Does the Governor (David Morrissey) die in The Walking Dead?

British actor David Morrissey has been praised for his thorough research and preparation for his roles and has been called the most versatile English actor of his generation by the British Film Institute. Morrissey put his skills to the test in his portrayal of the Governor, one of the most evil villains in The Walking Dead universe, during seasons 3 and 4. How and when did he die?

The Governor, aka Philip Blake, aka Brian Heriot, took on many names during his storyline, but as the Governor, he ruled over the town of Woodbury. His outward personality was that of a man working for the greater good of the community, while behind closed doors, he was a vastly different person.

He lost control when he allowed his obsession with killing Rick (Andrew Lincoln) to take over the prison and seek revenge on Michonne (Danai Gurira), who took his eye and killed his walker daughter, to consume him. His obsession took over, which in turn saw him make significant mistakes; the first was underestimating Rick and his group.

Walking Dead's Governor's death

During season 4, episode 8, "Too Far Gone," the Governor would once again try to take down the prison. He felt he had the upper hand when he abducted Hershel (Scott Wilson) and Michonne, but when Rick wouldn't bow to his demands, he decapitated Hershel. This led to a battle between the Governor's people and Rick's. He meets his end at the hands of Michonne (Danai Gurira), who leaves him to die in agony. But Lilly (Audrey Marie Anderson), a woman he lied to and worse, later finds him and shoots him in the head.

The Governor ranks as one of the top villains in TWDU, and his comic counterpart was even worse. In my opinion, he is the most evil, as Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) experienced a redemption arc proving he could change. I don't believe the Governor would have ever taken steps to redeem himself, as he had the opportunity when Lilly and her sister Tara (Alanna Masterson) gave him a second chance to become a better person. Alpha (Samantha Morton) is one of the other top villains, and it would have been interesting to see Alpha vs. the Governor.

Morrissey did a fantastic job bringing this character to life and portraying him as a worthy opponent of Rick Grimes. Check out the Tribute to the Governor video below featuring cast and crew commentary.

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