Getting killed off ‘The Walking Dead’ is probably the best thing that could happen to any actor, here’s why!
One of the biggest fears for any actor is getting typecast. Jaleel White, the actor behind the 1990s lovable nerd, Steve Urkel, recently commented on exactly that. He told the Huffington Post, that he would love for a role on ‘Breaking Bad’ because it would basically help him break that typecast that has been haunting him for over 20 years. “So when people want to talk to me about typecasting, I’m like, don’t talk to me about typecasting before you give me the opportunity to work with some of the finest writing there is out there. He’s a terrific actor. Gosh, he’s a terrific actor. But before the show aired, let’s just be honest: Not too many movie studios would have considered putting him opposite George Clooney. Because he was Malcolm’s dad.”
But, what about the actors on TV’s most watched television show, ‘The Walking Dead’? Well, here’s why getting killed off from ‘The Walking Dead’ actually boosts your acting career then actually staying on.
Jon Bernthal aka Shane was killed off in season two. Since, then the actor’s career has skyrocketed. Bernthal had a major role in the Academy Award nominated movie ‘The Wolf on Wall Street’, a leading role on TNT’s ‘Mob City’ and HBO’s ‘Show Me a Hero’, and now he will play Marvel’s ‘Punisher’ in Netflix’s ‘Daredevil’. But, Bernthal is not alone.
Sarah Wayne Callies aka Lori died in the fourth episode of season three. Since, then the actress has landed an even bigger role on USA Network’s alien drama ‘Colony.
David Morrissey aka The Governor was killed in season 4 during the midseason finale. Since then, he has appeared on several BBC miniseries, he has a new TV pilot for AMC and he currently has a recurring role on Halle Berry’s drama series ‘Extant’.
We could go on and on but, it is important to note that the cast of ‘The Walking Dead’ that are still alive have had a harder time landing roles on other TV shows and movies. But, it begs the question, why? If you are working on the most watched TV show in the United States, you would expect producers, casting directors and filmmakers lining up at your door with scripts, and movie ideas. Well, apparently Hollywood doesn’t really like actors on ‘The Walking Dead’.
Hollywood producers revealed that they were more likely to give a role to an actor or actress on the ‘Game of Thrones’ than on ‘The Walking Dead’.
According to Hollywood casting directors, here is why Hollywood likes Game of Thrones actors versus The Walking Dead talents:
The mostly European Thrones cast is more appealing to U.S. studio executives and audiences, says a casting director who has worked with actors from both shows: “They have a fresh feel.” Even veteran actors have benefited from Thrones‘ exoticizing effect. Dance briefly was on Hollywood’s radar in the early ’90s with Alien 3 and The Last Action Hero before returning to his native England. Now, in addition to Zombies, he’s in Dracula Untold and the upcoming Stalin-era thriller Child 44, opposite Tom Hardy. “These parts are making the actors be seen in a new light,” says the casting director. [via]
Here’s what Steven Yuen had to say about getting auditions ever since he landed a role on ‘The Walking Dead’.
“People ask, ‘So, how are the roles now? You must be getting so many.’ And it’s like, I don’t know if you know, but I’m Asian still,” Yeun told TheWrap earlier in July, laughing. “It’s not a complaint, that’s just how it is now, and I have to forge my own path through it and see that through. I think that if I had not been Asian, I probably would have a whole plethora of roles, at least to audition for, but it’s just not what has been written.”
Landing a recurring role on ‘The Walking Dead’ may be great to building your career. However, it is a dual edged sword as actors are struggling to find auditions and move on from killing zombies.
