“The Walking Dead” Cast Spotlight: CHANDLER RIGGS Is CARL GRIMES
Actor: CHANDLER RIGGS
Ten-year-old Chandler Riggs made his professional stage debut at the age of eight with Theater of the Stars at Atlanta’s Fox Theater in The Wizard of Oz followed by Oklahoma. After several commercial credits, he appeared in the Lifetime Movie “The Wronged Man” and had his feature film debut in the upcoming Sony Pictures Classics film Get Low. A native of Atlanta, GA, Chandler enjoys video games and tap dancing.
Character: CARL GRIMES
Carl flees his small town with his mom, Lori, and Shane. He is a kind boy – inquisitive and intelligent – but quiet, struggling in this new world and still trying to come to terms with the fact that he may never see his father again. He has bonded a great deal with Shane, his dad’s best friend, who always takes time to talk with him, teach him things, and make him feel like he still has a father figure. Carl worships his father and believes, as only a child can, that Rick is indestructible and that blind faith in his father helps provide comfort to Lori, who isn’t as confident that Rick will return to them. Carl’s closest friend is Sophia, Carol’s daughter, as well as the Morales children, all of whom he regularly plays with, helping to keep him in a child’s world as much as possible. However, he is frequently confronted with the realities of his harsh new world when he witnesses shocking violence and has to say goodbye to even more people he cares about.
“The Walking Dead” Cast Spotlight: EMMA BELL Is AMY
Actor: EMMA BELL
Born and raised in New Jersey, Emma Bell moved to New York City at the age of 16 to pursue her acting dreams. She attended a Performing Arts high school on the upper east side of Manhattan. After several “Law & Order” episodes, independent films and commercials, she finally landed the CW series, “Bedford Diaries” for producer Tom Fontana.
But it was her memorable turn as a German Holocaust prisoner in Boaz Yakin’s 2008 Death in Love along side Jacqueline Bisset, Josh Lucas, Lukas Haas and Adam Brody that brought the critical acclaim. Death In Love, the story of a Jewish woman’s holocaust past that shaped her life and subsequently the lives of her sons, premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.
Bell was later cast in Elektra Luxxe directed by Sebastian Gutierrez, alongside Joseph Gordan-Levitt, Malin Akerman, Carla Gugino and Timothy Olyphant and appeared in roles on “Ghost Whisperer” and “Supernatural.”
In the winter of 2009, Bell starred in Frozen, written and directed by Adam Green, shot in the wintry tundra of Utah. The film, about three skiers who get stuck on a ski-lift in the middle of a snowstorm, also starred Shawn Ashmore and Kevin Zegers. Frozen had its world premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
Character: AMY
Amy and her older sister Andrea have made their home in Dale’s RV at the camp. She is twelve years younger than Andrea and that has caused no small amount of tension between the sisters. Amy is resentful of Andrea leaving her behind at home and not coming back often enough to visit and be a part of her life. The experience of the apocalypse has strengthened their bond enormously, though Amy is still often frustrated by Andrea correcting her, judging her and generally telling her what to do. On the other hand, Amy worships her older sister, wanting to be just like her. Still young, Amy is impetuous and eternally optimistic. She helps look out for the kids in the camp, is quick to defend other’s actions when she sees them as being protective and generally tries to keep the peace among her fellow survivors.
“The Walking Dead” Cast Spotlight: STEVEN YEUN Is GLENN
Actor: STEVEN YEUN
Steven Yeun was most recently seen in a co-starring role on an episode of the popular television series “The Big Bang Theory.” Prior to this, Yeun lived in Chicago where he performed with the famed Second City Theatre in various shows with their Touring Company as well as their NCL Boat Company. Other Chicago theatre credits include understudying the Steppenwolf Theatre’s production of Kafka on the Shore, understudying the roles of Kafka and Crow. In addition, he was part of several improvisational/sketch comedy groups including Stir Friday Night, Hands and Detective Detective. His additional credits include the role of Chaz in the independent film My Name is Jerry, as well as commercials for Best Buy, Apple and Milky Way.
