14 Actors You Forgot Appeared in "The Walking Dead" (Including One Who Auditioned 3 Times to Get on the Show!) Kate Hogan, Emily KrauserOctober 31, 2025 at 9:10 PM 0 Josh Stringer/AMC Hilarie Burton Morgan as Lucille on 'The Walking Dead' The Walking Dead premiered on Oct. 31, 2010, and concluded after 11 seasons on Nov.
- - 14 Actors You Forgot Appeared in "The Walking Dead" (Including One Who Auditioned 3 Times to Get on the Show!)
Kate Hogan, Emily KrauserOctober 31, 2025 at 9:10 PM
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Josh Stringer/AMC
Hilarie Burton Morgan as Lucille on 'The Walking Dead' -
The Walking Dead premiered on Oct. 31, 2010, and concluded after 11 seasons on Nov. 20, 2022
Hilarie Burton Morgan guest-starred as the late wife of Negan, played by her real-life husband, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Ethan Embry and Alicia Witt are among the actors who made one-episode stints on The Walking Dead
On a zombie apocalypse show like The Walking Dead, it wasn't uncommon for characters to come and go — and for some of those fleeting roles to be filled by celebrities.
Adapted from The Walking Dead comic book series, the show premiered on AMC on Oct. 31, 2010, with a slew of famous faces joining the series before it ended on Nov. 20, 2022.
Stars like Alicia Witt and former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward were already well-known when they made their Walking Dead debuts. Others, however, gained greater recognition after their appearances, including Wolfs' Austin Abrams and Virgin River's Alexandra Breckenridge.
"It's a brutal show as an actor," Breckenridge told Entertainment Weekly in 2016. "It's an emotional rollercoaster that your character is constantly going through with the heat and a lot of physicality that you have to do, which I actually find to be really fun."
Hilarie Burton, celebrated as one of the most impactful guest stars, had an association with the show before she ever appeared on it: The One Tree Hill alum is married to series regular Jeffrey Dean Morgan. He starred as Saviors leader Negan Smith, and the pair — who married in 2019 — got to play a couple on-screen when Hilarie made an appearance on season 10 as Negan's late wife, Lucille.
In honor of The Walking Dead's 15th anniversary, here's a look back on all the celebs who guest-starred on the horror drama throughout its 11-season run.
01 of 14
Hilarie Burton
Josh Stringer/AMC Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan Smith and Hilarie Burton as Lucille on season 10 of 'The Walking Dead'
Burton made her debut as Lucille (Negan's late wife) on the zombie show in 2021, alongside real-life husband Morgan. During the season 10 finale, she appeared in flashbacks, helping Negan explain how he became the troubled leader the show depicted.
While Morgan said that working on the show with his wife was "the highlight of my career," he also admitted to having some trepidation about filming with her.
"We shot all of her stuff in three or four days, I think. We never left the basement that we were in," Morgan told Entertainment Weekly in 2021. "That was a joy. I couldn't have asked for a cooler deal of working with Hilarie."
He continued, "I'm not going to lie, I was nervous as hell going in. I didn't know how she would be. I don't f--- around. I go to work. We better f------ bring it. And it was great. That first day with her, I went home just like, 'Thank God!' "
In 2025, Burton returned to The Walking Dead universe with a cameo on season 2 of The Walking Dead: Dead City.
02 of 14
Ethan Embry
amc Ethan Embry (right) as Carter on season 6 of 'The Walking Dead'
Ethan Embry had been watching The Walking Dead since its inception and auditioned for three roles over the years, so he was ecstatic to receive the call to appear on the season 6 premiere, "First Time Again," in 2015.
The Empire Records star portrayed Carter, an original Alexandria Safe-Zone resident who helped construct the walls protecting the town and was suspicious of Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln). However, after Rick came up with a plan to help divert a group of zombies gathered in a quarry away from Alexandria, Carter agreed to help by creating whip walls on the road.
"To me, it was like winning a jackpot," Embry told The Daily Share in 2015 of his casting. "I must have had the silliest grin on my face. It was the happiest news I could have ever imagined."
The episode featured two timelines, including one in black and white, and a massive zombie horde. Executive producer and season 6 premiere director Greg Nicotero told Vulture in 2015 that "at last count we decided that there were 30,000 walkers in that quarry."
