Gary Smart, a native of Birmingham, West Midlands, UK, born in 1982, has been an ardent enthusiast of the horror genre since his early childhood. As a 5-year-old, he would lend out VHS copies of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' to his classmates, sparking a lifelong fascination with the macabre. At the age of 12, he began building models of Dr. Channard from 'Hellbound: Hellraiser II', further solidifying his passion for the dark and eerie.
Growing up, Smart was heavily influenced by the cult classic 'The Return of the Living Dead', often engaging in zombie-themed playdates with his neighborhood friends. His alter ego, Ernie Kaltenbrunner, was born during this period, showcasing his dedication to the franchise.
In 2007, Smart's lifelong dream came true when he befriended actor Don Calfa, organizing his first UK convention appearance at the NEC Birmingham later that year. The two have since become close friends, maintaining weekly contact. Smart also developed a strong bond with actress Beverly Randolph, which ultimately inspired the concept for a retrospective book on the 'Return of the Living Dead' franchise.
Following a meeting with Gorezone Deputy Editor Christian Sellers in 2007, the pair collaborated on their first book, 'The Complete History of the Return of the Living Dead', which was released in January 2011 by Plexus Books UK. This exhaustive tome featured over 100 cast member interviews and 300 exclusive interviews, earning instant success among fans of the franchise.
Smart and Sellers were subsequently approached to write the documentary 'More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead' in 2011, with Smart providing exclusive artwork for the project. The documentary was slated for release in October 2011.
In his non-horror life, Smart works as a School Manager at a UK High School, but devotes his free time to supporting, promoting, and celebrating all things horror. He has since established his own companies, Cult Screenings UK Ltd and Dead Mouse Productions Ltd, specializing in celebrating classic movies.
Gary Smart has continued to be prolific in the horror community, teaming up with Adam Evans and Christopher Griffiths to write and produce the documentary 'Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser & Hellbound: Hellraiser II' in 2014. This was followed by 'You're so Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night' in 2016, co-written with original director Tom Holland, and 'RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop' in 2017.
In addition to his documentary work, Smart has produced books on 'American Werewolf in London', 'Return of the Living Dead', and 'Fright Night'. He is currently working on a documentary celebrating Stephen King's 'IT' and making his directorial debut with the horror short film 'The Offer', set for release in summer 2017. The film features a talented cast, including 'Hellraiser' alumni Kenneth Cranham, Barbie Wilde, Simon Bamford, and Nicholas Vince, as well as John Castle and Bruce Jones.
