Tom Savini chose the gray color for the zombies' skin, since Night of the Living Dead (1968) was in B&W and the zombie skin-tone was not depicted. He later said it was a mistake, because many of them ended up looking quite blue on film.
Extras who appeared in this film were reportedly given $1 in cash, a donut, and a Dawn of the Dead T-shirt.
Dario Argento was an admirer of George A. Romero's work, and vice-versa. When Argento heard that Romero was contemplating a sequel to Night of the Living Dead (1968) he insisted that Romero come out to Argento's native Rome to write the script without distractions. Romero knocked out the script in 3 weeks and, though Argento read the script as it came out, he left all the writing to Romero. Argento also provided most of the film's soundtrack and, in return for the rights to edit the European version of the film, assisted in raising the necessary funds.
The outdoor scene where hunters, emergency crew and soldiers are shooting at zombies was done using local volunteers. Several local hunters arrived on-scene with their own weapons, the local National Guard division showed up in full gear, and local emergency crew (police, fire and ambulance) were present, all voluntarily.
The MPAA had threatened to impose the X rating if George A. Romero didn't make cuts. Romero did not want to cut the film, and he was adamant against an X rating, due to its stigma of hard-core pornography. In the end, Romero was able to persuade his distributors to release the film with no rating, although on all advertising and trailers, there was a disclaimer that in effect read that while there was no explicit sex in the film, the movie was of such a violent nature that no one under 17 would be admitted.
Joseph Pilato: as a policeman at the boat dock. Pilato had auditioned for the role of Stephen, and would play Captain Rhodes in Day of the Dead (1985).
John Amplas: In 3 roles: Rico, the last Puerto Rican bandit to be shot on the ghetto apartment rooftop, Mall Parking Lot Zombie whose arm is pulled off and Zombie thrown over the mall balcony by Peter.
George A. Romero: plays both the director in the television studio, and "Old Nick" the Santa Claus biker (briefly visible in biker raid).