Based on the comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, and directed by Frank Darabont, the episode, “Days Gone Bye” was a hit out of the gate, with both audiences and critics. Nobody could have predicted what was to come, or how TWD would grow to be the cultural force it has become; with two spinoffs, video games, merchandise, and even its own dedicated conventions. But it was clear by the time Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) was trapped in a tank at the end of the episode that this show was something special.

It also introduced us to a host of actors that would become beloved to fans of the series, as well as cultural forces on their own. And perhaps surprisingly, some of the most popular Dead heads weren’t even on the main cast list for Season 1. That cast included Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Steven Yeun and Chandler Riggs.

That’s it. Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride were supporting cast. Lauren Cohan wouldn’t be introduced until Season 2, and Danai Gurira Season 3. Looking back on that cast now is, well, like trying to remember a decade in the past. Don’t worry, though, we here at Decider have you covered. Like a sharp object jamming through the brain of a walker, we’re gonna shove the knowledge of what the original cast of The Walking Dead looked like then, and what they look like — and where they are — now, right into your mind.

And yeah, we included supporting cast, too, because you can’t leave off Carol and Daryl. Come on.

Andrew Lincoln

The star and (other than Daryl Dixon) face of The Walking Dead, it’s kind of weird to think of Lincoln now as we did then: the “to me, you are perfect” sign guy from Love Actually. For the 103 episodes Lincoln was on TWD, his career otherwise pretty much shut down, as he split his time between the Georgia based set, and his family.

Last Episode: Lincoln left the series with Season 9, Episode 5, “What Comes After.” He was last seen being taken by helicopter to parts unknown.

Where Is He Now? Though Lincoln has departed from The Walking Dead, he’s not done with the franchise. Three Rick Grimes-focused theatrical movies are being planned, release date TBD, that will follow directly up on that Season 9 cliffhanger. In the meantime, Lincoln starred in his first non-TWD role in a decade in Penguin Bloom, co-starring Naomi Watts, which recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Jon Bernthal

Shane, we hardly knew ye. Rick’s best friend, and as revealed way later on the father of his daughter Judith, Shane may have been Rick’s right hand man pre-apocalypse, but post- they were doomed for tragedy.

Last Episode: Though Shane died in Season, Episode 12 “Better Angels” after getting shot by Carl (Chandler Riggs), Shane has appeared through flashbacks and dream sequences as recently as Season 9’s “Days Gone Bye.”

Where Is He Now? Arguably one of the most successful TWD alumni, Bernthal starred for two seasons as the titular Punisher for Marvel on Netflix. That’s only the beginning, though, as Bernthal has nabbed critically acclaimed roles in The Wolf of Wall Street, Sicario, Baby Driver, Widows, Ford v. Ferrarri, and coming up he’ll be in the Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark.

Laurie Holden

Though Andrea was one of the most beloved characters in the comic book The Walking Dead is based on, and Holden seems to be a stellar human being, Andrea was not beloved on the show and ultimately got stuck in the middle of a Season 3 conflict between Rick and The Governor (David Morrissey) that was a bit of a bummer. Ah, well.

Last Episode: Season 3, Episode 16 “Welcome to the Tombs,” where she kills herself after getting bitten by a zombie. However, thanks to some sneaky editing she appeared in Michonne’s goodbye episode, “What We Become,” in Season 10.

Where Is She Now? Holden appeared on The Americans as Renee, and on Proven Innocent. However her most important work might be in the Jeremy Renner animated sleigh dogs movie, Arctic Dogs, where she voiced Dakota

Jeffrey DeMunn

Dale Horvath, as the lone older member of the group, with his bucket hat and RV doesn’t scream fan favorite hero. But DeMunn was beloved by the Walking Dead fanbase thanks to his strong moral center; even if he went out relatively quickly.

Last Episode: Season 2, Episode 11 “Judge, Jury, Executioner,” thanks to a semi-random walker attack.

Where Is He Now? DeMunn had a long career before The Walking Dead starring in everything from The Blob to The Green Mile. Post-TWD, he’s probably best known as Chuck Rhoades, Sr. on Showtime’s Billions.

Steven Yeun

Glenn Rhee started as a pizza delivery boy and ended as one of the most heroic, romantic characters in the show’s history. He also almost changed the course of television single-handedly thanks to the epic “is Glenn dead?” incident that ultimately revealed he was hiding behind a dumpster for a couple of months and served a lesson in what not to do for showrunners from that point on. Not Yeun’s fault on that one, though.

Last Episode: Season 7, Episode 1, “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be,” also known as the episode that broke The Walking Dead fandom when Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) killed Glenn, graphically, with his trusty bat, Lucille.

