Andrew Lincoln, Steven Yeun, Danai Gurira, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Lauren Cohan are so well known among The Walking Dead fans that they are almost bigger than the show.
This group appeared in more episodes of The Walking Dead than almost every other, and even if they left earlier than anticipated, fans know just what those legends meant to the franchise.
There is a smaller group of Walking Dead cast members who left a huge impression on Walking Dead fans in significantly fewer episodes. I highlighted five Walking Dead stars who mean more to fans, the story, and the series, overall, than they should have in their shorter time on the show compared to the show's biggest stars.
Michael Rooker as Merle Dixon
Episode count: 18 episodes
Michael Rooker plaedy one of the most polarizing characters on The Walking Dead in Daryl Dixon's older brother, Merle. Early in the series, there's no character Walking Dead fans are meant to hate more than Merle Dixon. He's as bad as the walkers themselves, and that's why Rick leaves him handcuffed to a pipe in Atlanta in the show's first season. Merle was only part of two episodes in the show's first season, but he feels so memorable when I look back to that part of the story.
Merle obviously returns in a major way in the third season, and that's the majority of his run in the series at Woodbury and with the Governor. Still, for a character who only appeared in fewer than 20 episodes of the show, Merle is one of the most memorable villainous characters in the show.
Sarah Wayne Callies as Lori Grimes
Episode count: 38 episodes
When you think that Sarah Wayne Callies only played Lori Grimes in less than a fifth of The Walking Dead, it doesn't really make sense. Lori is the sole driver of character development and story for a huge part of the show's first three seasons. We have the love triangle between Rick and Shane that comes to a head in the show's second season, but Lori is also incredibly impactful in everything that happens at the prison.
Well, not everything, right? Lori is killed in just the fourth episode of season 3 giving birth to Judith. In reality, Lori is only a major part of, like, 23 episodes. She does appear in flashbacks and other episodes later in the series, but her major arc ends very early in season 3.
Looking back at the series, it's wild just how big of an impact Lori had in this story. There are characters with dozens more appearance who were not nearly as impactful or memorable. as Lori.
Jon Bernthal as Shane Walsh
Episode count: 22 episodes
Jon Bernthal is the biggest Walking Dead star who has been in the fewest number of episodes, and it's not really that close. Bernthal's character, Shane Walsh, appears in the first 19 episodes of the show before he is killed by Rick Grimes as part of the whole Rick-Lori-Shane love triangle and feud.
He pops up in flashbacks and memories and things like that, which is why he's credited with 22 appearances, but it's basically 19 episodes, ending Shane's arc in the season 2 finale, which also includes the huge walker attack at Hershel's farm.
Bernthal is iconic as Shane, and there's a reason why he's so beloved among Walking Dead fans. Bernthal has gone on to have an epic run as The Punisher in Marvel shows and movies. He also had a good thing going in The Bear, which is one of the best shows on TV.
Tyler James Williams as Noah
Episode count: 12 episodes
Tyler James Williams has gone on to have a massive career after The Walking Dead. He's mostly known for starring in Abbott Elementary along with creator and star Quinta Brunson, but to me, he will forever be Noah from The Walking Dead.
Williams only appeared as Noah in 10 episodes of the series across season 5, with a few appearances in later episodes and flashbacks. But, Noah's death is burned into my brain. The beloved character famously got caught in a revolving door with tons of walkers on one side. Nicholas betrays Noah and forces Noah's side of the door open to the walkers while Nicholas saves himself.
This is one of the most gruesome deaths in the show's history, which is saying a lot because there are so many gruesome deaths.
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