Edward X. Young studied film & television production, acting, and journalism at Seton Hall University; acting and stage directing at Brookdale College; business administration at Monmouth University; and film production at New York University. He honed his acting skills as a member of the R.I.S.K. Improvisational Theatre Group under the tutelage of Fabir Rodriguez-Ammirato. As a young actor, he performed on-stage in the New York Metropolitan Area in productions of "Amadeus," "Dracula," "Children of a Lesser God," "True West," "The Boys Next Door," and "Modigliani". He also worked in the theater as a director, staging productions of "Waiting for Godot," "Hy," "Lunchtime," and "Wait Until Dark." While a part of the Downtown New York City art scene in the late 1970s through the early 1990s, he became heavily involved in punk music, befriending members of Johnny Thunders' band The Heartbreakers, Walter Lure's band The Waldos, and Church Pills. He worked as the publicity manager for the band The Suave Elbows, which featured musicians Christopher Clunie and Marty Byk. After leaving the performing arts for a decade and moving to New Hampshire to raise a family and work as a journalist, Ed relaunched his acting career, appearing in the radio play "The Death Guard". Young continues to write film reviews as a critic for several publications, including the New Hampshire newspaper The Keene Sentinel and its on-line edition SentinelSource.com.
In the film "Sea Of Dust," he performed his main scenes with Ingrid Pitt on July 31, 2005, his 46th birthday. As a teenager, he was a great fan of Hammer Films and lionized Ms. Pitt, a Hammer star, so he considered the honor of shooting a film with her a great birthday present.
Brother of actress Elizabeth Young and son of actor Edward A. Young.
A practicing Catholic, Ed chose "Xavier" as a confirmation name after viewing the 1932 horror movie "Dr. X" (in which Lionel Atwill portrays the titular protagonist, Dr. Xavier) broadcast on August 5, 1972 on Chiller Theatre on the New York TV station, Channel 11 WPIX.
Attended college with art director Daniel Acon , where they jointly developed special effects for such theatrical productions as "Oedipus Rex.".
While attending high school with producer Dennis Chalifour , the two made short movies on 8mm film.
Edward X. Young (although uncredited) created the maggot-ridden brain special-effect gag for the feature film, "Sea of Dust," using (among other ingredients) 2,000 live meal worms - all of which were released unharmed in a nearby forest after the shot was in the can.
After winning a prize for his original makeup and costume design as a drunken homeless zombie bum at the Asbury Park, New Jersey, Zombie Walk on May 2, 2009, on the spot, Ed was offered a role in the The Learning Channel reality TV show "Cake Boss" episode "Undead, Unclothed, and Unhappy Mama," in which he delivers the line "Its hard times for zombies, man, you know!".
Met actress/animal rights activist Linda Blair in Parsippany, New Jersey, on October 6, 2007, at which time, she convinced him to become a vegetarian.
(September 2008) In 2008, Edward X. Young played a mad preacher in the independent horror feature "Only Go There At Night," which is slated for DVD release in late 2008. He acted in and also created the special make-up effects for the independent horror features "The Green Monster" (scripted by "Sculpture" screenwriter, Trevor Wright) and "The Eaters." Edward X. Young plays the role of android creator, Dr. Light, in the not-for-profit fan feature "Megaman." He plays an exterminator in the short film horror anthology, "4 Terror," in the segment, "Punch-Out Time." He is currently working as an actor and special effects make-up artist on two more independent features: "Damaged Disciples: in 3D" (produced by "Lycancolony" director/producer Rob Roy) and "Zombie Masters" (produced by Joel Goss, who was featured in "Porkys 2: the Next Day").
(October 2008) Appeared on-stage for a panel discussion after the American premiere screening of "Sea of Dust" at the Rhode Island Horror Film Festival (Columbus Theatre Arts Center, 270 Broadway, Providence, RI 02903).
(October 2008) Performed a dramatic reading of Edgar Allen Poes, "The Tell-Tale Heart," for the Raritan Poets (2 Jean Walling Drive, East Brunswick, NJ, 08816).
Son of Edward A. Young.
