The Walking Dead Cast and Character Guide (2024)

AMC's landmark series The Walking Dead premiered on Halloween night in 2010, and ran for an impressive 11 seasons and 177 episodes. It told the story of the survivors of a worldwide zombie apocalypse, who find themselves fighting both the undead (dubbed "walkers") and the living who have lost their humanity. Based on the Image comic book from Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, the series not only explored the horrors of the dead roaming the earth, but the terrible depths of humanity.

The Walking Dead became one of the most popular genre shows of all time, thanks to the vision of series developer Frank Darabont (the filmmaker behind some of the best Stephen King adaptations, including The Shawshank Redemption and The Mist). That vision was expanded upon by some incredible producers, most notably Greg Nicotero, who brought us zombie horror unlike anything seen before. The show also boasted an incredible cast, which has changed drastically over the years. The series became known for its shocking character deaths and brutal storylines, with dozens of new cast members joining over the years as characters are killed off.

Over so many seasons and episodes, it's sometimes difficult to remember the backstory of the main characters. This primer will review the major characters throughout the 11 seasons, and the actors who played them.

Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln)

Rick Grimes was a Georgia sheriff's deputy who was shot in the line of duty and hospitalized in a coma when the zombie apocalypse occurred. He awoke from the coma to find the hospital abandoned, walkers everywhere, and his family gone. He eventually reunited with them in a survivor's camp just outside of Atlanta, and led the group of survivors on a journey to find refuge. A natural leader, Rick often took charge and made the hard decisions when no one else would. Countless people owe their lives to him, although his willingness to help strangers waned over time, as he often ran into people with evil intentions, like Negan and the Saviors.

Andrew Lincoln is a British actor, and his role as Rick Grimes is easily his most notable to date. He also appeared in the 2003 comedy Love, Actually and most recently starred in Jennifer Kent's The Murmuring, an episode of Netflix's Cabinet of Curiosities from Guillermo del Toro.

Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus)

Daryl Dixon and his brother Merle were members of a group of survivors who gathered outside of Atlanta, and eventually joined up with Rick. Although he and Rick clashed initially, the two earned each other's mutual respect and became good friends. An expert tracker and fierce fighter, Daryl often hunted for food for the group and led them into combat with walkers and human enemies like The Savors and The Whisperers. Daryl would eventually become the reluctant leader of the group, although he often separated himself from the others, preferring to be alone in the wilderness with his dog.

Norman Reedus made his feature film debut in Guillermo del Toro's 1997 film Mimic, and went on to star in the Boondock Saints films. He also hosts the series Ride with Norman Reedus for AMC, where he shares his love of motorcycle riding while taking in America's landmarks.

Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride)

One of the original group of Atlanta survivors, Carol Peletier has seen the most radical transformation throughout the series. She was a victim of spousal abuse, but found the strength to stand up for herself and her daughter Sophia. A number of deep, personal losses harden Carol, and she becomes more of a leader, often with a cold, ruthless streak. She becomes a fierce fighter alongside her friend Daryl, and she went on to marry Ezekiel Sutton, fighting together against threats including The Whisperers and The Commonwealth, although they later divorced.

Melissa McBride began her acting career in 1993 in an episode of Matlock. She appeared in Profiler, Dawson's Creek, and The Mist before being cast in The Walking Dead.

Michonne (Danai Gurira)

Michonne first appeared in Walking Dead's season two finale, when she saved Andrea from walkers after the Greene farm was overrun by the dead. Wielding a samurai sword and pulling along two walkers as "cover" from attacks, Michonne found a way to survive on her own before joining Rick and the other survivors. Steadfast and emotionally distant, Michonne eventually took on a role of leadership, and over time, she and Rick fell in love and had a baby (named R.J.) together. This relationship softened her tough exterior, as she took on the role of protective mother over the children in Alexandria.

Danai Gurira made her acting debut in a 2004 episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She is also known for her role as Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in films like Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame.