Where Is He Now? I mean, where isn’t he now? Yeun has become a beloved international star after The Walking Dead, with turns in Okja, Sorry to Bother You, and the upcoming Minari and The Humans. He also plays Speckle on Tuca & Bertie, and coming up will re-team with Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman on Prime Video’s adult animated series Invincible, as the title character.

Chandler Riggs

I’m going to be honest with you: this “take a look at how much the cast has changed” gallery has been pretty grim because they all look exactly the same as they did 10 years ago. Except, of course, for Chandler Riggs, who was 10 years old when The Walking Dead cast him as Carl Grimes. Basically, dude spent half his life on TV, and somehow came out okay. Wild.

Last Episode: Though Carl died in Season 8, Episode 9 “Honor” thanks to a zombie bite gotten while evacuating Alexandria, he showed up for a flashback in the Season 8 finale, “Wrath.”

Where Is He Now? Riggs can be seen in the recurring role of Patrick “PJ” Nelson on A Million Little Things.

Emma Bell

Though Andrea’s sister Amy, played by Emma Bell, was technically supporting cast, she was featured in all the promo materials with the main cast, so there you go! Like in the comics, Amy was not long for this world — and mostly used as a motivator for Andrea and Dale.

Last Episode: Amy was killed during a walker attack in Season 1, Episode 4 “Vatos,” though she later reappeared as a voice on Rick’s ghost phone in Season 3’s “Hounded.”

Where Is She Now? Bell has worked pretty steadily in a variety of roles since The Walking Dead, including TNT’s Dallas reboot, American Horror Story: Roanoke, and the recently released The Argument where she co-starred with current TWD star Dan Fogler.

Norman Reedus

Want to hear something crazy? Looking back through AMC’s cache of press photos for the first season of The Walking Dead, there are barely any pics of Norman Reedus. Some group shots, but not a ton, and no portraits. Yet his Daryl Dixon, even more than Lincoln’s Rick Grimes, went on to become the actual face of the franchise, the guy on the cover of video games and lunchboxes. Daryl is the Mickey Mouse of The Walking Dead. Truly, a case of the show not knowing what they had with the crossbow wielding, motorcycle driving badass with a heart of gold.

Last Episode: Not only is Daryl still on The Walking Dead and the lead of the show, he’ll be anchoring a Daryl & Carol spinoff in 2023, once TWD ends.

Where Is He Now? Reedus had a flourishing career before TWD, particularly thanks to cult classic The Boondock Saints. Since TWD, he’s spun off into a reality show called Ride with Norman Reedus for AMC, and also starred in the bizarre video game Death Stranding where he carried a baby in a tank or something, I dunknow.

Melissa McBride

Though AMC seemingly initially slept on Daryl, Carol Peletier (McBride) was the slowest burn in Walking Dead history. Starting as a meek, crying mess, an abused wife trying to stand up to her husband during a zombie apocalypse, Carol has turned into a warrior, a lynchpin of the series and one of the best characters in TV history.

Last Episode: Still going! Like Daryl, she’ll be in The Walking Dead until the end of Season 11, then transition over on to a new spinoff.

Where Is She Now? McBride actually started as a casting director before transitioning into acting — with Carol as her breakout role. Unlike other cast members, she seems to be happy to ride the wave, so TWD is the main place you can still find her.

Michael Rooker

One of the best, most complicated villains in The Walking Dead history, Merle Dixon eventually got a machete hand, but he always had our hearts. Other than, you know, all the racist stuff.

Last Episode: Merle died standing up to The Governor in Season 3, Episode 15 “This Sorrowful Life.”

Where Is He Now? Rooker had a long career before The Walking Dead, and a long one after, but he’s probably best known right now as Yondu in the Guardians fo the Galaxy series. Next up, he’ll appear in F9 (the latest Fast & Furious movie) and reunite with director James Gunn on The Suicide Squad.

Lennie James

Though Lennie James’ Morgan Jones initially only popped up in the series premiere, he quickly became a fan favorite and eventually returned for some of the best episodes in The Walking Dead history (“Clear,” anyone?). The staff-wielding pacifist continues to be a mainstay of the franchise.

Last Episode: Morgan’s final episode of The Walking Dead was the Season 8 finale “Wrath,” though that was because…

Where Is He Now? …he joined Fear the Walking Dead. In fact, the Season 4 premiere picked up pretty much right after, segueing into the next chapter of Morgan’s story. He’s still on that show, which is in Season 6, and James has been staying busy otherwise, also creating and starring in the British TV series Save Me, Blade Runner 2049, and providing a voice in Peter Rabbit 2.