Born in Seoul, South Korea and raised in the city of Troy, MI, Yeun began his foray into acting while studying psychology at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, MI. After seeing a performance of the school’s improv group, he decided to switch his focus to acting, and following graduation moved to Chicago to study improvisational theatre, eventually having the opportunity to work with Second City. After accomplishing his goals in Chicago he moved to Los Angeles, where he currently resides.
Character: GLENN
Glenn meets Rick during one of his frequent forays into Atlanta to scavenge much-needed supplies to sustain the camp. He is keenly aware of the extreme danger of these missions, but because of his youth is willing to take the risk. He used to deliver pizzas for a living and his knowledge of every shortcut in town proves extremely useful to the groups scavenging needs. Young and resourceful, Glenn thinks on his feet and shows great compassion and humanity by taking the time and risk to help save Rick, a total stranger’s, life. Despite all the horrors he’s seen, he maintains a youthful enthusiasm for life and its unexpected pleasures. Glenn is an integral part of the camp, showing surprising depth and emotion when the group experiences devastating tragedy.
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Learn about the other actors, and the characters they portray, in The Walking Dead TV Cast section of the site.
“The Walking Dead” Cast Spotlight: JEFFREY DEMUNN Is DALE
Actor: JEFFREY DEMUNN
Jeffrey DeMunn has enjoyed a career that encompasses theatre, film and television. He is known as a favorite of writer/producer/director Frank Darabont who has cast him in The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Majestic and The Mist, among others including the 1988 re-make of The Blob.
Other film credits include Burn After Reading, Shelter, Caymen Went, Hollywoodland, The X-Files Movie, Phenomenon and Blaze as well as earlier appearances in Resurrection and Frances.
His television work has honored him with an Emmy® nomination and a Cable Ace Award for his role as Andrei Chikatilo in “Citizen X.” In addition to his recurring role on “Law & Order” and numerous guest starring roles on episodic series, he has starred or been featured in “Empire Falls,” “Our Town,” “Noriega,” “Hiroshima,” “Storm of the Century,” “A Christmas Memory” and “Barbarians at the Gate.”
He was nominated for a Tony® for his performance in K-2 on Broadway. Other Broadway credits are Our Town, The Price, Bent, Spoils Of War and Sleight Of Hand. Recently he was seen as Willy Loman in Death Of A Salesman at the Dallas Theatre Center. His off-Broadway and regional appearances include Stuff Happens, Last Days Of Judas Iscariot, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and A Prayer For My Daughter (Drama Desk Nomination) all with the Public Theatre. In addition, both regionally and off-Broadway, he has been seen in King Lear, Geometry of Fire, A Picasso, Gunshy, The Hands Of Its Enemy, Country Girl and Modigliani.
DeMunn was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, graduated from Union College and trained at the Bristol Old Vic in England. Upon returning to the U.S. he toured the country with the National Shakespeare Company and spent several summer seasons at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center helping to develop new plays.
Character: DALE
Dale had planned to spend his retirement traveling the country with his beloved wife Irma in their RV, but she passed away from cancer before their dream came to pass. Traveling on his own, he comes across Andrea and Amy when the apocalypse occurs and takes them in. His age, calm experience, and RV provide the nucleus around which the small community of survivors has formed. He is wise, sometimes profound and is the respected elder of the group, though is also rather feisty, not afraid to speak his mind and call others out for mistakes in judgment. Over time he, Andrea and Amy form their own little family unit and he finds spending time with them has helped bring him back to life in a way he never anticipated. Dale is a fairly self-sufficient man, and ever watchful of the changing dynamics among the survivor community.
“The Walking Dead” Cast Spotlight: LAURIE HOLDEN Is ANDREA
Actor: LAURIE HOLDEN
“The Walking Dead” marks Holden’s third collaboration with Director/Executive Producer Frank Darabont, having worked with him previously when he cast her as the female lead opposite Jim Carrey in The Majestic and opposite Thomas Jane and Marcia Gay Harden in Stephen King’s The Mist.
