Many actors have appeared in both theMarvel Cinematic UniverseandThe Walking Deadshared universe over the years, but you might have forgotten that some of these talented stars showed up in both franchises. TheMCU andThe Walking Deadare wildly different from each other, but both have become the biggest franchises in their respective genres. This has made both a powerful draw for many actors working in TV and Hollywood, which has meant that the MCU andThe Walking Deadhave, at times, shared performers.
While it’s easy to remember some actors who’ve appeared in both the MCU andThe Walking Dead(and its spinoffs), others are easily forgotten.The likes of Jon Bernthal, Danai Gurira, Lauren Ridloff and Michael Rooker all had important roles inThe Walking Deadbefore crossing over for just as pivotal roles in the MCU, but not everyone has had this honor. Some familiarMarvel stars have had key roles inThe Walking Dead, but several have had smaller or hidden roles that mean they’re more likely to go unnoticed.
12Maximiliano Hernández
Jasper Sitwell In The MCU (2011-2019) & Bob Lamson In The Walking Dead
Maximiliano Hernández is one of the few actors shared byThe Walking Deadand the MCU to appear in the latter first, as he made his MCU debut as SHIELD Agent Jasper Sitwell in 2012’sThe Avengers.Hernández went on to appear as Sitwell inCaptain America: The Winter SoldierandAvengers: Endgame, while he also starred inAgents of SHIELD, which isn’t considered canonto the MCU. Sitwell was outed as a HYDRA loyalist in the MCU, and he appeared as a similar antagonist inThe Walking Deadseason 5.
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Maximiliano Hernández appeared as Grady Memorial Hospital police officer Bob Lamson inThe Walking Deadseason 5, episode 7, “Crossed,” and episode 8, “Coda.“Lamson was taken hostage by Rick Grimes' group in hopes of trading him for Beth Greene, who had spent the first half of the season at Grady Memorial Hospital under the thumb of Dawn Lerner. Rick killed Lamson when he tried to escape, marking the same tragic fate as Jasper Sitwell in the MCU, who was killed by the Winter Soldier back in 2014.
11Kerry Condon
FRIDAY In The MCU (2015-2019) & Clara In The Walking Dead
Irish actor Kerry Condon had a small but crucial role inThe Walking Deadseason 4, asshe appeared as Clara, who tried to deliver Rick Grimes to her undead husband, and presented a moral dilemma to Rick throughout the season. Clara was a tragic and traumatized character inThe Walking Dead, but her role in the MCU was wildly different, and easy to forget. Condon has never physically appeared in the MCU, but voicedTony Stark’s replacement AI, FRIDAY, fromAvengers: Age of UltrontoAvengers: Endgame.
Tony Stark installed FRIDAY into his suits after JARVIS was used to create part of the Vision’s consciousness, with Paul Bettany finally getting a physical role in the MCU.FRIDAY supported Iron Man through the Battle of Sokovia, the Avengers' Civil War and the last stand against Thanos duringInfinity WarandEndgame’svarious fights. This was a much longer-running role for Kerry Condon than her appearance inThe Walking Dead, though, arguably, Clara has a more important role inThe Walking Deadthan FRIDAY did in the MCU.
10Colby Minifie
Robyn In Jessica Jones Season 1 (2015) & Virginia In Fear The Walking Dead
Best known for her role as Ashley Barrett inThe BoysandGen V, Colby Minifie has also appeared both in the MCU and inThe Walking Dead’sfirst spinoff,Fear the Walking Dead.Minifie starred as Robyn, Jessica Jones' neighbor, in five episodes of Netflix’sJessica Jonesseason 1, part of theDefenders Saga that has now been confirmed to be canonto the MCU. Robyn’s brother, Ruben, was forced to kill himself by Kilgrave, and Robyn blamed Jessica Jones before experiencing Kilgrave’s power for herself and learning the error of her ways.
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Jon Bernthal
Colby Minifie’s role inFear the Walking Deadwas wildly different, as she played the primary antagonist for the second half of season 5 and the first half of season 6. Virginia was the former leader of the Pioneers and the guardian of their headquarters in Lawton, Oklahoma.She was an intelligent, cunning and ruthless villain who resorted to torture, hiring bounty hunters and other unhinged methods to get what she wanted. She formed a powerful rivalry with Morgan Jones and his group, which ultimately led to her demise.
