11 famous actors you forgot were in The Walking Dead

AMC's long-running post-apocalyptic series The Walking Dead served as a platform to launch the careers of several talented actors. While names like Norman Reedus, Andrew Lincoln, Danai Gurira, and more are commonly known for their portrayals of the series' most beloved characters, there are numerous other actors who you may have forgotten who appeared in the storyline of the main series and its spinoffs.

Below is a list of some actors who starred in The Walking Dead universe but are often overlooked. Whether they were seen briefly or for a longer run, it is fun to look back and remember some of the well-known names featured. There is also a long list of cameos featuring many familiar faces.

Ethan Embry

In season 6 of TWD, Embry joined the cast as Carter, a resident of Alexandria who didn't approve of Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) viewpoint on how to survive. Sadly, he is bitten in the face by a walker and put down by Rick.

Embry began his acting career at a young age. One of his first roles was alongside Ed O'Neill in the 1991 road trip comedy Dutch. He has also starred in many other memorable roles, including the cult classic Empire Records, Tom Hanks' That Thing You Do!, Vegas Vacation, an installment of the National Lampoon film series, and the teen comedy Can't Hardly Wait, which featured a cameo from actress Jenna Elfman, known for her role in FTWD.

Alicia Witt

Alicia Witt portrayed Paula, a high-ranking member of Negan's (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) Saviors in season 6. She abducted Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Carol (Melissa McBride), and although she was tough, she was no match for these two. Carol pushes her into a walker, who bites her and Maggie stabs her after she reanimates.

David Lynch is credited with discovering Witt when he cast her in two of his projects, Dune and Twin Peaks. Recently, the actress appeared in the Nicolas Cage horror thriller Longlegs. She is well known for numerous other roles, including Urban Legend, Ally McBeal, Two Weeks Notice, Vanilla Sky, Last Holiday, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Friday Night Lights (series), among others.

Robin Lord Taylor

Robin Lord Taylor appeared briefly in season 4, then again in season 5. He portrayed Sam, who, along with his girlfriend Ana (Brina Palencia), encountered Rick and Carol. Later, the pair discovered the dead body of Ana, but Sam was nowhere to be found. While being held captive at Terminus, the home of a group of cannibals, Sam was reunited with Rick, but the reunion was cut short as Sam was victim to the trough.

Taylor is well known for his portrayal of Oswald Cobblepot in the Fox series Gotham. He has also appeared in many other notable titles, including John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, Accepted, You, Kevin Can F**k Himself, and three Law & Order series: the original, Special Victims Unit, and Organized Crime.

Kirk Acevedo

In season 4 of TWD, Kirk Acevedo was introduced as Mitch Dolgen, brother to Pete (Enver Gjokaj), both members of Martinez's (Jose Pablo Cantillo) group. Martinez was a former member of Woodbury, run by the Governor (David Morrissey), who eventually kills him and Pete.

Mitch comes alongside the Governor to take down the prison where Rick's group resides. Although Mitch appeared to have an advantage by manning a tank, Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) got the better of him and shot him, even though his hands were held up in surrender.

Acevedo has made a name for himself starring in several outstanding series. He played Miguel Alvarez in the HBO series Oz, and appeared alongside fellow TWD alum, Michael Cudlitz, in HBO's Band of Brothers. The actor also portrayed Agent Charles Francis in Fringe, José Ramse on 12 Monkeys, and Ricardo Diaz / The Dragon on Arrow. Most recently, Acevedo appeared in a recurring role in Lioness.

Andrew J. West

Andrew West portrayed Gareth, a member of Terminus, primarily in season 5. This was the group of cannibals who lured unsuspecting survivors to their location with plans to kill and eat them. Rick's group was captured by this group and rescued by Carol, but Gareth was able to flee. He would meet Rick again later in the season when he held up his promise to Gareth when he killed him with a red-handled machete.

West is well known for portraying Henry Mills in Once Upon a Time, Damon in Dead of Summer, and Michael Paxton in Promised Land.

On October 3, 2025, West will appear in Ned Crowley's thriller western, Killing Faith. The movie stars Guy Pearce and Bill Pullman with West's fellow TWD actor Josh McDermitt. Set in 1849, the story follows a widowed doctor who escorts a freed slave and her daughter to the West. The mother seeks a healer, believing her daughter is possessed, but the doctor believes it is a disease that affects her. One thing is certain: everything the child touches dies.

