Remembering Walking Dead icon Larry Mainland

The Walking Dead universe is full of unsung heroes. Those people behind the scenes, in the background, or in the forefront but unrecognizable because of the fantastic SFX transformations into walkers. One said hero is Larry Mainland, a man often used as a Featured and Promotional Zombie for The Walking Dead series.

On June 15, Larry’s wife, Rhonda, shared the heartbreaking news that Larry had gone on to his heavenly home after triple Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. Larry and his family had been on vacation when he started to feel poorly and eventually landed in the ER for chest pains. Please think of his wife, sons, daughter and other family friends and fans as they deal with their loss.

According to Larry’s website, he was born in Charleston, SC, and most recently resided in Georgia. When his youngest son was diagnosed with a brain tumor, Larry chose to step away from his brokerage business and take care of his son. After his son’s health began progressing, he longed for something exciting to occupy his time. At the suggestion of a friend, he applied to be a zombie on a new series called The Walking Dead. He received a call back in less than five minutes as he possessed the look they were searching for.

The Walking Dead – Larry Mainland

Mainland and Sonya Thompson are two of the originals walkers, and they were used in much of the promotion ahead of the series premiere.

Mainland was dubbed “The GQ Zombie” after his world-famous appearance in GQ Magazine. His Walking Dead Walker image was used to promote the series before its premiere and was widely used by AMC in the US and over 140 countries across the globe. In addition to GQ, he has also been featured in Entertainment Weekly, the number one sci-fi magazine in the UK, SFX, I Am Me Magazine, Stiff and Zombie Nation. His walker image has been used for shirts, buttons, board games, and Xbox Live.

Here are Mainland, Thompson, and others at the Alabama Phonix Festival talking about the anatomy of a zombie. via Nathan Young 

Mainland has several credits to his name, including The Carbonaro Effect, Goosebumps, Resurrection, TheSIck, Lawless, Level Up, Contagion and more.

We must remember TWD Family members like Larry Mainland as they have played an essential role in the fandom. He has accumulated quite the following of fans who were extremely sad to learn of his passing. We can keep his memory alive by honoring his contribution to The Walking Dead universe.

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