Maggie Greene Rhee (Lauren Cohan)

Maggie Greene Rhee, the daughter of Hershel Greene, lived on her family's farm after the walker apocalypse, where Rick and the other survivors stumble across while looking for help. Strong-willed yet compassionate to others in need, Maggie became a key member of the group and fell in love with Glenn Rhee, eventually having a child (Hershel) with him. She took a leadership position at The Hilltop, and took steps to reestablish civilization by reaching out to other friendly communities.

Prior to joining The Walking Dead, Lauren Cohan appeared as Bela Talbot in Supernatural and as Vivian Volkoff in Chuck.

Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun)

Scrappy and resourceful, Glenn Rhee appeared in the first episode of the series (or at least his voice does) when he helps Rick escape a group of walkers. He introduces Rick to his group of survivors, where he is reunited with his wife and son. When the group arrives at the Greene farm outside of Atlanta, his tenacity wins over Maggie Greene, and the pair fall in love and eventually have a child. Glenn finds his purpose in going on supply runs and looking for other survivors, and his bravery and willingness to take risks is unmatched.

Related: The Walking Dead: Why Glenn Rhee Was One of the Show's Best Characters

South Korean native Steven Yeun got his start with the Second City comedy troupe before moving into television and film. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in 2020's Minari.

Negan Smith (Jeffrey Dean Morgan)

Negan Smith is perhaps the most complicated character in The Walking Dead. As the leader of the Saviors, he was cold, calculating, and would kill without remorse. The loss of his wife during the walker outbreak gave him a cynicism that he never truly lost, and he took pleasure in killing and torturing those who opposed him or his group of Saviors. He is captured and imprisoned in Alexandria by Rick, and his years behind bars break him, making him remorseful and empathetic. He is eventually released and becomes a valued member of the Alexandria group, especially after he saves the life of Judith Grimes. Some, however, have trouble forgiving and trusting Negan for his past crimes and murders.

Prior to The Walking Dead, Jeffrey Dean Morgan had standout roles in Grey's Anatomy, 2009's DC film Watchmen, and the CW series Supernatural. He has also appeared in Rampage and Fall, and Morgan will join The Boys in its new season.

“King” Ezekiel Sutton (Khary Payton)

Ezekiel Sutton served as the ruler of The Kingdom, a community near Alexandria that managed to thrive in the midst of the chaos. His pet tiger Shiva revealed his flair for the theatrical, which originated in his experience performing on stage. co*cky and brash, Ezekiel is humbled after The Kingdom fell to Negan and The Saviors, and he joined forces with Rick and Alexandria. He later married (then divorced) Carol, and he struggled with finding direction with his life. He found his purpose again in conflict, and led the fight against the tyrannical rule of the Commonwealth.

Khary Payton is also a prolific voice actor, most notably in numerous DC Comics animated projects as Cyborg.

Morgan Jones (Lennie James)

Morgan Jones and his son Duane survived the initial outbreak, although his wife did not. Incredibly suspicious and protective of his son, Morgan and Rick connected as fathers, although they later went their separate ways. When they briefly reconnected later, Morgan had lost hope, and was a loner losing his sanity. He later met a man, Eastman, who helped him find his sanity and inner peace again. He eventually reconnected with Rick in Alexandria, and became a trusted ally.

British actor Lennie James got his start on UK television in the early 1990s, eventually moving on to larger projects like Les Misérables, Lost in Space, and Jericho. He reprised his role as Morgan on AMC's Walking Dead spinoff Fear the Walking Dead.

Rosita Espinoza (Christian Serratos)

A former soldier, Rosita Espinoza joined Abraham Ford and Eugene Porter on a journey east to Washington, D.C., eventually joining Rick and settling in Alexandria. Fiercely loyal and not afraid of a fight, Rosita was usually called upon for dangerous missions and eventually joined the Commonwealth army with Daryl. She had a daughter with Siddiq, Alexandria's doctor.

