I don't know if I've been doing too much research lately, but this piece of trivia penetrated what passes for a brain in me:
On the commentary of
Shaun Of The Dead, director Edgar Wright says that Shaun's surname is Riley. Fact.
George A. Romero is an admirer of
Shaun of The Dead. Fact.
Simon Baker's character in
Land Of The Dead is called Denbo, first name Riley. Fact.
I wonder if Mr Romero named Simon Baker's character after Simon Pegg's character?
If this isn't true, it should be.