Gaylen Ross, born Gail Rosenblum in Indianapolis, Indiana, was a multifaceted individual with a wide range of accomplishments. Prior to her acting career, she served as the managing editor of the prestigious poetry journal "Antaeus" and Ecco Press from 1975 to 1977.
Ross's brief but notable acting career spanned four years, during which she made a striking film debut as the heroine "Francine" in George Romero's critically acclaimed zombie film "Dawn of the Dead" (1978). Her subsequent role as Becky Vickers, the adulterous wife of Leslie Nielsen, in the George Romero and Stephen King collaboration "Something to Tide You Over" (1982) further solidified her presence in the horror genre.
For the past two decades, Ross has focused on documentary filmmaking, producing acclaimed and award-winning documentaries that have been broadcast on major networks such as PBS, BBC, A&E Television, The Learning Channel, and UK's Channel 4. Her films have premiered at numerous international film festivals, including the Berlin Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival, and the Sydney Film Festival.
Ross's documentary "Dealers Among Dealers" (1995) won a Gold Plaque at the Chicago Film Festival and was named "Best of Fest" at the Edinburgh Film Festival. Her co-produced and written documentary "Blood Money: Switzerland's Nazi Gold" (1997) won an Emmy Award. Her film "Killing Kasztner" (2008) about the Jewish rescuer Rezso Kasztner, who negotiated with Adolf Eichmann for the lives of thousands during World War II, has been screened in theaters and festivals in over 11 countries, earning a spot on the Los Angeles Times' list of the best documentary films of 2010 and winning Best Documentary at both the Boston Jewish Film Festival and the Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival.
Ross's most recent documentary, "Caris' Peace" (2011),tells the inspiring story of actress Caris Corfman, who regained her short-term memory after a brain tumor and made a triumphant return to the stage. The film features interviews with Corfman's friends and colleagues, including Kate Burton, Tony Shalhoub, and Lewis Black.
Throughout her career, Ross has explored a diverse range of subjects, including cabaret and Broadway star Laurie Beechman, bank fraud, gambling in America, and Russian mail-order brides. She has also directed productions for organizations such as the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous and the UJA Federations of North America.