California native Christian Serratos also starred in the Twilight films as Angela, and recently had the lead role in Netflix's Selena limited series about the singer's life.

Eugene Porter (Josh McDermitt)

A member of Abraham's group, Eugene Porter was initially known for both his intelligence and cowardice. The mullet aficionado claimed to be a scientist to avoid work and conflict, a lie he perpetuated with his extensive knowledge, and he often let others put their lives on the line rather than risk his own. A number of harrowing situations caused Eugene to eventually find some inner courage and earn the respect of other survivors, despite his lack of social skills, strange habits, and peculiar manner of speech.

Josh McDermitt appeared on the series Retired at 35, Mad Men, and Creepshow. Playing Eugene onThe Walking Dead remains his most high-profile role to date.

Alpha (Samantha Morton)

Heartless and cruel, Alpha led The Whisperers, a group of scavenging survivors who wear the faces of the dead to move among the walkers. They utilized a tactic of "whispering" directions to walkers to direct them, using them to attack people in their way, particularly the residents of Hilltop and Alexandria. Despite her thick Southern drawl, Alpha was anything but neighborly, often taking advantage of anyone she met, if not killing them outright. After the trauma of the walker apocalypse, she abandoned her previous identity of "Dee" and took on the name of Alpha. She has only one weakness: her dedication to protecting her daughter Lydia.

Samantha Morton is a two-time Oscar nominee who rose to fame with 2002's Minority Report, a Steven Spielberg film. She also appeared in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Whale, and most recently The Serpent Queen, where Morton gave one of the finest TV performances of 2022. She reprised her role as Alpha for the anthology series Tales of The Walking Dead.

Beta (Ryan Hurst)

Beta, who served as Alpha's right-hand man and enforcer, was a famous musician before the walker outbreak, although he never revealed his true identity to others. He used his size and freakish strength to easily win fights with both the dead and the living.

Ryan Hurst is perhaps best known for playing Opie in Sons of Anarchy. His diverse career includes roles in Remember the Titans, Saving Private Ryan, and Bates Motel.

“The Governor” Philip Blake (David Morrissey)

Ruthlessly ambitious and lacking in empathy, Philip Blake was the leader of Woodbury, a walled community of survivors who nicknamed him "The Governor." Unbeknownst to many of his followers, however, Blake had a dark side, which included keeping his zombified daughter hidden in his quarters, having a collection of severed heads of his enemies, and killing innocent people to steal their supplies. When he learns of the prison that Rick and his group have taken over, he wants it for himself, setting off a conflict that has deadly consequences for both sides.

Liverpool native David Morrissey has had a distinguished career in British theater, in addition to his film and television appearances. He had roles in Basic Instinct 2, Dr. Who, and Good Omens.

Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs)

The son of Rick and Lori Grimes, Carl had to grow up quickly after the zombie apocalypse. When The Governor attacked the prison where he and other survivors were living, he took up arms to defend it. Unafraid to face danger head-on (including walkers), Carl showed courage beyond his years. However, seeing death all around him made him cold and sometimes ruthless, and caused Rick to spend more time with him to get his mind right. He developed a bond with Michonne, who helped him become a more mature and sympathetic person.

Chandler Riggs was a relative newcomer to acting when he was cast on The Walking Dead, and went on to appear in the film Inherit the Viper and the series A Million Little Things.

Judith Grimes (Cailey Fleming)

Born while her family found refuge in a prison, a time-jump in season nine saw Judith Grimes age to about nine years old. Despite never getting the chance to know him, young Judith Grimes embodied many of her father Rick's personality traits. Stubborn and opinionated, yet sympathetic and protective, Judith honored her father by wearing his sheriff deputy's hat and carrying his gun. She grew close to her stepmother Michonne (and even carried her katana), and fiercely guarded her stepbrother R.J. and the other children of Alexandria, despite still being a child herself.

