The Walking Deadis one of the most underrated shows when it comes to the storyline as well as the actors’ performances. Several of the cast members went on to appear in major movies and other projects, some of which are spin-offs of this main show. But they will forever be tied to the iconic characters they played in this post-apocalyptic drama.
Each actor on the show, from the main cast to the supporting cast, and even guest stars,put their all into portraying these fractured individuals desperate to survive. They all had to make difficult decisions to save themselves and the people they love. But some are head and shoulders above the rest, thanks not only to the writing for the characters but the dedication of the actors who play them.
The Walking Dead
10Lauren Cohan
Maggie Rhee
Maggie first appeared in Season 2 ofThe Walking Dead,one ofthe best horror TV shows of all time, when Rick and the group made their way to Hershel’s farm, where she was living with her father and younger sister. Her arc is one of the most interesting in the series. She came across as a rebel from the start. But she went from small-town country girl to stone-cold killer, her attitude changing bit by bit as the situations required.
Maggie went through a lot, including losing both her sister and her father. But when her husband Glenn was brutally murdered right in front of her while she was sick and pregnant, the anguish on her face was felt through the screen. The resentment she felt, even more than a decade later, left fans gutted.From the badass fight scenes to the more emotional moments, Lauren Cohan captured the essenceof the character beautifully.
9Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Negan Smith
Jeffrey Dean Morganwas polarizing as Negan. Some loved his arrogant style, his crude humor, and his vicious nature. Others felt he over-acted with the bent back, licked lips, and lines delivered as though he came straight out of the comics. But that was the point. The height of Negan’s reign was part of the few seasons whereThe Walking Deadtook a dip in viewership. He was also central to a brutalscene that caused many to abandonTWD. But there’s no denying that he was one of the best villains of the series.
What makes the performance so great is what came after. Fans got to see a softer, more vulnerable side of Negan, especially in the flashback episode “Here’s Negan,” dedicated to his backstory. He had an incredible arc that actually made fans eventually root for him. And while he became a “good guy” working for the side that fans followed from the beginning, Negan also retained that same crass personality with a mischievous glint in his eye.
8Norman Reedus
Daryl Dixon
While some might callNorman Reedus’ portrayal of Daryl one-dimensional, mostly consisting of angry glares behind dirty wafts of hair, motorcycle riding, and grunts, there were more layers to Daryl. He let these shine through in certain subtle scenes. The episode dedicated to him and Beth, for example, was one of the most emotional of the series as he finally let his guard down and unloaded some of his feelings and trauma. He’s the strong, silent type, and Reedus captures a lot of what Daryl is feeling through his actions, not so much his words.
The shining moment for Daryl, however, is in the episodes where he is kidnapped and imprisoned by Negan, forced to listen to the same song on repeat and treated like a dog. Reedus’ style of acting was perfect for these scenes.He made fans feel his desperation and how he was being worn down and his dedicationto never letting it show.
7Melissa McBride
Carol Peletier
A fan favorite character, Carol’s arc was among the best in the series. She went from meek, battered housewife and mother to a cunning and clever chameleon who could blend into any group and look unassuming and non-threatening. Little did most people who came across her know that Carol was one of the most menacing characters who wouldn’t bat an eye to do what needed to be done.Melissa McBrideshowed two versions of Carol: the one who would sew a gun into an oversized sleeve to take out enemies while presumably surrendering, and the one who would bake cookies and deliver them to her neighbors with a smile.
McBride gave Carol a vibe that was both motherly and terrifying. In the iconic scene when she makes the difficult decision to execute Lizzy to prevent her from hurting anyone else, the tension was palpable. The horror yet relief captured in her expression is a moment engrained in fans’ brains. But there are so many others, like in “JSS,” one ofthe most underrated episodes ofThe Walking Dead, when she cleverly disguises herself as one of the Wolves to take them out, one by one. Carol had so many pump fists in the air moments where fans were rooting for the character and impressed by her.
