14 Actors You Forgot Appeared in ‘The Strolling Useless’

Hilarie Burton

Burton made her debut as Lucille (Negan’s late spouse) on the zombie present in 2021, alongside real-life husband Morgan. In the course of the season 10 finale, she appeared in flashbacks, serving to Negan clarify how he turned the troubled chief the present depicted.

Whereas Morgan stated that engaged on the present along with his spouse was “the spotlight of my profession,” he additionally admitted to having some trepidation about filming together with her.

“We shot all of her stuff in three or 4 days, I believe. We by no means left the basement that we have been in,” Morgan informed Leisure Weekly in 2021. “That was a pleasure. I could not have requested for a cooler deal of working with Hilarie.”

He continued, “I am not going to lie, I used to be nervous as hell stepping into. I did not understand how she can be. I do not f— round. I am going to work. We higher f—— deliver it. And it was nice. That first day together with her, I went house similar to, ‘Thank God!’ ”

In 2025, Burton returned to The Strolling Useless universe with a cameo on season 2 of The Strolling Useless: Useless Metropolis.

Ethan Embry

Ethan Embry had been watching The Strolling Useless since its inception and auditioned for 3 roles through the years, so he was ecstatic to obtain the decision to look on the season 6 premiere, “First Time Once more,” in 2015.

The Empire Information star portrayed Carter, an unique Alexandria Protected-Zone resident who helped assemble the partitions defending the city and was suspicious of Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln). Nonetheless, after Rick got here up with a plan to assist divert a gaggle of zombies gathered in a quarry away from Alexandria, Carter agreed to assist by creating whip partitions on the highway.

“To me, it was like profitable a jackpot,” Embry informed The Each day Share in 2015 of his casting. “I should have had the silliest grin on my face. It was the happiest information I might have ever imagined.”

The episode featured two timelines, together with one in black and white, and an enormous zombie horde. Govt producer and season 6 premiere director Greg Nicotero informed Vulture in 2015 that “eventually rely we determined that there have been 30,000 walkers in that quarry.”

There weren’t that many extras on set, although — whereas many have been CGI, about 200 Walkers have been filmed across the truck, and Nicotero shared that “they all went by means of zombie faculty.”

Robert Patrick

In 2021, Robert Patrick took on two roles on the season 10 episode “One Extra,” taking part in Mays and Mays’ unnamed brother.

Mays was a deranged survivor who misplaced his religion in humanity after forcing his grasping brother to play Russian roulette, throughout which his brother selected to kill his spouse and daughter somewhat than save himself. Mays later made Gabriel Stokes (Seth Gilliam) and Aaron (Ross Marquand) play the identical twisted recreation.

The Peacemaker actor was a self-proclaimed fan of The Strolling Useless and was in a position to star on it in the course of the pandemic as a result of the present filmed in Georgia, the place the Marietta, Ga., native lives.

“I typically puzzled, nicely, perhaps sometime I am going to get a shot to get down there. I have been busy doing different issues, as nicely. And I am simply glad it lastly fell into place the place I might truly do it,” Patrick informed Enterprise Insider in 2021. “They wrote such an amazing position that I learn it and I went, ‘Oh my God, how will you not need to do this half?’ “

Thora Birch

Former baby star Thora Birch took a flip as a high-ranking Whisperer named Gamma throughout 9 episodes of season 10. As her arc progressed, she revealed that her actual title was Mary and shortly after left the Whisperers to hitch the Coalition.

Birch informed EW in 2019 that she had “a few alternatives to come back in and submit my wares for the present,” however had been tied up with different initiatives. Fortunately, she was good to play Gamma, a personality who made the Hocus Pocus actress “tremendous intrigued.”

“There have been sure themes operating all through the season relating to PTSD and duplicitousness, and a few spy parts that intrigued me straight away,” she informed the publication. “Additionally, I really like sweating my butt off and stabbing issues which can be already lifeless. So I used to be tremendous excited.”

Birch continued, “I did not get lots of info up entrance. I simply sort of obtained the context, and somewhat teaser about the place she can be going, and the way her journey suits into the remainder of the story.”

Showrunner Angela Kang described Birch as taking part in Gamma “with such nuance,” which made her dying “tragic.”

“We all the time knew from the beginning with this character that we wished to inform a narrative of principally a double agent in a recreation of espionage,” Kang informed EW in 2020. “And I believe in telling that story, we additionally knew from the start that this might be a restricted arc for this character as a result of in any sort of warfare, there are casualties in many various arenas and being that person who’s taking part in two sides, she was in a uniquely harmful place.”

Austin Abrams

Earlier than Abrams turned identified for his work on Euphoria and This Is Us, and within the 2025 movie Weapons, starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin, he had a nine-episode run as Ron Anderson.

