Famed horror director George A. Romero died in his sleep after a "brief but aggressive battle with lung cancer." He was 77.

Peter Grunwald, Romero's longtime producing partner, told The Los Angeles Times the director died while listening to the score to "The Quiet Man" with his wife and daughter.

The father of the modern zombie was born in New York City in 1940 but came to Pennsylvania for college, attending Carnegie Mellon University. He created commercials and short films, including segments for "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," before the hit "Night of the Living Dead" in 1968, which was shot in the Evans City Cemetery and the surrounding area. The entire production cost about $100,000 but launched Romero and the wider horror industry into a lucrative genre.

Though Romero became a major player in the industry, he kept projects close to home. "There's Always Vanilla," "The Crazies," "Hungry Wives," "Martin," and "Dawn of the Dead" were just some of the films he shot in the Pittsburgh region.

He also joined the Douglas Education Center in nearby Monessen to launch an associate degree program in filmmaking.

And Pittsburgh loved him back. Steeltown Entertainment Project recently honored the director with its Pioneer Award, and Phipps Conservatory named two corpse flowers after him: Romero and Barbara, a character in "Night of the Living Dead."

Romero last year was named as a recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He died before the ceremony was held.