Marilyn Eastman's life story began in Iowa, where her journey initially unfolded before she relocated to Pittsburgh. It was in this new city that her professional career, significantly intertwined with that of Karl Hardman, took flight. As a regular on various local radio shows, she achieved considerable success, ultimately paving the way for her collaboration with Karl in forming Hardman/Eastman, Inc.
As her partnership with Karl blossomed, they joined forces with The Latent Image, Inc., a Pittsburgh-based company led by the renowned filmmaker George A. Romero. This union culminated in the creation of the iconic horror classic, Night of the Living Dead, in 1968. Shot in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1967, the film's release in October 1968 marked a significant milestone in Eastman's career.
Eastman's multifaceted contributions to the film extended beyond acting, as she also worked on makeup, props, and screenplay editing. Since Night of the Living Dead, she has been involved in numerous industrial films with Hardman, as well as commercials and theater productions. Additionally, she appeared in the Night of the Living Dead: 25th Anniversary video, released in 1993, which chronicled the film's remarkable history and enduring success.
