The Walking Dead was one of the most popular series ever made, and it featured an incredible ensemble cast of talented actors who have performed in other acclaimed works across film and television. While viewers were thrilled and disgusted by the horrific journey through a zombie apocalypse seen across The Walking Dead’s 11 seasons, many would be interested in checking out the star’s other roles from before, after, and when The Walking Dead was on the air. These included lauded dramedies, cult classic supernatural series, and even beloved holiday classics.

The best characters from The Walking Dead became popular due to the strong performances of their actors, who have carved out astounding careers for themselves across various genres and releases. While many The Walking Dead actors will forever be remembered for their time trying to survive a zombie outbreak, that’s not to say they haven’t excelled in other prestige television series or widely acclaimed films. The cast of this AMC series has continued to excel in the years since the main show concluded, and some have even come back to reprise their characters in various The Walking Dead spin-off shows.

8The Bear (2022 – Present)

Starring Jon Bernthal

Jon Bernthal played Shane Walsh in The Walking Dead, an essential character in the first two seasons who was a longtime friend and former police officer colleague of Rick Grimes. After saving Rick’s family while he was in a coma during the zombie outbreak, Shane’s romance with Rick’s wife, Lori, was a major point of conflict in the show as jealousy and anger uprooted their once solid friendship. Bernthal has carved out an impressive career outside of The Walking Dead, gaining the notable role of Frank Castle/The Punisher in the MCU television series Daredevil and The Punisher.

Another essential role in Bernthal’s impressive filmography was as Michael Berzatto in the hit comedy-drama The Bear. As the owner of The Original Beef of Chicagoland, Michael left his restaurant to his brother Carmy following his suicide, and his death was the driving force behind the entire show. While Bernthal has only appeared in a handful of flashback episodes, his death and its effect on the show’s characters was an emotional focal point of The Bear.

7Prison Break (2005 – 2017)

Starring Sarah Wayne Callies

As Lori Grimes in The Walking Dead, Sarah Wayne Callies was an essential part of this impressive ensemble cast whose fractured relationship with her husband Rick was central to the show’s first three seasons. Lori’s extramarital relationship with Shane, while Rick was in a coma before the show’s debut, caused extreme tension in the reunited couple’s marriage that was difficult to manage as they fought for survival in an apocalyptic landscape. Prior to gaining her part in The Walking Dead, Callies was well-known for her main role in the crime thriller Prison Break.

Callies portrayed Michael’s love interest and eventual wife Sara Tancredi in Prison Break and worked as a doctor at Fox River State Penitentiary. As an essential part of this popular Fox series, Prison Break blended intense thrills with suspenseful drama in a bingable story of an elaborate plan for an inmate to break out of prison and clear his name. While Prison Break declined in quality over the course of its five seasons, the earliest seasons made for truly engrossing and entertaining television.

6The X-Files (1993 – 2002, 2016 – 2018)

Starring Laurie Holden

As one of the original Atlanta survivors in The Walking Dead, Laurie Holden’s characterization of Andrea was essential to the show’s first three seasons. As a former civil rights attorney with a strong moral center, Andrea represented the harsh realities of grief faced by those left behind, as the death of her sister almost led her to suicide and saw her enter conflicts with Rick Grimes and The Governor. However, The Walking Dead was not Holden’s only claim to fame, as she also had memorable roles in the Stephen King adaptation The Mist and as Marita Covarrubias in The X-Files.

Holden appeared in ten episodes of The X-Files and was an occasional recurring character from seasons four to nine of the popular sci-fi series. Marita Covarrubias was originally an informant leaking diplomatic information to FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder, although it was later revealed she was an agent of the secretive Syndicate. Covarrubias was just one of many recurring characters that fleshed out the fascinating world of paranormal intrigue seen across The X-Files and its various spin-off media.

5Minari (2020)

Starring Steven Yeun

Steven Yeun’s portrayal of Glenn Rhee in The Walking Dead was a whirlwind of intensity as his character continually evaded death only to be shockingly killed by Negan in a scene that disappointed many viewers in the Season 7 premiere. While Glenn was Yeun’s most recognizable role, he’s had an impressive career across movies and TV in everything from the acclaimed TV shows like Beef to animated series like Final Space. With an impressive range and varied filmography, Yeun has made a name for himself as one of the most underrated talents in Hollywood.

