Judith O'Dea

Judith O'Dea (born April 20, 1945) is an American actress. She portrayed Barbra in the 1968 George A. Romero classic horror film Night of the Living Dead and Vampira in the 2024 cult comedy Vampire Zombies... from Space!

Career

In addition to her signature role, O'Dea has appeared in the television movie The Pirate in the 1970s. She later took a break from acting to focus on raising her family.

In the 2000s, O'Dea returned to acting in several indie horror films, including Claustrophobia, October Moon, October Moon 2: November Son and Women's Studies. She also returned to the Barbra role for Night of the Living Dead: Genesis., plus the 2017 film Safe Inside and its 2025 sequel Safe Inside 2.

In 2024 O'Dea appeared in the Canadian comedy Vampire Zombies... from Space!, a parody of and homage to horror and sci-fi films of the 1950s. O'Dea portrayed Vampira, a role which earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Performance at Atlanta's Buried Alive Film Festival, and a Best Ensemble win from Canada's Terror in the Bay Film Festival.

She owns and operates O'Dea Communications, a firm that deals in oral-communications training.

Filmography Year Film Role Notes 1968 Night of the Living Dead Barbra 1978 The Pirate Annie TV movie 2003 Claustrophobia Alena Gray 2005 October Moon Mrs. Hamilton 2008 October Moon 2: November Son Emily Hamilton aka November Son 2009 Timo Rose's Beast Boomer's Mother 2010 Women's Studies Senator Gayle Hamlin 2011 Shy of Normal: Tales of New Life Experiences Actress on TV 2014 Hole in the Wall Augusta Gein They Came from the Ether Miss Clara 2015 Abandoned Dead Doctor Pamela Myers 2017 Safe Inside Crystal Lake2024Vampire Zombies... from Space!VampiraWon: "Best Ensemble" (Terror in the Bay Film Festival) Nom: "Best Supporting Performance" (Buried Alive Film Festival) 2025 Safe Inside 2 Crystal Lake