Who was Beta in The Walking Dead?
By Renee Hansen
The Walking Dead series had much to live up to in casting for the iconic comic book characters. Many of these characters had distinct costumes or features that fans were anxious to see come alive on screen. Examples of these characters are Ezekiel (Khary Payton), Princess (Paolo Lázaro), and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), to only name a few. One character perfectly cast was Beta, Alpha’s (Samantha Morton) right-hand man.
In the comic book, Beta always wears a mask of skin, which is the trademark of the Whisperers, that only hides the top portion of his face. When Ryan Hurst was cast in this role, fans went wild at the thought of the imposing Hurst playing Beta, who is seven feet tall in the comics. Hurst stands at 6′ 6″.
The result was better than expected. Just look at him!
Beta on The Walking Dead
Beta was a formidable figure as the second in command of the Whisperers. You didn’t want to cross him as you never knew how he would react. He is a brutal sociopathic man devoted to the Whisperer’s way of life.
We also find out that Beta in the series is a celebrity like his comic book counterpart, a famous basketball player turned actor. In the series, he is the singer Half Moon, who Alpha and Negan recognize. Half Moon is the only character to appear in all three of The Walking Dead universe series. In The Walking Dead, as the main antagonist, in Fear the Walking Dead on one of Daniel’s album covers, and in World Beyond on one of Dennis’ album covers.
Ryan Hurst – The Walking Dead
Hurst is well-known for his role as Opie Winston on the FX series Sons of Anarchy. Although Hurst has been an actor most of his life, this role propelled him to the spotlight. His portal of Opie earned him the 2011 Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film.
He is also known for his roles in Remember the Titans, Taken, We Were Soldiers, Saving Private Ryan, and The Ladykillers. His other TV roles have been in Bates Motel, Outsiders, Bosch, Paradise City, S.W.A.T., and The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Hurst also voiced Thor in the new video game God of War: Ragnarök and portrays Milligan in The Mysterious Benedict Society. Next, he will star in the movie Desperation Road, a Southern noir thriller that also stars Mel Gibson.
An interesting bit of trivia, his father is Rick Hurst, who portrayed Cletus in The Dukes of Hazzard series.
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