The Walking Dead: Dead City – Guide to Returning Cast and New Characters

The Walking Dead: Dead City – An Overview

The highly anticipated spinoff miniseries, The Walking Dead: Dead City, revitalizes the franchise by reintroducing beloved characters alongside new faces. Set in the aftermath of the original series, it centers on Negan (portrayed by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan). Their journey takes them to the treacherous streets of New York City in a desperate attempt to rescue Maggie’s son, Hershel Rhee (Logan Kim), who has been kidnapped by a formidable foe known as “The Croat.” With the city rapidly succumbing to hordes of walkers and anarchic gangs, the stakes have never been higher.

This miniseries marks a significant evolution in the narrative arc of The Walking Dead franchise, being the first direct sequel to the original series and the fifth television iteration overall, following Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and Tales of the Walking Dead. While the original show explored the overarching themes of survival and community, Dead City distinguishes itself as a mission-driven saga with direct objectives for its characters.

Lauren Cohan as Maggie Greene

Date of Birth: January 7, 1982

Actor: Lauren Cohan reprises her iconic role as Maggie Greene in The Walking Dead: Dead City. With a career predominantly defined by this character, Cohan has also gained recognition for her performances as Bela Talbot in Supernatural, Rose in The Vampire Diaries, and Vivian in Chuck. Her film credits include a part in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the horror-themed The Boy.

Notable Lauren Cohan Role	Movie/TV Show	Year
Beautiful Talbot	Supernatural	2007-2008
Rose	The Vampire Diaries	2010-2012
Vivian	Chuck	2011
Frankie Trowbridge	Whiskey Cavalier	2019
Greta Evans	The Boy	2016

Character: Maggie made her debut in season 2 of the original series, experiencing tremendous character growth throughout her journey. Her relationship with Glenn served as a pivotal narrative point, especially in her conflicts with Negan after his tragic actions. In The Walking Dead: Dead City, Maggie embarks on an emotionally charged adventure that sees her reassessing her complicated feelings towards Negan as she navigates the chaos of New York City.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan Smith

Date of Birth: April 22, 1966

Actor: Before joining The Walking Dead, Jeffrey Dean Morgan had a robust acting career; however, his portrayal of Negan has been monumental in defining his subsequent roles. Morgan’s previous performances include notable appearances in Supernatural, Grey’s Anatomy, and films like Watchmen where he played the Comedian.

Notable Jeffrey Dean Morgan Role	Movie/TV Show	Year
The Comedian	Watchmen	2009
John Winchester	Supernatural	2005-2007, 2019
Denny Duquette	Grey’s Anatomy	2006-2009
Jason Crouse	The Good Wife	2015-2016
Joe Kessler	The Boys	2024

Character: Negan is a complex character marked by his past as a ruthless sociopath and the former leader of the Saviors. Despite his violent history—including the deaths of significant characters like Glenn and Abraham—Negan undergoes a profound transformation, revealing layers of vulnerability and remorse. However, as the first season of The Walking Dead: Dead City unfolds, the temptation to revert to his old ways remains a constant struggle.

Logan Kim as Hershel Rhee

Date of Birth: March 7, 2007

Actor: Hershel Rhee is now portrayed by Logan Kim, marking a significant development from Kien Michael Spiller’s performance in the original series. This is Kim’s second notable role after appearing as Podcast in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which he will continue in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in 2024.

Character: As Maggie and Glenn’s son, Hershel is one of the series’ most compelling new protagonists. Previously safe with Maggie during The Walking Dead, the plot shifts dramatically as he is kidnapped by “The Croat” and taken to New York. Hershel’s journey and transformation significantly impact Maggie’s perception of her world and the reality of their circumstances.

Gaius Charles as Perlie Armstrong

Date of Birth: May 2, 1983

Actor: Gaius Charles takes on the role of Perlie Armstrong, one of the series’ primary antagonists with a rich background. Notably recognized for his role as Brian “Smash” Williams in Friday Night Lights, Charles has played various tough characters, including Dr. Shane Ross in Grey’s Anatomy.

Notable Gaius Charles Role	Movie/TV Show	Year
Brian “Smash”Williams	Friday Night Lights	2006-2008
Dr. Shane Ross	Grey’s Anatomy	2012-2014
Bunchy Carter	Aquarius	2015-2016

Character: Perlie Armstrong begins his narrative arch as an antagonist in The Walking Dead: Dead City. However, his complex motivations hint at a deeper storyline that could evolve significantly, particularly as he pursues Negan alongside the ongoing search for Hershel.

Zeljko Ivanek as “The Croat”

Date of Birth: August 15, 1957

Actor: Zeljko Ivanek steps into the role of The Croat, bringing a wealth of experience to the character. Known for playing morally ambiguous roles, Ivanek’s previous credits include notable performances in 24, Oz, and Damages, the latter of which earned him an Emmy award.

Notable Zeljko Ivanek Role	Movie/TV Show	Year
Andre Drazen	24	2002
Governor James Devlin	Oz	1997-2003
Ray Fish	Damages	2007-2010

Character: The Croat serves as the primary antagonist in The Walking Dead: Dead City. Once affiliated with Negan’s faction, the Saviors, he defected to form his own malicious group in Manhattan, instigating fear and chaos as he seeks to capture Hershel and confront Negan.

Lisa Emery as The Dama

Date of Birth: January 29, 1952

Actor: Lisa Emery plays The Dama, a formidable leader among the competing gangs in post-apocalyptic Manhattan. Emery is acclaimed for her previous role as Darlene Snell in Ozark, propelling her into more prominent projects.

Character: The Dama is a key figure in the power struggle exemplifying the dangerous new landscape where human adversaries pose an equal threat to walkers. As the season concludes, her role is poised for further exploration in season two.

The Walking Dead: Dead City Supporting Characters

Supporting Cast Highlights:

Jonathan Higginbotham as Tommaso: A survivor with a growing list of credits, including roles on The Blacklist.
Mahina Napoleon as Ginny: Making her mark in this series after a stint in NCIS: Hawai’i.
Trey Santiago-Hudson as Jano: Previously seen in New Amsterdam and You Hurt My Feelings.
Michael Anthony as Luther: Gaining popularity from shows like Raising Dion and Chicago Med.
Karina Ortiz as Amaia: Notable for her previous roles in Orange is the New Black.
Others: The cast also includes Alex Borlo as The Prostitute, David Chen as Gritz, Randy Gonzalez as Hunched Man, Alex Huynh as Key Swallow, Aixa Kendrick as Scavenger Woman, Caleb Reese Paul as Wesley, Eleanor Reissa as Esther, and John Wu as Mr. Aizawa.

As The Walking Dead: Dead City evolves, its character dynamics and plot intricacies promise to captivate both new and long-time fans of this thriving franchise.

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