6Andrew Lincoln
Rick Grimes
Despite all the jokes and memes aboutAndrew Lincoln’s attempt at an American accent with a slight Southern drawl, he had to navigate so many emotions for the character throughout his entire time on the series. From the moments of depression following Lori’s death to the devastation every time he lost someone he loved, the angry dictatorship moments when he felt he needed to flex his muscles, and the times he all but lost it, fans were always cheering for him. Yet at times, his portrayal also made fans angry at the decisions he was making.
Two of Rick’s most memorable moments include when he ripped skin from Joe’s neck with his bare teeth and got retribution on Gareth by brutally murdering him with an axe in a church. But what’s interesting about Grimes’ portrayal is that in the softer moments, and even in some of these more brutal ones,Grimes made sure that fans realized Rick still had a lot of humanity left in him.
5Lennie James
Morgan Jones
Lennie Jamesarguably didn’t get the best writing once he moved over tothe spin-off seriesFear the Walking Dead. But inThe Walking Dead, Morgan went through so many pivotal moments that James navigated with ease. From the time Rick found Morgan after he had suffered a mental breakdown and had become deeply paranoid to his return to Alexandria once he centered himself and refused to kill, James arguably had to play so many different versions of the same man.
There was a sense of realism with Morgan: while most others seemed to simply adjust to this new world, he had a hard time living with all the horrible things he was doing, even if he knew deep down he had to do them to survive. All this internal conflict played out beautifully on screen.
4Steven Yeun
Glenn Rhee
It’s no surprise thatSteven Yeun’s career took off following his time onThe Walking Dead, and that he endeared himself to fans such that Glenn became a fan favorite character. In fact, Glenn’s death scene was one of themost shocking plot twists onThe Walking Dead, and one of the most horrifying deaths of the show, arguably ever on television. His journey from a wisecracking pizza delivery boy to a strong and confident man was handled fabulously.
What fans loved is that no matter what Glenn went through, he always remained the group’s moral compass. Yeun made Glenn likeable in every way, not just the writing.
3Cailey Fleming
Judith Grimes
For such a young actor,Cailey Fleminghit it out of the park as Judith. From the moment she appeared on the series after the time jump, it was like watching a mini Michonne mixed with Rick, with hints of Lori and Shane as well. That’s precisely what the show was going for, and Fleming pulled it off.
Precocious, fearless, and fierce, it was easy to forget that Judith was just a kiduntil she did or said something that reminded fans of this seemingly obvious fact. Her banter with Negan and Daryl, along with her close relationship with Michonn,e are highlights for the character.
2Danai Gurira
Michonne was one of the most anticipated characters on the show, who fans of the comics couldn’t wait to see. AndDanai Gurira did not disappointin her portrayal of her. When she was teased in the finale of the second season, fans had high hopes, and these were realized. From the simple moments she shared with Rick to her budding relationship with Carl and her deep desire to protect and show her loyalty, Michonne was another fan favorite.
Gurira’s commitment to training with the katana, Michonne’s weapon of choice, and the badass fightand walker kill scenes that were the result are what made an impact on screen. But even quieter scenes, like walking along train tracks sharing a chocolate bar with Carl, or hallucinating in a locked room after being drugged by Virgil, were downright perfect.
1David Morrissey
The Governor
It might be a polarizing opinion, but despite Negan getting the most attention as the most notable adversary to the group,David Morrisseyas The Governor was the best performance for a villain on the show, and arguably of any similar TV show. It’s not surprising since he’s the actor among the cast with the most experience. Theater-trained and having acted on stage as well as in movies and TV shows, Morrissey knew exactly how to deliver a performance that makes chills run up and down fans’ spines.
Many may not recall, for example, that the tactic of whistling to disarm enemies was done by The Governor long before Negan showed up. He was menacing but also deeply troubled, one ofthe most hated TV villains of all time. Yet he was like a cult leader, able to rally troops and make them believe that what he was doing was righteous.Morrissey made fans despise The Governor. While the character might have overstayed his welcome, Morrissey gave a fantastic performance right through to his curtain call.
