Beloved horror host and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD co-star Bill Cardille passes away.
Actress and DAY OF THE DEAD legend Lori Cardille announced via her Facebook page today that her father, beloved Pittsburgh television personality Bill “Chilly Billy” Cardille, passed away this morning. He was 87.
From Lori’s page:
“Our dear father, William Cardille peacefully passed away early this morning in his home, with his family, where he wanted to be.
My sister Marea, was reading him some of the letters that you all wrote to him. It meant so much to him. I knew it would. From the bottom of our hearts, my sister Marea, my brother Billy and our beautiful mother Louise, thank you. We will miss him terribly but take comfort in the fact that as he said, “I am at peace. I had a wonderful life.” As he signed off on Chiller Theatre he always said, “Good night and sleep warm.” Sleep warm daddy.”
Fans of George A. Romero’s landmark horror classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD will fondly remember Cardille’s presence from that film (and his brief turn in Tom Savini’s 1990 remake). But it was as “Chilly Billy” that Cardille first found his greatest fame as the host of Pittsburgh-based Saturday night horror movie show Chiller Theatre, which ran from 1963 to 1983 and featured Cardille hosting and screening a myriad horror and sci-fi classics and curiosities.
After a life spent on broadcasting in the Pittsburgh area, the Pittsburgh City Council declared that September 28th would be recognized as “Bill Cardille Day.”
SHOCK extends our love to Lori and all of Bill’s family and friends and their loss.