Cailey Fleming played a young Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and appeared in the Marvel series Loki.

Lori Grimes (Sarah Wayne Callies)

Rick's wife and the mother of Carl and Judith, Lori Grimes was a complicated character. Loving and protective in some instances, she was often critical and manipulative towards Rick at other times. Initially, Lori believed that Rick died in the hospital when the walker outbreak hit, and she began a relationship with Shane Walsh, Rick's partner who looked after her and Carl afterward. This complicated things for all involved when Rick returned.

Sarah Wayne Callies is also known for her role as Dr. Sara Tancredi on the series Prison Break, as well as her role as Katie Bowman on USA's The Colony.

Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal)

Rick's partner at the sheriff's department and best friend since high school, Shane Walsh looked after Rick's family after he was presumed dead. He then began a relationship with Rick's wife Lori, and upon Rick's return, the resulting love triangle brought out the worst in Shane. co*cky and opinionated, Shane became violently jealous and possessive of Lori, and displayed a mean streak with little regard for others' well-being.

Jon Bernthal portrayed Frank Castle/The Punisher in Marvel's Netflix series, and also appeared in King Richard, The Wolf of Wall Street, Ford v. Ferrari, and Baby Driver.

Merle Dixon (Michael Rooker)

Daryl's older brother Merle Dixon was an unapologetic troublemaker who often ran afoul of the law prior to the walker outbreak. After the fall of civilization, his sexist, racist nature was amplified, as his violent, take-no-prisoners approach ensured his survival. He and Daryl were members of the original group of Atlanta survivors, and he often clashed with others. Left handcuffed on an Atlanta rooftop, Merle survived by sawing off his own hand and later joined The Governor's community at Woodbury. He was still fiercely loyal and protective of his brother, which caused him to ultimately rebel against the Governor and his tactics.

Michael Rooker's career spans across four decades, and includes notable roles in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, JFK, Cliffhanger, Tombstone, and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy films.

Beth Greene (Emily Kinney)

Beth, the sister of Maggie and daughter of Hershel Greene, initially had a difficult time adjusting to the world post-apocalypse. She eventually found her inner strength, and with Daryl acting as a mentor of sorts, became a capable, skilled survivor in the post-outbreak world.

Emily Kinney, a Nebraska native, is also a singer, and has released several albums. She has also appeared on episodes of The Flash, Conviction, and Masters of Sex.

Hershel Greene (Scott Wilson)

Hershel Greene's farm outside of Atlanta became a refuge for Rick and the other survivors, until it was ultimately overrun by a walker herd. A recovering alcoholic, Hershel was a man of deep faith, whose experience and outlook made him a voice of reason in the chaotic world of the walkers. He became a father figure of sorts to Rick, especially when they took over the prison, giving him advice during times of personal loss. A veterinarian before the outbreak, his medical expertise was invaluable, and he saved Carl's life after he was shot. His daughters Maggie and Beth embodied his determination and empathy for others.

Related: The Walking Dead: Best Performances in the Series, Ranked

Scott Wilson's distinguished career included roles in the classic films In the Heat of the Night and In Cold Blood, as well as The Right Stuff, Pearl Harbor, and The OA. He died in 2018.

Abraham Ford (Michael Cudlitz)

A former sergeant in the U.S. Army, Abraham Ford joined with Rosita and Eugene in a journey from Texas to Washington D.C., as he believed Eugene had a cure for the walker virus. His military training came in handy in the walker apocalypse, as did his ability to coin new, crude phrases to describe tense situations. Although he often struggled with regret over the loss of his family, he remained loyal to his fellow survivors.

Michael Cudlitz appeared in HBO's landmark series Band of Brothers, as well as Southland and Clarice.

