Hooking legions of viewers from its 2010 premiere until the 2022 finale, The Walking Dead is a landmark of post-apocalyptic TV. Following a large ensemble of survivors battling undead 'walkers', brutal warlords, and the collapse of civilization, the series delivered relentless gore, intense drama, and some of the small screen's most gripping moments. A critical darling and ratings powerhouse that spawned numerous spin-offs, it also launched and elevated the careers of many cast members.
Read on to discover which stars of the show escaped the end of days with the heaviest wallets. All dollar amounts in US dollars.
Austin Nichols played Spencer Monroe, the privileged and increasingly resentful Alexandrian whose entitled streak repeatedly clashed with Rick Grimes' leadership. This simmering ambition ultimately led to his grisly death at Negan Smith's hands.
Before stepping into the apocalypse, Nichols was already known for his TV roles in One Tree Hill and HBO's John from Cincinnati, along with film appearances in The Day After Tomorrow and Wimbledon. His more recent credits include The Six Triple Eight and I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Joining The Walking Dead in season nine, Dan Fogler portrayed Luke Abrams, the warm-hearted former music teacher who played a pivotal role in Alexandria's pushback against the Whisperers.
Off-screen, Fogler has built one of the most eclectic résumés in the cast. He's a Tony Award winner, a key player in the Fantastic Beasts film franchise, and the voice of Zeng in Kung Fu Panda. He has also branched out into writing, directing, and comedy, and more recently earned praise for his turns as Francis Ford Coppola in The Offer and Albert Grossman in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.
As Eugene Porter, Josh McDermitt made his debut in The Walking Dead in season four, becoming a main cast member from the fifth season through to the finale. Initially a timid liar claiming scientific expertise, Eugene grew into Alexandria's chief engineer, though he briefly defected to the Saviors.
Pre-apocalypse, McDermitt was mainly known for comedy projects such as Last Comic Standing and the sitcom Retired at 35. Post-The Walking Dead, he has taken on more dramatic roles in the likes of supernatural Western thriller Killing Faith and short-lived spin-off series Suits LA.
From season seven onwards, Khary Payton took on the role of 'King' Ezekiel Sutton, the charismatic, theater-loving leader of the Kingdom whose steady optimism helped unite Alexandria's allied communities.
Outside The Walking Dead, Payton had a stint on General Hospital, but his award-winning voice work is what really defines his career. He has voiced fan-favorite characters like Cyborg in the Teen Titans franchise and Aqualad in Young Justice, and featured in everything from video games to ads for brands like General Mills and Verizon.
One of several British talents in the cast, Lauren Cohan had appeared in Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries, but it was The Walking Dead that truly made her a star.
Joining in season two, she played Maggie Rhee, a tough, resourceful survivor whose mix of heart and determination carried her from the Greene farm to major leadership roles. Cohan continues Maggie's story today in the spin-off show The Walking Dead: Dead City.
Another British standout in the cast, Lennie James first appeared in season one as Morgan Jones, the grieving father whose early encounter with Rick Grimes shaped the show's emotional core. After drifting in and out of the story, Morgan returned as a main character in season seven. James later carried the role into the spin-off Fear the Walking Dead.
His career spans both sides of the Atlantic, with pre-apocalypse credits ranging from the BBC's Line of Duty to CBS's Jericho. Post-The Walking Dead, James has earned Baftas for his work in Sky Atlantic's Save Me and the BBC series Mr Loverman.
Michael Rooker has long been known for portraying dark characters, from his breakout role in 1986's Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer to his turn as Yondu Udonta in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In The Walking Dead, he played Merle Dixon, Daryl's volatile older brother, a dangerous man whose cruelty and unpredictability made him one of the show's early human threats. After vanishing in season one, Merle returned in season three under the Governor's control, eventually dying in a failed attempt to take him down.
Sonequa Martin-Green appeared as Sasha Williams, a quick-witted and compassionate survivor and sharpshooter for Rick's group. She was a series regular from season four, with her character arc ending in the season seven finale when she sacrificed herself in an attempt to kill Negan Smith.
Prior to the apocalypse, Martin-Green starred in several indie films, followed by a recurring role in The Good Wife. After The Walking Dead, she took on the lead role of Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery, a performance that garnered her two Saturn Awards.
Scoring her big acting break in The Walking Dead as fearless katana-wielding survivor Michonne, Danai Gurira went on to reprise the role in spin-off miniseries The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.
The Zimbabwean-American talent has since become a globally recognized star in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing as Okoye in movies from Black Panther to Avengers: Endgame. She's also a Tony-nominated playwright and a passionate activist, and has landed major endorsement deals, including the 2022 Nissan Super Bowl ad.
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The Walking Dead was Steven Yeun's launchpad to global fame. First appearing in season one, he shone as good-natured and brave former pizza delivery boy Glenn Rhee. A testament to his popularity, the character's death at the hands of Negan Smith in the season seven premiere left fans reeling.
Since leaving the show, Yeun's career has flourished, and in 2021 he became the first Asian American to be nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for his stunning performance in Minari.
Tovah Feldshuh brought her veteran acting gravitas to season five, playing erstwhile Ohio congresswoman Deanna Monroe, the leader of Alexandria. Feldshuh herself stated that she based the character on Hillary Clinton.
