The Walking Dead (comic book) was a franchise inspiration.
Russell Hopton -LRB- February 18 , 1900 -- April 7 , 1945 -RRB- was an American film actor and director .. He appeared in 110 films between 1926 and 1945 , often playing streetwise characters , from the city .. He directed the films Song of the Trail -LRB- 1936 -RRB- and Black Gold -LRB- 1936 -RRB- .. Black Gold. Black Gold ( 1936 film ). Hopton was born Harry Russell Hopton in New York , New York .. He died of an overdose of sleeping pills in North Hollywood , California .