From the moment The Walking Dead premiered, it became clear that this was a show unlike anything else on television. It didn’t care about your comfort, your favorites, or your emotional stability. No character, no matter how beloved, iconic, or essential, was ever truly safe. Week after week, fans tuned in with their hearts in their throats, knowing that anyone could fall victim to the unforgiving brutality of the apocalypse.
This unpredictability became one of the show's greatest strengths. But while the series was famous for swinging the axe on its own terms, there was one major exception that stood out. In a show known for taking characters away through shocking deaths and dramatic twists, there came a moment when the decision didn’t come from the writers’ room or the story itself. Instead, it came from one of the stars.
The Walking Dead actor Jeffrey DeMunn chose to exit the show early
This is true. One of the earliest and most heartbreaking deaths in The Walking Dead wasn’t the result of a plot twist, creative direction, or fan backlash. It came from Jeffrey DeMunn himself, aka the talented actor who brought Dale Horvath to life.
Back in 2018, DeMunn spoke with Cleveland.com via a telephone interview and opened up about the real reason behind his sudden departure. The reason had nothing to do with the story and everything to do with loyalty and personal conviction.
In the interview, he revealed that he was devastated by how Frank Darabont, the series’ original showrunner and one of DeMunn’s closest collaborators, had been pushed out by AMC. The two had worked together for years, building a creative bond through projects like The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Mist. But in July 2011, Darabont was let go from his position due to behind-the-scenes conflicts with AMC.
So when Darabont was abruptly removed from The Walking Dead, DeMunn decided to take his exit as well. He described feeling completely shaken by Darabont's firing, to the point where he said he “spent a week not being able to take a full breath.”
As the weight became too much, he suddenly had an epiphany. He didn’t have to stay on a show that no longer aligned with his principles or loyalty to a friend. With clarity and resolve, he contacted the show's creative team and made the decision to leave, telling them, “It’s a zombie show. Kill me. I don’t want to do this anymore.” And that's exactly what they did.
In The Walking Dead season 2, episode 11, Dale meets a brutal end after being ambushed and disemboweled by a walker in an open field. After suffering fatal injuries, Daryl delivers a mercy killing by shooting him in the head.
This is a huge change from the comics. In the graphic novels, Dale survives the farm storyline and is later bitten by a walker before being partly eaten by cannibals. After passing away from the bite, Andrea then shoots him in the head to prevent him from turning into a walker. So, Dale would have likely died in the show anyway. However, it just wouldn't have happened so early.
All 11 seasons of The Walking Dead are available to stream on Netflix.