Helen Cooper is one of the group of survivors in George Romero's Night of the Living Dead as well as Tom Savini's 1990 remake. She is the wife of pessimistic Harry Cooper and mother of doomed Karen Cooper. She is portrayed by Marilyn Eastman in the original and by McKee Anderson in the remake.
History[]
Helen and her family are already sheltering in the cellar of the farmhouse by the time protagonists Ben and Barbra arrive. The situation outside is only getting worse and while the others attempt to barricade the house, Harry is convinced that they would all be better off hiding in the cellar. Whenever Helen tries to voice her concerns and suggest that Harry help out, Harry is quick to scold her and dismiss her advice.
Death[]
In both the original and remake, Helen dies when her daughter turns into a zombie. The original shows Karen stabbing her mother with a masonry trowel whereas in the remake Helen is bitten by her daughter off-screen. In the remake, Helen reanimates as a zombie and attacks Ben, only to be shot in the head.