There weren't that many extras on set, though — while many were CGI, about 200 Walkers were filmed around the truck, and Nicotero shared that "they all went through zombie school."
03 of 14
Robert Patrick
Josh Stringer/AMC
Robert Patrick as Mays on season 10 of 'The Walking Dead'
In 2021, Robert Patrick took on two roles on the season 10 episode "One More," playing Mays and Mays' unnamed brother.
Mays was a deranged survivor who lost his faith in humanity after forcing his greedy brother to play Russian roulette, during which his brother chose to kill his wife and daughter rather than save himself. Mays later made Gabriel Stokes (Seth Gilliam) and Aaron (Ross Marquand) play the same twisted game.
The Peacemaker actor was a self-proclaimed fan of The Walking Dead and was able to star on it during the pandemic because the show filmed in Georgia, where the Marietta, Ga., native lives.
"I often wondered, well, maybe someday I'll get a shot to get down there. I've been busy doing other things, as well. And I'm just glad it finally fell into place where I could actually do it," Patrick told Business Insider in 2021. "They wrote such a great role that I read it and I went, 'Oh my God, how can you not want to do that part?' "
04 of 14
Thora Birch
Gene Page/AMC Thora Birch as Gamma on season 10 of 'The Walking Dead'
Former child star Thora Birch took a turn as a high-ranking Whisperer named Gamma across nine episodes of season 10. As her arc progressed, she revealed that her real name was Mary and soon after left the Whisperers to join the Coalition.
Birch told EW in 2019 that she had "a couple of opportunities to come in and submit my wares for the show," but had been tied up with other projects. Luckily, she was good to play Gamma, a character who made the Hocus Pocus actress "super intrigued."
"There were certain themes running throughout the season regarding PTSD and duplicitousness, and some spy elements that intrigued me right away," she told the publication. "Also, I love sweating my butt off and stabbing things that are already dead. So I was super excited."
Birch continued, "I didn't get a lot of information up front. I just kind of got the context, and a little teaser about where she would be going, and how her journey fits into the rest of the story."
Showrunner Angela Kang described Birch as playing Gamma "with such nuance," which made her death "tragic."
"We always knew from the start with this character that we wanted to tell a story of basically a double agent in a game of espionage," Kang told EW in 2020. "And I think in telling that story, we also knew from the beginning that this would be a limited arc for this character because in any kind of war, there are casualties in many different arenas and being that person that's playing two sides, she was in a uniquely dangerous position."
05 of 14
Austin Abrams
Gene Page/AMC
Austin Abrams as Ron Anderson on season 6 of 'The Walking Dead'
Before Abrams became known for his work on Euphoria and This Is Us, and in the 2025 film Weapons, starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin, he had a nine-episode run as Ron Anderson.
Part of Alexandria, Ron lived with his family, which included his abusive surgeon father Pete (Corey Brill), mother Jessie (Breckenridge), and brother Sam (Major Dodson). Ron started as a sweet kid; however, he quickly became vengeful after Rick executed Pete with a shot to the head, prompting Ron to seek revenge for his father's death. Ron's hatred for the Grimes family was further exacerbated by Rick's brother Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs) dating Ron's ex-girlfriend Enid (Katelyn Nacon).
When asked by Numérǒ Netherlands how The Walking Dead and Euphoria impacted his career, Abrams said, "It's difficult for me to analyze exactly what that impact has been. The best I can come up with is the sheer number of people that it exposes you to."
06 of 14
Alicia Witt
amc Alicia Witt as Paula on season 6 of 'The Walking Dead'
In 2016, Witt joined the cast for one season 6 episode, "The Same Boat." She portrayed the intelligent and confident Saviors member Paula, who took Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan) hostage.
Like many of the guest stars, Witt told EW in 2016 that she was a "massive fan of the show since the very beginning" and had "been longing to do anything on it, like a tiny role."
The Longlegs actress didn't get a script until she was boarding the plane to Georgia, and she was ecstatic to see that "not only is it just a kickass part, but it's opposite my favorite actor on the show, Melissa."
Despite her brief stay on the show, Paula had a well-developed backstory and was one of the few powerful female villains on The Walking Dead at that time. Witt described the part as "juicy" and "dark," telling Forbes in 2016 that she had "two of the best weeks of my life getting to work on that."
