With The Walking Dead being one of the most iconic shows of the 21st century, it's no surprise it had some great actors, but some casting decisions completely redefined the series. While many of The Walking Dead's best characters, like Rick Grimes and Michonne Hawthorne, were portrayed by incredible actors, their comic stories already confirmed they'd be a massive part of the TV adaptation. Although these casting choices were still pivotal to the show's success, The Walking Dead managed to secure several names that helped make the series stand out from its source material and become such a huge hit.
Whether it be unique takes on comic survivors, or brand-new additions entirely, these actors helped bring something completely fresh to the TV show, which surprised even the most loyal comic book readers. Although The Walking Dead wasted some potentially great characters during its run, it made up for it by nailing some of its casting choices, which have allowed the franchise to remain relevant today. While some of these performances did lead to controversy for the show, they were undoubtedly a key part of The Walking Dead's identity and helped change the series forever.
8 Seth Gilliam (Gabriel Stokes)
Gabriel Became A Central Character In AMC's The Walking Dead
Despite being one of The Walking Dead's most hated supporting characters when he first debuted, Gabriel Stokes won viewers over and had a solid redemption arc that wouldn't have been possible without Seth Gilliam. Although Gabriel became more tolerable in the comics, his involvement was nowhere near as important as it was on the show. Gilliam's incredible performance made it easy to root against Gabriel initially when he was a cowardly and selfish survivor, but the more he got to flesh out the character and add his own spin to it, the more crucial and likable Gabriel became.
The actor did a great job of adding a savage and merciless side to Gabriel, leading to some unexpectedly cruel moments. However, Gilliam didn't completely abandon Father Gabriel's religious side and showcased him still trying to be a good man for his loved ones, leading to an incredibly complex portrayal of the survivor. Casting Gilliam as Gabriel helped make him an established character who is one of the most useful survivors still alive in the series, and he even appeared in The Ones Who Live, proving how important he is to the franchise, thanks to an incredible performance.
7 Cailey Fleming (Judith Grimes)
Judith Barely Featured In The Walking Dead Comics
The Walking Dead's decision to make Judith a main character was always going to be a major change from the comics, but casting Cailey Fleming helped completely redefine the show. Given the bad reaction to Carl's Walking Dead death from audiences, it seemed like the series may never recover from such a huge blunder, especially as he was supposed to be the one to take over from Rick. However, opting to bring Cailey Fleming into the cast added a completely new dynamic to the series that redefined the entire franchise, since she became a suitable replacement.
While audiences were sad to see Rick's first child killed off, Chandler Riggs' portrayal of Carl wasn't always popular in the early seasons. In contrast, Judith was easy to like the moment Fleming was given regular appearances, and she is one of the best young actors on the show. Although Rick is still alive in the TV universe, Judith looks like she could be his future successor, which will be a defining moment for the franchise. Fleming fits perfectly into The Walking Dead world, and her character feels like one of the most important survivors, making her a great addition.
6 Lennie James (Morgan Jones)
James Was Pivotal To Branching Out AMC's Walking Dead Universe
As the first survivor Rick ever meets, Morgan is naturally an important character in The Walking Dead, but Lennie James' iteration of the survivor changed the show forever. James was able to nail both the calm, pacifist version of Morgan, alongside his more unhinged and violent arc. In addition, his performance made Morgan an irreplaceable character, which allowed him to stick around for even longer than expected. He proved so popular that he even appeared in Fear The Walking Dead and helped expand the universe further, showing how much trust The Walking Dead put in the actor.
Morgan's love from the fans also made every return in the main series incredibly memorable and still has viewers desperate to see him reunite with the protagonist. Although The Walking Dead has teased Morgan's return, he hasn't been among the main survivors in years, but James has done such a phenomenal job with the character that the overall story will feel incomplete without him getting some closure. Morgan was always supposed to be a major survivor, but casting Lennie James made him one of the franchise's most iconic characters, and he completely redefined the series.
5 Pollyanna McIntosh (Anne AKA Jadis Stokes)
Jadis Has Been A Big Part Of Multiple Important Storylines
Jadis is a character that often splits opinions, but there is no denying how big a role she had on the show thanks to Pollyanna McIntosh. Initially introduced as a minor antagonist who wasn't in the comics, Jadis led the Scavengers and seemed like she wouldn't be around for too long. However, despite betraying Rick and his group twice, Jadis not only survived, but she became an integral part of the show. Alongside having a small redemption arc, the character appeared in both World Beyond and The Ones Who Live, making her a key survivor in the TV universe.