A four-time Tony-nominated Broadway star, Feldshuh also has two Emmy nominations under her belt for her turn in the 1978 miniseries Holocaust and her long-running recurring role as defence attorney Danielle Melnick in Law & Order.
Shooting to international fame as Carl Grimes, the son of the show's main protagonist Rick, Chandler Riggs proved his acting chops, bagging three Saturn Awards for his performance. Despite this, his character was killed off in season eight in a major and controversial departure from the OG comics.
Nonetheless, Riggs has forged a thriving career, appearing in Inherit the Viper, Only, A Million Little Things, and other movies and TV shows. He also DJs and produces dance music under the moniker Eclipse.
Ian Anthony Dale's career was already well established when he joined the cast in the final season as Dr Tomichi 'Tomi' Okumura, a former surgeon whose skills were eventually used to save the lives of Judith Grimes and King Ezekiel.
Away from the show, Dale has had plum roles in TV series like Charmed, Surface, Day Break, and the Hawaii Five-0 reboot. He has also appeared in movies including The Hangover and Tekken, and provided voice work for video games.
Among the show's more seasoned talents, Laila Robins portrayed Governor Pamela Milton in the final season. As the corrupt and power-hungry leader of the Commonwealth, she served as the season's primary antagonist until her eventual arrest.
Robins has appeared in an impressive array of classic movies and TV series during her long career, including Planes, Trains and Automobiles, The Equalizer, and Sex and the City. Her more recent roles include Colonel Grace Mallory in the hit Amazon Prime Video show The Boys and its spin-off Gen V.
British actor Tom Payne's career began with homegrown shows such as Skins and Waterloo Road before crossing the pond. His breakout role stateside was as Paul 'Jesus' Rovia, the martial arts-skilled recruiter for the Hilltop Colony. In a shocking twist, Jesus was killed by one of the sinister Whisperers in the season nine mid-season finale.
Since leaving the show, Payne has starred in the series Prodigal Son, appeared in Kevin Costner's Horizon: An American Saga epic Westerns, and currently has a recurring role in Law & Order: Organized Crime.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan delivered a magnetic performance as villainous Negan Smith, the sadistic leader of the Saviors. After his tenure on the flagship show, he continued the role alongside Lauren Cohan in the spin-off The Walking Dead: Dead City.
Morgan's pre-apocalypse career featured parts in TV hits like Supernatural, Grey's Anatomy, and The Good Wife, and he's currently starring in The Boys. Off-screen, he has featured in multiple national ad campaigns, notably the Evony: The King's Return Super Bowl 2017 TV spot, boasts brand ambassadorships with Wahl Grooming and Reef Perfumes, and has a line of spirits with his wife, Hilarie Burton.
Melissa McBride had already appeared in prestige shows like Dawson's Creek and major movies such as The Mist, but it was The Walking Dead that pushed her into A-list TV territory.
She joined in season one as Carol Peletier, evolving from a quiet, abused mother into one of the show's toughest and most beloved survivors. A regular from season two onwards, McBride reportedly earned $8,500 per early-season episode and later signed a major deal said to be worth $20 million over three years. She now continues Carol's adventures in the spin-off The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.
British actress Samantha Morton enjoyed an exceptional career long before The Walking Dead, moving effortlessly between acclaimed indie films and TV and cinema blockbusters. Her body of work has earned her two Baftas, a Golden Globe, and multiple Oscar nominations, marking her as one of the most celebrated performers of her generation.
In seasons nine and 10 of the show, Morton played Alpha (aka Dee), the chilling, unforgiving leader of the Whisperers. One of the series' most frightening villains, the character ultimately met a gruesome end courtesy of Negan Smith.
Jon Bernthal appeared in the first two seasons as Shane Walsh, Rick Grimes' hot-headed best friend whose jealousy and paranoia spiraled into attempted murder, ending with Rick killing him in one of the show’s most shocking moments. The role put Bernthal firmly on the map, catching Hollywood's attention and leading to major movie deals, including playing Frank Castle/The Punisher in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and starring in The Accountant 2.
Meanwhile, Bernthal has won strong praise for his post-apocalypse TV work, winning an Emmy for his performance in The Bear. On the commercial side, Bernthal headlined BMW's 2017 short-film series The Escape.
As Rick Grimes, the show’s lead and moral center, Andrew Lincoln became the face of The Walking Dead. Before his departure in season nine, he reportedly earned $650,000 per episode. Lincoln has since reprised the role in spin-off projects.
Before heading to the US for the series, the British actor was a familiar face in the UK, playing Egg in the cult 1990s BBC drama This Life, starring in Channel 4 sitcom Teachers, and appearing in the Richard Curtis movie Love Actually. The Walking Dead took that strong foundation and elevated him to global recognition.
Norman Reedus played Daryl Dixon, the tough but compassionate outsider who became the show's central hero after Rick Grimes' exit. Joining in season one, his pay reportedly jumped from $8,500 per episode to a whopping $1 million once he took the lead in season 10. He now fronts spin-off series The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.
Reedus started out modelling for Prada, Levi's, and other top fashion brands before turning to acting, working largely in indie films until The Walking Dead pushed him into mainstream fame. His bigger profile has since opened the door to lucrative campaigns for Beats Solo2, Dish Network, and more.
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