The Walking Dead fans are mourning the loss of yet another beloved member of the franchise that has united fans across the globe.
On Sept. 11, 2025, actor Emmanuel Karsen sadly passed away at the age of 62. His death was confirmed by his agent Audrey Pécôme, who announced the tragic news in a statement to AFP, announcing that Karsen had passed away from an unspecified illness.
Days before his death, Karsen posted a photo taken from the window of a hospital room, writing, “Another hospital, thank you for the morphine and your kindness.” The post was accompanied by the caption, “All you need is love.”
Karsen is best known internationally for spending the last 15 years voicing Daryl Dixon across The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon as the French voice actor for the character. It’s a role that was near and dear to Karsen’s heart, and a role that he never took for granted. This was a sentiment echoed by the artistic director of the French edition of The Walking Dead Benoît Dupac in a tribute shared on social media.
“I’ve often told you that no one else could dub this actor like you. It’s been 15 years since we started The Walking Dead adventure. I didn’t give you this role by chance; I knew you would make it sublime,” he wrote.
It appears that Karsen had completed work on the third season before his passing, but it’s unknown who will succeed him in taking on the role of Daryl in the fourth and final season.
While Karsen is best known to audiences for his work on The Walking Dead, voicing Daryl for the last 15 years, he has a long history in the industry with 250 credits to his name across his voice acting and behind the camera.. In addition to serving as the French voice actor for Norman Reedus, Karsen also served as the French-speaking voice of Sean Penn and Brad Pitt.
It’s unclear whether the creative team behind The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon will find a way to honor Karsen’s contributions to the franchise with a dedication at the conclusion of an episode. Regardless, tributes have been pouring in from fans who have taken to social media to celebrate the beloved member of the franchise.
“Rest in peace Emmanuel Karsen, thank you for these amazing years,” wrote one fan. Echoed another, “This is one of my favorite French voices. Peace to his soul.”
In paying tribute, a fan account for The Walking Dead Universe France unearthed a sweet photo of Karsen and Reedus taken a few years back. The touching tribute also included a clip in which Karsen spoke about playing the role internationally as the French dub actor.
On behalf of the team at Undead Walking, our thoughts and condolences are with Karsen's family and friends during this difficult time. While we might not have gotten to appreciate his work stateside, he helped bring Daryl to life for millions of fans and holds a special place in the hearts of so many fans across the globe.