Earlier this month, The Walking Dead fans were shocked to learn that Scott Wilson, the 76-year-old actor who played Hershel Greene on the AMC zombie series, had died following a battle with cancer. The announcement of his passing was made only an hour after showrunner Angela Kang revealed to a New York Comic-Con crowd that Wilson, who also gave a Golden Globe-nominated performance in The Ninth Configuration, will appear in season nine (despite his character having been killed by The Governor in season four).
Danai Gurira (Michonne) paid tribute to her former co-star with a touching tribute on Twitter. “It is almost impossible to describe how I feel about this man. He was beyond a hero, beyond a gem, he was the dearest treasure one could hope to know,” she wrote. “I am so thankful to have had the honor to work with him & to call him my friend. RIP Mr Wilson, your light has enriched us all.”
It is almost impossible to describe how I feel about this man. He was beyond a hero, beyond a gem, he was the dearest treasure one could hope to know. I am so thankful to have had the honor to work with him & to call him my friend. RIP Mr Wilson, your light has enriched us all. pic.twitter.com/jEXKQKJgtt
— Danai Gurira (@DanaiGurira) October 12, 2018
Lauren Cohan (Maggie) remembered her on-screen father with an Instagram photo, while Emily Kinney (Beth) wrote, “The best tv dad a girl could ask for. An amazing actor, inspiration, and friend. Love you, Scott. I miss you. RIP.”
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Other fond remembrances include Khary Payton (King Ezekiel) recalling the first time he met Wilson (“He gave me a big hug and said that this thing I had become apart of… was a family”), Tom Payne (Jesus) calling him an “absolute legend,” Chandler Riggs (Carl) revealing what they said to each other every time they were on set together (“My main squiz”), and executive producer Gale Ann Hurd tweeting that “we in #TheWalkingDeadFamily are truly grief stricken.”
The first time I met Scott Wilson, he gave me a big hug and said that this thing I had become apart of… was a family. He said I had a responsibility to take care of it. I have tried very hard to do that, sir. & I will continue. I promise. See you on the other side, my friend. pic.twitter.com/EhMm0dQbtx
— Khary Payton (@kharypayton) October 7, 2018
Goodbye Scott Wilson you absolute legend x
— Tom Payne (@justanactor) October 7, 2018
Scott was one of the greats, both as an actor and a man. We in #TheWalkingDeadFamily are truly grief stricken. He lived life to the fullest with his true love, his wife Heavenly. He is now a shining star in heaven spreading kindness and light forever. #RIP #ScottWilson https://t.co/aba9IzvUAB
— Gale Anne Hurd (@GunnerGale) October 7, 2018