9Michelle Hurd
You’d be forgiven for forgetting Michelle Hurd’s roles both in the MCU and inThe Walking Dead: Dead City. This spinoff caught up with Negan and Maggie in Manhattan as they search for Maggie’s kidnapped son, who has been abducted by a former Savior.Dead City’sfirst episode, “Old Acquaintances,” saw Michelle Hurd make herThe Walking Deaduniverse debut, portraying Jones, the no-nonsense owner of the Easy Star Motor Inn, where Maggie drinks before reuniting with Negan. Hurd played a similarly ruthless role in the MCU’s Defenders Saga.
Michelle Hurd is Garrett Dillahunt’s real-world wife. Dillahunt portrayed John Dorie inFear the Walking Deadbetween 2018 and 2021.
Michelle Hurd appeared in one episode ofJessica Jonesand six episodes ofDaredevilon Netflix as then-New York Country District Attorney Samantha Reyes. ThroughoutDaredevilseason,Reyes made moves to hide her involvement in the Central Park Massacre, and hoped to use Frank Castle’s trial to further her political career, but she was ultimately assassinated by Ray Schoonover, who hoped to frame the Punisher following his release from prison. A new DA has recently been introduced to the MCU, Benjamin Hochberg, so Reyes' legacy is well-and-truly over.
8Ross Marquand
Various Roles In The MCU (2018-Present) & Aaron In The Walking Dead
Ross Marquand made his MCU debutin 2018’sAvengers: Infinity Waras the ghostly version of the Red Skull, since Hugo Weaving refused to reprise his role from 2011’sCaptain America: The First Avenger. Since then, however,Marquand has taken on several other Marvel roles, primarily voice roles, making him one of the MCU’s most frequent actors. Marquand, known for his ability to impersonate others perfectly, has had roles inEndgame, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, What If…?andX-Men ‘97, but hasn’t yet been given a role as prominent as hisThe Walking Dead character.
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Appearing in 70 episodes over six seasons ofThe Walking Dead, Ross Marquand’s Aaron is the longest-surviving Alexandrian and is one of the most important members of Rick Grimes’ group. Since he never appears physically in the MCU, however,it would be easy to not even realize that the voice of the Red Skull, Ultron and Professor X is the same voice that brought Rick to Alexandria back in 2015. At the end ofThe Walking Deadseason 11, Aaron is one of Alexandria’s leaders alongside Father Gabriel, making him one of the franchise’s most memorable fixtures.
7Michael James Shaw
Corvus Glaive In The MCU (2018-2019) & Michael Mercer In The Walking Dead
Similarly to Ross Marquand, Michael James Shaw never physically appears in the MCU, as his role inAvengers: Infinity WarandEndgamewas created entirely using motion capture. Shaw provides the motion capture and voice for Corvus Glaive, one of the Children of Thanos and a powerfulmember of the Black Orderwho attacks Vision on multiple occasions and is ultimately killed by the synthezoid.Shaw had a much larger and better-known role inThe Walking Deadin season 11.
The Children of Thanos comprised Michael James Shaw’s Corvus Glaive, Terry Notary’s Cull Obsidian, Carrie Coon’s Proxima Midnight and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor’s Ebony Maw.
InThe Walking Dead’sfinal season, Michael James Shaw portrayed Michael Mercer, a resident of the Commonwealth who serves as the leader of the Commonwealth Army. He trains Daryl and Rosita after the Coalition joins the Commonwealth, forms a romantic relationship with Princess, and starts to turn against Pamela Milton’s leadership after her son’s heinous crimes and Lance Hornsby’s actions come to light.Mercer ends up becoming the Deputy Governor of the Commonwealth, working under Ezekiel, completing his fantastic redemption, and providing him with a much more central role than that in the MCU.
6Danny Ramirez
Joaquín Torres’ Falcon In The MCU (2021-Present) & Eric In Tales Of The Walking Dead
Shortly after being introduced to the MCU as Joaquín Torres, Danny Ramirez crossed over intoThe Walking Deadfranchise, appearing in the finale of the anthology spinoff,Tales of the Walking Dead. InTales of the Walking Deadepisode 6, “La Doña,“Ramirez portrayed deuterantagonist Eric, who insists on staying in the home of the recently-deceased Doña Alma, despite Alma wanting them to leave before her demise, and Eric’s girlfriend, Daniella Pineda’s Idalia, feeling uncomfortable. Both Eric and Idalia subsequently meet their ends, but Ramirez’s MCU character has a much brighter future.