Merritt Wever

Dr. Denise Cloyd was portrayed by Emmy Award-winning actress Merritt Wever. Denise was a member of Alexandria forced to take over the position of doctor when Pete (Corey Brill), the former doctor, was executed by Rick. In the beginning, Denise isn't confident of her medical skills, but over time, she becomes more sure of herself, even saving Carl Gimres (Chandler Riggs) when he is shot in the eye.

This became ironic when Denise, herself, is killed by a crossbow bolt to the eye, a shot taken by Dwight (Austin Amelio).

Wever is well known for her roles in Nurse Jackie, Godless, Welcome to Marwen, and Unbelievable. Her most recent roles include Gretchen Georgia in Apple TV+'s Severance and HBO's The Gilded Age. Her upcoming projects include the Sydney Sweeney-led Christy Martin biopic and the crime drama Primetime starring Robert Pattinson, Phoebe Bridgers, and Sean Bridgers.

Sam Witwer

It took a while for Sam Witwer to be recognized for his role in the series because he portrayed the tank walker seen with Rick in the tank in Atlanta. Rick mistakenly thinks the soldier is dead, and when he awakens, Rick shoots him in the head. Original showrunner, Frank Darabont, pitched a Black Hawk Down story that would have featured the soldier's backstory. Sadly, this never came to be.

Witwer is one of several TWD actors involved in Darabont's The Mist. He is also known for his roles in several Star Wars projects as the voice of Darth Maul and other characters. Recently, he appeared in an episode of season 3 of Prime Video's Leverage Redemption, which stars TWD alum Aldis Hodge.

Kyle Gallner

Kyle Gallner appeared in two episodes of season 4 of TWD as Zach. He was a former member of Woodbury who joined Rick's group at the prison after the fall of that community. He joined Daryl, Michonne (Dania Gurira), and others on a supply run, but he was attacked by a walker, and then the roof collapsed on top of him.

Gallner has made a name for himself in the world of horror, being crowned a Scream King for his roles in the genre. He starred in the 2009 supernatural horror The Haunting in Connecticut, where he portrayed a young man with cancer whose family moves into a new home haunted with supernatural forces. Gallner is well known for his roles in Smile (1 and 2), the 2010 remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Strange Darling, Interrogation, Dinner in America, Outsiders, and more.

Thora Birch

Thora Birch was introduced in season 10 as a member of the Whisperers. She was cunning and ruthless, a perfect personality to come alongside Alpha (Samantha Morton) and her number two, Beta (Ryan Hurst). Dubbed Gamma, she tried to do her best to live the lifestyle Alpha expected from her subjects. She would eventually betray the group and be killed by Beta.

The actress began her career as a child actor, most memorably in Hocus Pocus, Monkey Trouble, and Patriot Games, a role she would reprise for Clear and Present Danger. She appeared in several series during the '80s and '90s, including Day by Day, Doogie Howser MD, and Parenthood. Well known for her roles in Ghost World, American Beauty, and Now and Then, Birch recently appeared in AMC's Mayfair Witches.

Austin Abrams

The role of Ron Anderson, son of Pete and Jessie (Alexandria Breckenridge), was played by Austin Abrams in seasons 5 and 6. He was a punk of a kid whose jealousy of Carl Grimes and need for revenge for his father's death against Rick caused him to accidentally shoot Carl in the eye. This led to Ron's death when Michonne, to protect Rick and Carl, fatally stabbed him with her katana.

Abrams has appeared in numerous movies and shows including Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Do Revenge, Euphoria, This is Us, and co-led the Netflix series Dash & Lily with Midori Francis. Most recently, he starred alongside Brad Pitt and George Clooney in the Apple TV film, Wolfs.

Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams joined the series in season 5 as a character named Noah, who befriended Beth (Emily Kinney) at Grady Memorial Hospital. He was a sweet soul who longed to be reunited with his family, but when he returned home, it was too late. He then joined Rick and his group at Alexandria, where things started to look up for him. Sadly, he was killed when Nicholas (Michael Traynor) made a cowardly move, which cost Noah his life.

The actor rose to prominence for his portrayal of Chris Rock in the CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. He has truly made a name for himself in ABC's Abbott Elementary, where he plays the role of Gregory Eddie. He has won a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award and has been nominated for several others for his performance in that series.