Sasha Williams (Sonequa Martin-Green)

Sasha Williams and her brother Tyrese joined Rick's group of survivors when they discovered the prison they had taken over. A capable fighter, Sasha suffered several major personal losses, which caused her to struggle with adjusting to life at Alexandria, and later, The Hilltop. Her matter-of-fact outlook and willingness to take the lead in several missions made her a valuable asset to the group. She and Abraham later had a close relationship.

Sonequa Martin-Green has appeared on The Good Wife, Once Upon a Time, and Space Jam: A New Legacy. She is also known for her role as Michael Burnham on Star Trek: Discovery.

Tyreese Williams (Chad L. Coleman)

Physically imposing and a capable fighter, Tyreese Williams was also incredibly caring and protective, and often put his own personal safety at risk to help others. He was close to his sister Sasha, and often deferred to her outgoing nature. Rick initially rejected them from entering the prison, so he, Sasha, and other survivors joined the Woodbury community, but left after learning of The Governor's ruthlessness. They eventually rejoined Rick and his group, and he even saved the life of Judith Grimes after the prison fell.

Chad L. Coleman had a memorable role as Cutty in the cast of HBO's The Wire, and also appeared on Arrow, The Expanse, and The Orville.

Andrea Harrison (Laurie Holden)

One of the original group of Atlanta survivors with her sister Amy, Andrea Harrison's driven, opinionated nature served her well, although her sometimes impulsive decisions caused unintentional consequences. She first joined the survivors thanks to Dale Horvath, who became a father figure to her. After the fall of the Greene farm, Andrea was separated from the rest of the group, but was saved by Michonne, and the two became close friends. Her relationship with The Governor, however, would prove to be costly.

Laurie Holden appeared on The X-Files and Frank Darabont's horror film The Mist, which led to the director casting her on The Walking Dead when he signed on to develop the series. She has also appeared on FX's The Americans and Prime Video's The Boys.

Father Gabriel Stokes (Seth Gilliam)

When Rick and his group first meet Father Gabriel Stokes, he is a broken man who has lost his faith, racked with guilt after he left his parishioners to die at the hands of walkers. Initially wary of Rick, he eventually found his faith again, and became a trusted member and spiritual advisor of the Alexandria community. He also learned not to be afraid to pick up a gun and fight for his friends.

New York City native Seth Gilliam also appeared on HBO's The Wire as Carver, along with the underrated satire Starship Troopers and Courage Under Fire prior to joining the cast of The Walking Dead. He also appeared on the series Teen Wolf.

Aaron (Ross Marquand)

Aaron first meets Rick in season three, while he is out scouting for survivors to take back to Alexandria. Although Rick is initially skeptical, Aaron's honest nature wins him over. The former politician is committed to the well-being of others, even complete strangers, and is willing to risk himself for them. He not only suffers great personal loss during the war with the Saviors, he later loses part of his arm after it is crushed. He then fashions a prosthetic that can be used as a weapon. As the years pass, Aaron's natural leadership qualities are called upon more often, especially in the fight against the Commonwealth.

Ross Marquand is also a prolific voice actor, with a knack for imitating a number of famous people. His voice acting skills have been featured in Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Marvel's What If...?, and Invincible.

Paul “Jesus” Rovia (Tom Payne)

Jesus, as he is nicknamed by fellow survivors, spent much of his time scouting and gathering supplies for the Hilltop community when he meets Rick and introduces him to his group. Clever and resourceful, he was a key member of the survivors and often took the lead in battle. Leading by example, Jesus is eventually elected as the new head of The Hilltop.

British actor Tom Payne starred in the lead role of Fox's series Prodigal Son, as well as a number of British TV productions.

Dog (Seven)

Dog, a Belgian Malinois, was Daryl's canine companion in latter seasons of the series. Daryl found him in the woods after leaving Alexandria following Rick's supposed death. He was previously owned by Leah Shaw, a woman Daryl would later meet and have a relationship with. Dog (played by Seven) became a favorite among fans, who adopted the slogan "If Dog Dies, We Riot."