07 of 14
Hines Ward
Gene Page/AMC Hines Ward as a Walker on season 3 of 'The Walking Dead'
Hines Ward appeared as a Walker in a prison scene on the season 3 episode "The Suicide King" in 2013.
According to an NFL Films video (via Today), the Dancing with the Stars champion was the first celebrity to get the zombified makeup treatment. What helped Ward earn that impressive feat? Not only did he grow up in the Peach State, where many of the Walking Dead scenes were filmed, but his college teammate at the University of Georgia was IronE Singleton, who portrayed T-Dog on The Walking Dead.
"It was an amazing experience," Ward told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2013. "Just being in makeup, preparing me for my role, was cool. I actually scared myself when I looked in the mirror for the first time after."
It's a good thing the retired NFL great and Arizona State University wide receivers coach only played a zombie on TV, because the show's actors thought he'd be a tough one to come across in real life.
"No, I don't want to cross his path," Singleton told NFL Films. "I think he'll probably be the fastest zombie ever."
08 of 14
Tyler James Williams
amc Tyler James Williams (left) as Noah and Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee on season 5 of 'The Walking Dead'
After starring as the titular character on Everybody Hates Chris from 2005 to 2009, Tyler James Williams was cast on The Walking Dead in 2014. He had a 10-episode arc on season 5, portraying Noah, a hospital worker at Grady Memorial. Noah was found by Beth (Emily Kinney) and became a supply runner for Rick's crew before meeting his demise, despite Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun) trying to save his friend.
The Abbott Elementary star told Collider in 2020 that it "took me a while to really process" Noah's death scene, noting that it was difficult on both a technical and emotional level. Emotionally, he said he had to fully play out the "whole beat out" of the moment Noah got slammed into the glass because it was "somebody's last guttural death."
"They called cut. And then I just kind of collapsed and sobbed for two minutes on set," James told the outlet. "And Steven just kind of had to sit there, and he put a hand on my back, and he just started kind of whispering in my ear, 'You're letting him go. It's a beautiful thing. You really gave him a death.' And it was a mourning process that came immediately after we [called cut]. Because there's only one take at that. You only get one."
It was the first time a character James played died on-screen, which he called "one of the most edifying moments" in his career, adding, "It bonded me with everybody in that room at the time."
09 of 14
Alexandra Breckenridge
amc Alexandra Breckenridge as Jessie Anderson on season 6 of 'The Walking Dead'
Prior to breaking hearts on This Is Us, Breckenridge portrayed Jessie on 14 episodes of season 5. Jessie was put through the ringer during the season: In addition to dealing with an abusive husband and a declining relationship with her older son, Ron (Abrams), she watched her younger son, Sam (Dodson), get eaten by zombies — that was all before her boyfriend, Rick (Lincoln), cut off her arm.
"It was just really sad. I mean, this mother is watching her child be eaten alive. I can't think of something worse, I really can't," Breckenridge told EW of Sam's death. "It's just excruciating, and so being in the moment as an actor was just horrifying. But almost all of the series regular cast came out to watch that night and be there as support, so that was pretty incredible."
Jessie was a character in the comic books, and her TV storyline followed a similar plot. Breckenridge was unaware of this when she landed the part, though, as many of the actors were kept in the dark about who they were playing until just before filming.
10 of 14
Merritt Wever
amc Merritt Wever as Dr. Denise Cloyd on season 6 of 'The Walking Dead.'
Emmy Award-winner Merritt Wever joined the cast for nine episodes of season 6 as Dr. Denise Cloyd. Denise was a therapist who became the trauma physician of Alexandria.
Her character's complexity grew over time, from her relationship with Tara Chambler (Alanna Masterson) to being kidnapped by the Wolf to venturing outside the walls to secure drugs for the town — before she got shot in the eye with an arrow.
"I knew it was coming. It wasn't a surprise. I knew I was only going to be around Alexandria for a certain amount of time," Wever told Forbes in 2016. "It was a really nice job. It's a really nice set. The cast and the crew were really great. They said it's a nice place to work, and it's true. I'm just grateful that everybody was kind to me and that I had the opportunity.