Danny Ramirez debuted in 2021’sThe Falcon and the Winter Soldieras United States Air Force intelligence officerJoaquín Torres, who formed a close bond with Sam Wilsonand eventually became the new Falcon, when Wilson took up the Captain America mantle.Torres officially became the Falcon in 2025’sCaptain America: Brave New World, and has been teased to be returning inAvengers: DoomsdayandSecret Warsas a member of the new Avengers team. This hasn’t yet been confirmed, but Danny Ramirez will likely have a long and fruitful career in the MCU.
5Matt Lintz
Bruno Carrelli In Ms. Marvel (2022) & Henry In The Walking Dead
Brother of Madison Lintz, who portrayed Carol’s daughter, Sophia, in seasons 1 and 2 ofThe Walking Dead, Matt Lintz debuted later on as the adoptive son of Carol and Ezekiel, Henry. Just like Carol’s biological child, however,Henry met a tragic end, which saw him beheaded by Alpha and displayed on a pike alongside the likes of Tara and Enidin the penultimate episode ofThe Walking Deadseason 9, “The Calm Before.” This was a truly emotional and heartbreaking moment, so there are hopes Matt Lintz won’t repeat this story in the MCU.
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While it’s unclear what the future holds for Matt Lintz in the MCU, his debut in 2022’sMs. Marvelseries as Kamala Khan’s best friend, Bruno Carrelli, creates the opportunity for him to appear in any number of upcoming projects. This could include asecond season ofMs. Marvel, or indeed projects exploring the Young Avengers.Matt Lintz’s Bruno Carrelli was a brilliant addition toMs. Marvel, so it would be great to see him return alongside Iman Vellani in the MCU’s future.
4Nick Gomez
Wrecker In She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (2022) & Tomas In The Walking Dead
For many fans ofThe Walking Dead, it was quite a surprise to see Nick Gomez appear in 2022’sShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and an even bigger surprise that, despite his initial appearance, he turned out to not be a villain.Gomez first showed up inShe-Hulkas the Wrecker, a former member of the Wrecking Crew who stole Asgardian construction equipment to try and apprehend Jennifer Walters for Intelligencia. Following this altercation, the Wrecker stayed with Emil Blonsky at his retreat and admitted the error of his ways, but Gomez didn’t get this chance inThe Walking Dead.
In Marvel Comics, the Wrecking Crew were introduced in 1974 and battled many heroes over the years, including the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Captain America, Doctor Strange, Namor and more.
Nick Gomez’s Tomas acted as the primary antagonist ofThe Walking Deadseason 3, episode 2, “Sick,” after debuting in the season’s premiere, “Seed,” alongside other former prisoners of the prison Rick Grimes and his group want to call home. Tomas' ego immediately comes to blows with that of Rick Grimes, and he makes many hostile moves to try and get Rick’s group to leave, but this just angers Rick. In an iconic moment,Rick Grimes slams his machete into Tomas' head, ending his villainous career before he had the chance to become an ally.
3Rhys Coiro
Donny Blaze In She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (2022) & Jed In The Walking Dead
Rhys Coiro first appeared inThe Walking Deadseason 9, episode 2, “The Bridge,” as Jed, a former Savior who was part of the team tasked with building the bridge that would connect the various communities. However,he was disgruntled with working conditions, restrictions placed upon the Saviors and several Savior murders at the hands of Oceansiders, and so became increasingly hostile. This led to a full-blown shoot-out with Carol, which forced Jed and the Saviors to leave, though he and his friends were murdered by Carol six years later.
Rhys Coiro’s wife, Kat Coiro, ledShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law’sdirecting team, directing six episodes and serving as executive producer on eight.
Jed was a dark and terrifying addition toThe Walking Dead, while Rhys Coiro’s role in the MCU was far more lighthearted and entertaining.Coiro appeared in 2022’sShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawas Donny Blaze, a performer at Los Angeles' Mystic Castlewho had studied under the Masters of the Mystic Arts but was thrown out of Kamar-Taj. His magic, particularly that which thrust Madisynn into a demonic hellscape, caught the attention of Wong, the Sorcerer Supreme. Donny Blaze’s inclusion in the MCU spurred theories aboutJohnny Blaze’s debut as Ghost Rider, but this didn’t come to fruition.