Had it not been for McIntosh's casting, it's likely the character would have been pretty forgettable and one-dimensional, but the actress nailed the role and made Jadis one of the most intriguing people on the show. Although Jadis' Walking Dead streak ended in The Ones Who Live after being killed off, she was a surprisingly big part of the overall story and will forever be remembered among fans. Her presence in the series always added a level of uncertainty and mystery that few other characters provided, and none of it would have been possible without Pollyanna McIntosh.
4 Steven Yeun (Glenn Rhee)
Steven Yeun's Performance Made Glenn's Death Very Controversial
Glenn's Walking Dead death is one of the most infamous moments in TV history, but Steven Yeun was a big factor behind it being so impactful. The character suffered the same fate in the comics, meaning many fans thought they were prepared to see him go, but this clearly wasn't the case. His demise caused outrage among viewers, and the reason Glenn's Walking Dead death hurt so much was because of how likable Yeun was in the role. He was the heart and soul of the TV show, and many viewers related to him, making his death incredibly painful.
The gore and brutality also added to the controversy, but Glenn's death was a major turning point for the series and many viewers cited it as the reason they stopped watching. With the character being extremely charming and a true underdog, people were desperate to see him succeed, making his final moments a real gut punch. Yeun's chemistry with Lauren Cohan also made Glenn and Maggie's relationship one of the most wholesome dynamics on the show, and once the character was gone, it became near impossible to replace him, cementing Yeun's importance to the franchise.
3 Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Negan Smith)
Negan Was Able To Get A More Fleshed Out Redemption Arc Thanks To Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Hiring Jeffrey Dean Morgan is easily one of The Walking Dead's most important casting decisions, as he allowed the show to explore its biggest villain's nicer side. Negan is undoubtedly one of the franchise's most despicable characters, but his redemption arc in the series surpasses the comics, and it has helped him become one of the show's most significant survivors. Jeffrey Dean Morgan's charisma was crucial to the character standing out so much and coming across as a menacing yet compelling antagonist, but the actor's range has also made Negan multidimensional, resulting in him massively changing the show.
Rather than audiences constantly rooting against him, he somewhat integrated into the main group, and while he was never truly accepted, he managed to win over some respect. Morgan's exceptional performance even led to him starring in his own spinoff alongside Lauren Cohan, and with Negan potentially becoming a villain in Dead City season 2, he continues to be the franchise's most unpredictable character. There is no doubt The Walking Dead would look completely different without Jeffrey Dean Morgan and had the show opted to cast someone else, Negan may have already been killed off by now.
2 Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier)
Carol's Comic & TV Arcs Portrayals Are Completely Different
Given Carol had one of the strangest character arcs in the comics, her amazing run on the TV show is a testament to how important Melissa McBride's casting was. In the comics, the character is written out pretty quickly in a bizarre storyline and she didn't get a chance to develop. Even though the show probably wanted to change Carol's story from the get-go, it's hard to imagine The Walking Dead planned on her being one of the franchise's most influential characters, as she is one of the few survivors to still be alive after debuting in season 1.
Additionally, Carol has played a crucial part in some major storylines, such as the Terminus escape, the battle against the Wolves, and the Whisperer War. Carol will also explore France in Daryl Dixon season 2, showing how valuable she is to the series even over a decade after her introduction. Had it not been for McBride getting the absolute best out of the character, it's hard to imagine Carol would have been anything more than a supporting character. She definitely wouldn't have become so important, meaning casting McBride could be one of The Walking Dead's greatest decisions ever.
1 Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon)
Reedus Helped Daryl Become One Of The Walking Dead's Most Important Characters Despite Not Appearing In The Comics
While there may be some debate on the number two spot, there is no denying that securing Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon is the show's most influential casting decision. Given Daryl wasn't in The Walking Dead comics and was supposed to have a small role in the show, it seems a miracle he's alive 14 years later, but that's down to Reedus. The character became an instant fan favorite, meaning writing him out early would've been a huge mistake. Although the series could've easily used him for a big death at any point, keeping him around was far more valuable.
During Andrew Lincoln's five-year absence, Reedus stepped up and Daryl became the face of The Walking Dead, and essentially its protagonist. He even got his own solo spinoff show - the first character to ever do so - highlighting how much faith the franchise has in Daryl and Reedus. Considering what his original role was supposed to be, no one could have anticipated Daryl becoming one of The Walking Dead's best characters, but thanks to the actor's brilliant performance, Daryl completely redefined the series and caused some big changes, showcasing how influential Reedus' casting was.