A part of Alexandria, Ron lived along with his household, which included his abusive surgeon father Pete (Corey Brill), mom Jessie (Breckenridge), and brother Sam (Main Dodson). Ron began as a candy child; nevertheless, he rapidly turned vengeful after Rick executed Pete with a shot to the pinnacle, prompting Ron to hunt revenge for his father’s dying. Ron’s hatred for the Grimes household was additional exacerbated by Rick’s brother Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs) relationship Ron’s ex-girlfriend Enid (Katelyn Nacon).

When requested by Numérǒ Netherlands how The Strolling Useless and Euphoria impacted his profession, Abrams stated, “It is tough for me to research precisely what that affect has been. The greatest I can provide you with is the sheer variety of people who it exposes you to.”

Alicia Witt

In 2016, Witt joined the forged for one season 6 episode, “The Identical Boat.” She portrayed the clever and assured Saviors member Paula, who took Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan) hostage.

Like most of the visitor stars, Witt informed EW in 2016 that she was a “huge fan of the present for the reason that very starting” and had “been longing to do something on it, like a tiny position.”

The Longlegs actress did not get a script till she was boarding the airplane to Georgia, and she or he was ecstatic to see that “not solely is it only a kickass half, but it surely’s reverse my favourite actor on the present, Melissa.”

Regardless of her transient keep on the present, Paula had a well-developed backstory and was one of many few highly effective feminine villains on The Strolling Useless at the moment. Witt described the half as “juicy” and “darkish,” telling Forbes in 2016 that she had “two of the perfect weeks of my life attending to work on that.”

Hines Ward

Hines Ward appeared as a Walker in a jail scene on the season 3 episode “The Suicide King” in 2013.

In accordance with an NFL Movies video (through At the moment), the Dancing with the Stars champion was the primary superstar to get the zombified make-up therapy. What helped Ward earn that spectacular feat? Not solely did he develop up within the Peach State, the place most of the Strolling Useless scenes have been filmed, however his faculty teammate on the College of Georgia was IronE Singleton, who portrayed T-Canine on The Strolling Useless.

“It was an incredible expertise,” Ward informed the Pittsburgh Publish-Gazette in 2013. “Simply being in make-up, getting ready me for my position, was cool. I truly scared myself once I seemed within the mirror for the primary time after.”

It is a good factor the retired NFL nice and Arizona State College large receivers coach solely performed a zombie on TV, as a result of the present’s actors thought he’d be a tricky one to come back throughout in actual life.

“No, I do not need to cross his path,” Singleton informed NFL Movies. “I believe he’ll most likely be the quickest zombie ever.”

Tyler James Williams

After starring because the titular character on Everyone Hates Chris from 2005 to 2009, Tyler James Williams was forged on The Strolling Useless in 2014. He had a 10-episode arc on season 5, portraying Noah, a hospital employee at Grady Memorial. Noah was discovered by Beth (Emily Kinney) and have become a provide runner for Rick’s crew earlier than assembly his demise, regardless of Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun) making an attempt to save lots of his good friend.

The Abbott Elementary star informed Collider in 2020 that it “took me some time to essentially course of” Noah’s dying scene, noting that it was tough on each a technical and emotional stage. Emotionally, he stated he needed to totally play out the “entire beat out” of the second Noah obtained slammed into the glass as a result of it was “any person’s final guttural dying.”

“They known as minimize. After which I simply sort of collapsed and sobbed for 2 minutes on set,” James informed the outlet. “And Steven simply sort of needed to sit there, and he put a hand on my again, and he simply began sort of whispering in my ear, ‘You are letting him go. It is a lovely factor. You actually gave him a dying.’ And it was a mourning course of that got here instantly after we [called cut]. As a result of there’s just one take at that. You solely get one.”

It was the primary time a personality James performed died on-screen, which he known as “probably the most edifying moments” in his profession, including, “It bonded me with all people in that room on the time.”

Alexandra Breckenridge

Previous to breaking hearts on This Is Us, Breckenridge portrayed Jessie on 14 episodes of season 5. Jessie was put by means of the ringer in the course of the season: Along with coping with an abusive husband and a declining relationship together with her older son, Ron (Abrams), she watched her youthful son, Sam (Dodson), get eaten by zombies — that was all earlier than her boyfriend, Rick (Lincoln), minimize off her arm.

“It was simply actually unhappy. I imply, this mom is watching her baby be eaten alive. I am unable to consider one thing worse, I actually cannot,” Breckenridge informed EW of Sam’s dying. “It is simply excruciating, and so being within the second as an actor was simply horrifying. However nearly the entire collection common forged got here out to look at that evening and be there as assist, in order that was fairly unimaginable.”

Jessie was a personality within the comedian books, and her TV storyline adopted the same plot. Breckenridge was unaware of this when she landed the half, although, as most of the actors have been stored at the hours of darkness about who they have been taking part in till simply earlier than filming.