Holden got her first break as Rock Hudson’s daughter in Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles, directed by her stepfather, veteran film director Michael Anderson. Upon graduating from UCLA, Holden was accepted as part of the National Honor Society and received the Natalie Wood Award for Best Actress. She went on to study the classics at The Webber Douglas Academy of Art and honed her craft under the tutelage of Larry Moss at The Larry Moss Acting Studio.
She has worked steadily in original films for HBO and Showtime and co-starred with Vanessa Redgrave in the TNT miniseries “Young Catherine.” Holden starred as the only female lead opposite Michael Biehn in the remake of the MGM classic “The Magnificent Seven” for CBS. Her episodic work on television is vast and includes a comedic turn in the critically acclaimed “Due South” for which she was nominated for a Canadian Gemini Award. Her memorable feature film roles include such hits as Fantastic Four (where she played Michael Chiklis’ love interest) and the cult hero Cybil Bennet in Christophe Gans’ artistic-horror video game adaptation of Silent Hill. She gained notoriety playing the role of Marita Covarrubias, the U.N. informant to Fox Mulder, on the long running hit “The X Files” and for her portrayal of Agent Olivia Murray in FX’s critically acclaimed show “The Shield.” Named as one of the top 100 Most Creative People in Hollywood in Entertainment Weekly’s It List and One of Ten Actors to Watch by Variety, Holden is actively producing film, theatre and television projects in addition to her acting pursuits.
Character: ANDREA
A successful civil rights attorney living in Florida, Andrea was on a road trip with her younger sister Amy, headed back to Amy’s college when the zombie apocalypse occurred. They were stranded in Atlanta when they were rescued by Dale, and they’ve been living with him and the rest of our survivors at the camp ever since. Andrea is intelligent, cautious and extremely protective of her younger sister, with whom she has not always had the closest relationship. Never one to shy away from a challenge or a fight, Andrea is headstrong, opinionated and first and foremost interested in keeping Amy safe. They don’t know what has become of their parents but Andrea has no real expectation of them being alive and will endeavor to stand strong as the only family Amy has left.
“The Walking Dead” Cast Spotlight: SARAH WAYNE CALLIES Is LORI GRIMES
Actor: SARAH WAYNE CALLIES
Throughout her career, Sarah Wayne Callies has moved between television, film and theatre with ease, quickly establishing herself as a talent to watch.
Callies is best known for her role as Dr. Sarah Tancredi in the dramatic action-packed FOX series “Prison Break.” A worldwide success, “Prison Break” received the 2006 People’s Choice® Award for Favorite New Television Drama and was nominated for a 2006 Golden Globe® Award for Best Dramatic Television Series. Her extensive television credits include the role of Jane in the WB series “Tarzan,” from director David Nutter and executive producer Laura Ziskin; a recurring role on CBS’ “Queens Supreme,” starring Oliver Platt and produced by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas; as well as guest-starring appearances on “Law & Order: SUV,” “Numb3rs” and “LA Dragnet.” Last fall, Callies co-produced and starred in the CBC pilot “Tangled” directed by Bronwyn Hughes. Callies plays a former spy trying to balance civilian life with a past life that refuses to leave her alone.
Callies recently completed work opposite Milla Jovovich in the feature thriller Faces in the Crowd, about a woman with face-blindness trying to stop a serial killer. Previous to this she starred opposite Rupert Friend and Forrest Whitaker in Lullaby for Pi, for which she also wrote and performed a song for the soundtrack. Callies also starred as the female lead in the feature adaptation of James Redfield’s international best-selling novel, The Celestine Prophecy. Her additional credits include starring opposite Josh Holloway and Dule Hill in Stewart Hendler’s thriller Whisper.
Callies earned an MFA in classical acting from the National Theatre Conservatory and appeared in several main-stage productions with the Denver Center Theatre Company. Her undergraduate work includes a BA in Drama from Dartmouth College, with a minor in Women’s Studies and a Senior Fellowship in Indigenous Theology.
