The zombie apocalypse subgenre of horror is an entity all on its own. There are countless movies and shows that have captured the fear of the dead coming back to life. However, not many have captured the mainstream pop culture’s attention as The Walking Dead has. AMC’s The Walking Dead is a drama show that has chronicled the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse. What started out as a man looking for his family has now become a thrilling story of found family, love, loss, and rediscovering/redefining what it means to be alive.
The Walking Dead has created a passionate cult following that has fans rooting for their favorite characters and sobbing at their deaths. The shock value of this show never seems to fail and even after 11 incredible seasons, we continue to be in awe of the depth and heart that each and every one of these actors bring to their characters. From the one and only Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes to Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee, here is our ranking of the best performances in The Walking Dead.
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12 Jon Bernthal as Shane Walsh
AMC
Characters as dynamic as the ones in The Walking Dead illicit varying reactions from audiences. With Jon Bernthal’s performance as Shane, we as fans love to hate him. Shane Walsh had his run in the show in the first few seasons. He was Rick’s right-hand man and a protector for his wife and kid. However, as much as Shane remained a valuable asset and ally in the post-apocalyptic world, he ultimately became a danger to the entire group. The complexity of his character from his relationship with Lori to his friendship with Rick, Bernthal made sure that fans will never forget his iconic role in the show.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
11 Seth Gilliam as Father Gabriel
Father Gabriel is one of the best examples of character growth and development in this entire show. Seth Gilliam pulls off a performance that encapsulates a man’s struggle of maintaining his morals as a religious man as well as the agony of having to sacrifice some of them in order to survive. The push and pull between fear and survival in his character cemented his place in The Walking Dead and portrayed the harsh realities of a post-apocalyptic world.
10 David Morrissey as The Governor
The Walking Dead villains are a breed all on their own. Alongside the viscousness of the walkers, our main group is forced to face the horrors of the living. One of those examples was The Governor, played by David Morrissey. Morrissey made The Governor one of the most terrifying villains in the series. Accompanied by a tragic backstory, The Governor’s psychotic reign over the community of Woodbury dug its ugly claws into the fabric of our main group’s structure.
9 Lauren Cohen as Maggie Greene
AMC+
The Walking Dead is incomplete without Maggie Greene. Maggie has remained a steadfast presence throughout most of this show. Her character has gone through the wringer, and Lauren Cohen keeps Maggie’s character full of life. Along with being a complete badass, she expresses a level of compassion and strength that no other character matches. She went from a strong-willed farm girl to a natural-born leader and mother.
8 Josh McDermitt as Eugene Porter
It was hard to tell where Eugene’s character was going when he was introduced in The Walking Dead. Played by the incredible Josh McDermitt, Eugene Porter is just as much a bona fide genius as he is a coward. Ridden with fear, Eugene was willing to sacrifice anyone and anything to protect himself. However, with more fans clinging to his character, whether we are loving him or hating him, he’s become a staple face in the show and has grown incredibly in the last few seasons.
7 Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes
Carl Grimes was played by the incomparable Chandler Riggs. From the very beginning, it seemed impossible to see anyone play Carl other than Riggs. The audience has had the privilege of watching Carl, and in turn, Riggs, grow up right in front of our eyes. He became a beloved character in the show and was the heart and essentially the hope for the group’s future. His death will continue to be one of the most heartbreaking in the series.
6 Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier
Melissa McBride’s performance as Carol in The Walking Dead deserves a standing ovation. Carol started off as the most fragile of flowers and blossomed into a complete badass. Her character initiates an undeniable sense of comfort and familiarity within the other characters and in the audience as well. McBride’s ability to channel Carol’s motherly aura and draw strength from that is what makes this character so loved.
5 Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee
Steven Yeun is all the lovable energy that we got from Glenn in The Walking Dead. In this house, we love and miss Glenn. His run in The Walking Dead had him grow from a boy into a man. He found love, heartache, and a family that had to watch him perish at the hands of Negan. Another fan-favorite character, he kept the show grounded most of all. His character was reliable and loyal in ways that kept the group going for so long.
4 Danai Gurira as Michonne
Michonne, played by Danai Gurira, is the lone wolf that found a family in all the mess. For the longest time, Michonne had to fend for herself. She was alone after losing so much until she found Rick and his group. She has consistently been an amazing fighter and held her own in that group. Gurira perfectly played Michonne from all angles. She was a warrior, a mother, and a fighter.
3 Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon
AMC
Fan favorite alert! Norman Reedus is mainly known in his career for playing the motorcycle-riding, crossbow-wielding, man of nature with a heart of gold, Daryl Dixon. The Walking Dead is known to kill many beloved characters unexpectedly. However, every new season that came around the corner had fans pleading with writers to spare Daryl’s life. Reedus managed to make this character something that no fan of the show could let go of.
2 Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan
Negan has easily been the most terrifying villain in the many seasons of The Walking Dead. Up to the point where he was introduced into this world, our main group has faced many foes and experienced so much loss. However, Negan changed things. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, as easy as he is on the eyes, brought Negan into the limelight. He tore down the strongest members of our group. He broke them down and had them in complete submission without skipping a beat. His charisma, paired with the power he wielded on his belt, made him a force to be reckoned with and a threat that no one was prepared for. What he did and his character’s development on-screen were nothing short of spectacular.
1 Andrew Lincon as Rick Grimes
The one and only Rick Grimes is the face of The Walking Dead. Rick Grimes is the kind of character that defines an actor’s career. Although it has been a while since Andrew Lincoln’s departure from the show, his presence left its mark. Rick has been the leader, the one to call the hard shots. He put the safety of his people and his family above everything else and was willing to sacrifice anything for them. Lincoln was Rick through-and-through, and made sure that he kept the authenticity of his character up to par with where the story went.