Merritt Wever

Emmy Award-winner Merritt Wever joined the forged for 9 episodes of season 6 as Dr. Denise Cloyd. Denise was a therapist who turned the trauma doctor 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 outdoors the partitions to safe medication for the city — earlier than she obtained shot within the eye with an arrow.

“I knew it was coming. It wasn’t a shock. I knew I used to be solely going to be round Alexandria for a sure period of time,” Wever informed Forbes in 2016. “It was a very nice job. It is a very nice set. The forged and the crew have been actually nice. They stated it is a good place to work, and it is true. I am simply grateful that everyone was variety to me and that I had the chance.

Corey Hawkins

After starring in 2015’s Straight Outta Compton, Corey Hawkins appeared on six episodes of The Strolling Useless in 2015 and 2016 as provide runner Heath.

Heath was final seen on the season 7 episode “Swear,” driving an RV on a run with Tara. Heath’s disappearance was by no means addressed on the present, and it was lengthy thought-about a plot gap by followers. Then, on season 9, Anne/Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) was seen driving the RV, and Speaking Useless later confirmed the car had been Heath’s.

In 2018, Kang informed Enterprise Insider that Heath was traded by Anne to the Civil Republic Army (CRM) helicopter folks for provides, lastly resolving the thriller.

“That was sort of the intention that we had behind our heads this entire time,” Kang informed the outlet. “Even again in that season the place you understand we needed to write the fantastic Corey Hawkins out as a result of he had enormous alternatives within the function movie world … these seeds have been already set there.”

Hawkins would go on to star in Kong: Cranium Island (2017), BlacKkKlansman (2018), Within the Heights (2021), The Coloration Purple (2023), The Piano Lesson (2024) and The Man in My Basement (2025).

Scott Ian

Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian liked The Strolling Useless, and he obtained to have the final word fan expertise in March 2015 as a Walker on the season 5 episode “Bear in mind.” (He had beforehand performed a webisode.)

In a behind-the-scenes video for his Nerdist collection, Scott Ian’s Bloodworks, the musician recalled having to audition his zombie stroll for 2 of the present’s consultants — one thing he did not thoughts doing as a lifelong horror fan who began studying Strolling Useless when the comics first got here out.

Ian stated he was so “excited to be part of it” that he was in “no rush” to wrap up his scene.

“I used to be all the time simply, ‘Properly, God rattling, it could be the good f—— factor if I might ever, you understand, get to be a walker,” he stated, including, “I did not assume it could ever occur.”

In a 2016 article for Louder, Ian wrote, “The Strolling Useless is likely one of the few exhibits that I believe has surpassed the comedian books it is based mostly on. The visualisation, results and gore are brutal, it is so nicely written and the characters are so sturdy that the zombies develop into nearly secondary.”

John Carroll Lynch

John Carroll Lynch solely appeared as Eastman on the season 6 episode of “This is Not There,” but it surely was an impactful one, exhibiting how he served as Morgan’s mentor.

Earlier than the apocalypse, Eastman was a forensic psychiatrist in Atlanta’s jail system. He had a darkish previous, having kidnapped a assassin named Crighton Dallas Wilton, who had killed Eastman’s spouse, daughter and son, and tortured him on the household’s cabin for weeks.

In the course of the episode, a crazed Morgan Jones (Lennie James) arrived at Eastman’s cabin and tried to kill him, however Eastman used his martial arts abilities to take him down and lock him in his cabin. After an prolonged time collectively, the 2 bonded, and Eastman helped rehabilitate Morgan.

Nonetheless, in a match of PTSD after recognizing a Walker who approached them, Morgan froze, and Eastman was bitten whereas making an attempt to guard him. Morgan needed to kill Eastman when he turned too sick.

“To be requested to create a backstory for one of many main characters on the present, any person who’s sort of the mirror picture of Andy Lincoln’s character … was only a nice pleasure,” Lynch informed Purple Carpet Information TV in 2017. “The phrases have been so lovely to say.”

He continued, “However to be part of that present for even one episode is a real honor as a result of it is simply so beloved to the individuals who watch it, they usually have such a passionate relationship with the present.”

Robin Lord Taylor

Earlier than he turned generally known as Oswald Cobblepot on Fox’s Gotham, Robin Lord Taylor had a brief arc on The Strolling Useless 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 many survivors, as he was optimistic regardless of the zombie outbreak.

Following a run-in with Rick — who lent Sam his watch — and Ana’s dying, Sam met his destiny on the Terminus compound.

On taking part in Sam, Taylor stated in 2015 on the I Suppose You are Overthinking It podcast, “My life is split into assembly two folks, individuals who knew me earlier than and individuals who knew me after.”