Character: LORI GRIMES
Believing her husband Rick to be dead, Lori, along with her son Carl, goes with Shane towards Atlanta, counting on him to keep her and her son safe. Extremely compassionate and empathetic, Lori is the emotional center of the group of survivors. With their entire world in chaos, Lori will cling to her humanity and fight to maintain their decency and rituals, offering comfort to everyone as they face their individual tragedies. First and foremost, she is a fiercely protective mother, desperate to keep her son safe and extremely wary of anyone she doesn’t trust getting too close to him.
“The Walking Dead” Cast Spotlight: JON BERNTHAL Is SHANE WALSH
Actor: JON BERNTHAL
Jon Bernthal was raised in Washington, DC. He went to study at The Moscow Art Theatre School, in Moscow, Russia, where he also played in the European professional baseball federation.
While in Moscow, Bernthal was noticed by the director of Harvard University’s Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at the American Repertory Theatre and was invited to obtain his MFA there. After graduating in 2002, he performed in over 30 plays regionally and off-Broadway, including many with his own award-winning theatre company, Fovea Floods.
Bernthal starred in the ABC supernatural drama “Eastwick” and appeared in the HBO miniseries “The Pacific,” from Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. He starred as Duncan Carmello on “The Class” for CBS and has made guest appearances on “How I Met Your Mother,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Boston Legal,” and “CSI: Miami.”
He appeared in the feature film Date Night, with Steve Carell and Tina Fey, and in Roman Polanski’s The Ghost Writer, opposite Ewan McGregor. Additional film credits include Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center, The Air I Breathe, Day Zero and the role of Al Capone in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.
Bernthal lives in Venice, California, with his dogs, Boss and Venice.
Character: SHANE WALSH
Shane is Rick’s partner in the sheriff’s department, and best friend since high school. When the apocalypse occurred, and with Rick stuck in a coma, Shane helped save Lori and Carl by getting them out of their small town and heading for Atlanta. He was the last to see Rick in the hospital and is tortured by his responsibility in leaving him there, but also knows he never would have been able to save Lori and Carl if he hadn’t left Rick. He made an impossible decision that he’ll never be able to fully justify, to himself or to Lori. Among the group of survivors, Shane has become the de facto leader, a position he enjoys. He always lived in Rick’s shadow and while he never consciously resented it, he’s relishing his newfound position of authority. However, when Shane’s leadership within the group is challenged, it pushes him over the edge, and he begins losing his temper and his control with increasing regularity, making him reckless, erratic and dangerous to everyone around him.
“The Walking Dead” Cast Spotlight: ANDREW LINCOLN Is RICK GRIMES
Actor: ANDREW LINCOLN
Andrew Lincoln trained at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He rose to fame playing a trainee lawyer with his head in the clouds in the hit BBC drama “This Life.” Success followed with a string of film and TV roles including Gangster No. 1 alongside Malcolm McDowell. In 2001, Lincoln began a three-year stint in the comedy-drama “Teachers,” which he went on to direct, receiving a BAFTA nomination for his work. In 2003, Lincoln lined up amongst an ensemble of stars in Richard Curtis’ romantic comedy, Love Actually. Throughout his varied career, Lincoln has undertaken a number of critically acclaimed theatre roles, including, most recently, philanderer Dale in Jez Butterworth’s Parlour Song. Lincoln has also recently filmed opposite Vanessa Paradis in the French film, Heartbreaker.
Character: RICK GRIMES
Rick Grimes is a sheriff’s deputy in a small Georgia town. Wounded in the line of duty, he is in a coma when the zombie apocalypse occurs. Awakening alone, he sets off in search of his wife, Lori, and young son, Carl, and along the way discovers what has happened to the world. Rick is an everyman – smart, calm, just, a good friend and father – but flawed. He sees most problems as black or white and will often stubbornly cling to his personal strong moral code, which results in not always making the best decisions. He has been partners and friends with Shane for a long time and he is used to, and has perhaps taken for granted, their easy camaraderie. Rick is a natural leader, someone his fellow survivors will turn to in crisis, confident in his guidance, even when he at times doubts himself. However, his overwhelming need to do the right thing and protect those who can’t protect themselves may pull him away from his family, causing cracks of tension within his marriage and in his relationship with his son.