Yeun’s greatest non-Walking Dead role came in 2020 with the release of Minari, a thoughtful tale of South Korean immigrants in 1980s Arkansas. This autobiographical film by writer and director Lee Isaac Chung captures the challenges of the immigrant experience as this struggling family did everything they could to achieve their own version of the American Dream. As a contemplative and thoughtful movie, Minari showcased Yeun’s dramatic acting chops and vulnerable onscreen presence.

4A Million Little Things (2018 – 2023)

Starring Chandler Riggs

Chandler Riggs was first cast as Carl Grimes on The Walking Dead when he was just ten years old and was a central character in the show’s first eight seasons. As the son of Rick Grimes, viewers watched Riggs grow up alongside his character as he went from a scared and innocent kid to a brave and determined survivor willing to put his life on the line to protect the ones he loves. While Riggs doesn’t have as large a filmography as many of the rest of his Walking Dead colleagues, he has still remained active in film and television.

One of Riggs’ most notable recurring roles was in the family drama A Million Little Things, which featured an ensemble cast of Boston friends shocked by the suicide of their close friend. Riggs appeared in nine episodes as PJ Nelson, a young man who befriended one of the main protagonists, Rome Howard (Romany Malco.) A Million Little Things was a highly engaging series that dealt with heavy themes of life and death that never quite managed to reach a large audience over its five seasons.

3The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023 – Present)

Starring Norman Reedus

For many actors, The Walking Dead signaled their breakout role and the part that they are now most recognized for. This was certainly the case with Norman Reedus, who, despite having an impressive resume full of films like The Boondock Saints, 8MM, and American Gangster, will forever be associated with Daryl Dixon. This crossbow-wielding, motorcycle-driving southerner originally stood in the shadow of his abrasive older brother Merle in The Walking Dead. However, Daryl outlived his brother and soon grew to become one of the most popular characters in the series.

Reedus’ portrayal of Daryl in The Walking Dead left viewers wanting more, and he has since reprised his role as the lead character of the spin-off show The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. This fascinating series expanded the franchise lore by following Daryl as he washed ashore in France and began the arduous journey of finding out how he got there and trying to make it back home. Reedus brought the same intense characterization that made Daryl such a breakout success to this spin-off series.

2The Boys (2019 – Present)

Starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan

The addition of Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan starting in the sixth season of The Walking Dead injected the show with some much-needed tension. As a cruel, harrowing, and unforgiving character, Negan ruthlessly killed his adversaries and served as an antagonist far more brutal and cunning than any zombies seen in the series. While Morgan has continued to play his role as Negan in the spin-off series The Walking Dead: Dead City, viewers can also see him in another highly popular comic book television adaptation.

Morgan joined the cast of the popular Amazon Prime series The Boys in its fourth season, where he played Joe Kessler. Bringing the same sinister energy he has continually brought to Negan, Morgan appeared as Billy Butcher’s hallucinatory vision as a side effect from his overuse of Temp V. This unique characterization allowed Morgan to lean heavily into his talent for playing deranged and unpredictable characters, and he encouraged Butcher toward intensely violent behavior.

1Love Actually (2003)

Starring Andrew Lincoln

Andrew Lincoln played The Walking Dead’s main protagonist, Rick Grimes, throughout the show’s first nine seasons, as audiences watched him wake up from a coma and spent many years leading groups of survivors through the zombie apocalypse. It was a testament to Lincoln’s acting talents that he so expertly showcased the grim realities and panicked humanity at the heart of this show’s story. However, one of Lincoln’s most well-known non-Walking Dead parts couldn’t be further away from Rick, as he starred in an all-time beloved Christmas classic.

As Mark in the Christmas-themed romantic comedy Love Actually, Lincoln contributed to one of this holiday movie’s most memorable subplots. Mark’s love story saw him fall in love with his best friend’s wife, and in a famous scene that has become a classic internet meme, Lincoln’s character professed his feelings through a series of cue cards. Lincoln’s enjoyable role in Love Actually was just one of many examples of cast members from The Walking Dead breaking viewers’ expectations and starring in projects entirely different from the popular AMC zombie series.