11 of 14
Corey Hawkins
amc Corey Hawkins as Heath on season 6 of 'The Walking Dead'
After starring in 2015's Straight Outta Compton, Corey Hawkins appeared on six episodes of The Walking Dead in 2015 and 2016 as supply runner Heath.
Heath was last seen on the season 7 episode "Swear," driving an RV on a run with Tara. Heath's disappearance was never addressed on the show, and it was long considered a plot hole by fans. Then, on season 9, Anne/Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) was seen driving the RV, and Talking Dead later confirmed the vehicle had been Heath's.
In 2018, Kang told Business Insider that Heath was traded by Anne to the Civil Republic Military (CRM) helicopter people for supplies, finally resolving the mystery.
"That was kind of the intention that we had in the back of our heads this whole time," Kang told the outlet. "Even back in that season where you know we had to write the wonderful Corey Hawkins out because he had huge opportunities in the feature film world ... those seeds were already set there."
Hawkins would go on to star in Kong: Skull Island (2017), BlacKkKlansman (2018), In the Heights (2021), The Color Purple (2023), The Piano Lesson (2024) and The Man in My Basement (2025).
12 of 14
Scott Ian
Gene Page/AMC
Scott Ian as a Walker on season 5 of 'The Walking Dead'
Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian loved The Walking Dead, and he got to have the ultimate fan experience in March 2015 as a Walker on the season 5 episode "Remember." (He had previously done a webisode.)
In a behind-the-scenes video for his Nerdist series, Scott Ian's Bloodworks, the musician recalled having to audition his zombie walk for two of the show's experts — something he didn't mind doing as a lifelong horror fan who started reading Walking Dead when the comics first came out.
Ian said he was so "excited to be a part of it" that he was in "no rush" to wrap up his scene.
"I was always just, 'Well, God damn, it would be the coolest f------ thing if I could ever, you know, get to be a walker," he said, adding, "I didn't think it would ever happen."
In a 2016 article for Louder, Ian wrote, "The Walking Dead is one of the few shows that I think has surpassed the comic books it's based on. The visualisation, effects and gore are brutal, it's so well written and the characters are so strong that the zombies become almost secondary."
13 of 14
John Carroll Lynch
Gene Page/AMC
John Carroll Lynch as Eastman on season 6 of 'The Walking Dead'
John Carroll Lynch only appeared as Eastman on the season 6 episode of "Here's Not There," but it was an impactful one, showing how he served as Morgan's mentor.
Before the apocalypse, Eastman was a forensic psychiatrist in Atlanta's prison system. He had a dark past, having kidnapped a murderer named Crighton Dallas Wilton, who had killed Eastman's wife, daughter and son, and tortured him at the family's cabin for weeks.
During the episode, a crazed Morgan Jones (Lennie James) arrived at Eastman's cabin and tried to kill him, but Eastman used his martial arts skills to take him down and lock him in his cabin. After an extended time together, the two bonded, and Eastman helped rehabilitate Morgan.
However, in a fit of PTSD after recognizing a Walker who approached them, Morgan froze, and Eastman was bitten while trying to protect him. Morgan had to kill Eastman when he became too sick.
"To be asked to create a backstory for one of the primary characters on the show, somebody who is kind of the mirror image of Andy Lincoln's character ... was just a great pleasure," Lynch told Red Carpet News TV in 2017. "The words were so beautiful to say."
He continued, "But to be a part of that show for even one episode is a true honor because it's just so beloved to the people who watch it, and they have such a passionate relationship with the show."
14 of 14
Robin Lord Taylor
Robin Lord Taylor as Sam on 'The Walking Dead'
Before he became known as Oswald Cobblepot on Fox's Gotham, Robin Lord Taylor had a short arc on The Walking Dead as Sam, the boyfriend of Ana (Brina Palencia).
He appeared on two episodes, season 4's "Indifference" and season 5's "No Sanctuary." Sam stood out among the survivors, as he was optimistic despite the zombie outbreak.
Following a run-in with Rick — who lent Sam his watch — and Ana's death, Sam met his fate at the Terminus compound.
On playing Sam, Taylor said in 2015 on the I Think You're Overthinking It podcast, "My life is divided into meeting two people, people who knew me before and people who knew me after."
on People
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: October 31, 2025 at 03:37PM on Source: CR MAG
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