’ve always admired Todd’s take on the character, originally portrayed by Duane Jones in George A. Romero’s classic zombie film, but learning about his audition for the 1990 remake has deepened my respect for both his compelling performance and him as an actor. Here’s the story of his Night of the Living Dead audition and how it launched one of the most celebrated careers in horror cinema.

Tony Todd Had A Last-Minute Audition But Made An Immediate Impact

I recently revisited Night of the Living Dead on the 4K Blu-ray for its 35th anniversary, and it was fantastic! This release includes the long-awaited “uncut” version – the one fans have been talking about for years. Like I usually do with a favorite film, I put on the director commentary. It was really interesting to hear Savini talk about how Tony Todd actually landed the role; it’s a great story and I highly recommend listening to it!

I still hadn’t found the right actor for Ben. Then, Tony Todd came in, physically grabbed me, pinned me against a wall, and urgently said, ‘You have to let me read this, okay?’… I handed him the script. He left, and returned just five minutes later-without the script. He’d memorized every line and even started to cry while reading. I immediately closed the script and said, ‘That’s it, he’s Ben.’

Night of the Living Dead isn’t just a surprisingly good remake of a horror classic; it’s actually one of my all-time favorite zombie films. A big reason for that is Tony Todd’s performance as Ben. Even now, the scene where Ben recounts his encounter with zombies – the very scene he used for his audition – is still incredibly impactful and remains a truly powerful moment in horror cinema.

Tony Todd Had Been Drawn To The Character Since First Seeing Duane Jones’ Ben In The Original Night Of The Living Dead

If I were assembling a dream team for zombie survival, Ben from Night of the Living Dead would definitely be a top pick. He’s one of the most memorable and impactful Black characters ever featured in a horror film, and the lead in that 1968 black-and-white classic. It’s not surprising that Tony Todd was eager to take over the role from Duane Jones when a remake was planned, considering the character’s compelling mix of strength and compassion. As Todd explained to Fangoria magazine in 2009, Jones’ performance was truly inspiring to him:

I recall watching the original film at a drive-in, and it struck me as being very realistic, almost like a documentary. As an African-American viewer, it gave me hope to see Duane Jones portray a character with a complete arc – from start to finish – without his race being a defining characteristic or plot point.

Shortly before he died, Horror Geek Life requested another interview with Todd, asking him to reflect on what initially attracted him to the Ben character. His response was, once again, remarkably insightful.

I was really struck by it, because before that, Sidney Poitier was who I looked up to, and he always came across as, with all due respect, a bit too perfect. Duane’s acting was just incredibly powerful and energetic – it felt like rock ‘n’ roll. What George and the crew achieved with that film was truly innovative in the history of horror.

He was right to think so. Jones portrayed Ben with a remarkably practical and direct attitude, which allowed him to make it through the night and into the morning (before hunters showed up).

Getting The Role Had A Massive Impact On Tony Todd’s Career

Night of the Living Dead was released two years before Tony Todd became famous in the horror genre, thanks to his role as the main character in the 1992 film Candyman, and he always cherished receiving that opportunity. He shared with Horror Geek Life in 2020:

I was thrilled to have a creative outlet and it marked my debut as the lead actor. It was essentially my first deep dive into the horror genre and connecting with the enthusiastic horror community, and that experience has continued to inspire me throughout my career. It’s been a huge boost.

I think Todd would have probably done well in his career even without being in Night of the Living Dead, but honestly, I’m just so grateful he played Ben. It’s a role that really stuck with me, and I’m glad we have his performance to enjoy. It makes being a film fan worthwhile!

Despite the fact that both the Oscars and the Emmys didn’t include Tony Todd in their memorial segments, it’s encouraging to see fans of horror, such as Tom Savini, still recognizing his contributions. It’s great to see horror junkies like him continue to sing his praises.

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2025-09-29 23:40