The Walking Dead cast looks nothing like their zombie-apocalypse characters off screen, and most of the ten leads are still working in 2026, from Norman Reedus in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon to Steven Yeun, an Emmy winner for Beef. AMC’s original series ran from 2010 to 2022. This updated list covers ten main actors, what they have done since, and where you can see them now.
| # | Actor | Character | Latest verified work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Tom Payne | Paul “Jesus” Rovia | Recurring in Law & Order: Organized Crime |
| 9 | Alanna Masterson | Tara Chambler | Directed short film for Tribeca 2026 |
| 8 | Christian Serratos | Rosita Espinosa | Played Selena in Selena: The Series |
| 7 | Sonequa Martin-Green | Sasha Williams | Star Trek: Discovery lead |
| 6 | Melissa McBride | Carol Peletier | The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon |
| 5 | Steven Yeun | Glenn Rhee | Beef, Emmy winner |
| 4 | Danai Gurira | Michonne | The Ones Who Live writer, Black Panther |
| 3 | Lauren Cohan | Maggie Greene | The Walking Dead: Dead City |
| 2 | Norman Reedus | Daryl Dixon | Daryl Dixon, Death Stranding 2 |
| 1 | Andrew Lincoln | Rick Grimes | The Ones Who Live (2024) |
10. Tom Payne (as Paul “Jesus” Rovia)
English actor Tom Payne trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and joined The Walking Dead in season 6 as Jesus, the Hilltop scout with long hair and a full beard. Off screen he is clean-shaven and a regular in tailored suits.
After the show he played Malcolm Bright in Prodigal Son from 2019 to 2021 and has had a recurring role in Law & Order: Organized Crime.
9. Alanna Masterson (as Tara Chambler)
Alanna Masterson joined in season 4 and became a regular in season 5. On screen Tara ties her hair back and wears worn-out clothes, a world away from her red-carpet looks.
She is now credited as Alanna Longo and has directed her first short, Am I A Bad Person?, selected for the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival’s narrative shorts.
8. Christian Serratos (as Rosita Espinosa)
Serratos played Rosita from season 4, after earlier roles in Twilight and Nickelodeon’s Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.
After the show she starred as Tejano singer Selena in Netflix’s Selena: The Series in 2020 and 2021.
7. Sonequa Martin-Green (as Sasha Williams)
Sonequa Martin-Green played Sasha before moving to Star Trek, where she starred as Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery. She studied theatre at the University of Alabama, graduating in 2007.
6. Melissa McBride (as Carol Peletier)
Melissa McBride began in a minor role and became one of the show’s core cast, one of only two actors in every season. She now stars with Norman Reedus in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, which began in 2023.
5. Steven Yeun (as Glenn Rhee)
Steven Yeun was Glenn from 2010 to 2016, then became the franchise’s biggest awards success. He was the first East Asian American nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, for Minari, and won Emmys for producing and starring in Netflix’s Beef in 2023. Time named him to its 100 most influential list in 2021.
4. Danai Gurira (as Michonne)
Danai Gurira is also Okoye in the Marvel films, and she is a playwright whose work includes Eclipsed, nominated for six Tony Awards. She wrote an episode of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, and has been a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador since 2018.
3. Lauren Cohan (as Maggie Greene)
Lauren Cohan played Maggie from 2011 to 2018 and again from 2020 to 2022. She returns as Maggie in The Walking Dead: Dead City, which started in 2023 and focuses on Maggie and Negan.
2. Norman Reedus (as Daryl Dixon)
Norman Reedus has played Daryl since 2010, and now leads The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023 to present). He hosts AMC’s Ride with Norman Reedus and starred in the video game Death Stranding 2: On the Beach in 2025.
1. Andrew Lincoln (as Rick Grimes)
Andrew Lincoln was the lead as Rick Grimes from 2010 to 2018, returned for the 2022 series finale, and reprised Rick in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live in 2024. He won the Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television in 2015 and 2017, and was in Love Actually before the show.
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FAQ
Are the Walking Dead actors still working?
Yes. Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride star in Daryl Dixon, Lauren Cohan is in Dead City, and Steven Yeun won Emmys for Beef.
When did The Walking Dead end?
The original series ran from 2010 to 2022. Spin-offs continue.
Which spin-offs exist?
Fear the Walking Dead, World Beyond, Tales of the Walking Dead, Dead City, Daryl Dixon and The Ones Who Live.
Who was the lead of The Walking Dead?
Andrew Lincoln played Rick Grimes.
Did Steven Yeun win an Oscar?
No. He was nominated for Best Actor for Minari but won Emmys for Beef.
Did Danai Gurira write for the franchise?
Yes. She wrote an episode of The Ones Who Live.
Last updated: October 2026.
