Still, the survivors with the most plot importance are understandably the ones that have featured most often, but not all of them made it to the end of the series. The most frequently recurring cast members tended to be leading names, most of who could be considered protagonists. However, some faces who seemed like they would have little more than supporting roles with little longevity went on to become some of The Walking Dead‘s most powerful survivors and are a critical part of the overall story, proving they have more than earned their stay on the show.
10Carl Grimes
Played By Chandler Riggs, First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 1, “Days Gone Bye”
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Carl remains one of the most recurring characters in the TV universe despite having been gone for such a long time.
9Eugene Porter
Played By Josh McDermitt, First Appearance: Season 4, Episode 10, “Inmates”
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Eugene never seemed like the best-equipped character to survive the apocalypse, making it understandable he latched on to Rosita and Abraham in an attempt to stay alive. After his lies were exposed, it seemed like his death was only a matter of time, and this was amplified when he left the main group to join the Saviors. Remarkably, despite his deception and betrayal, Eugene has remained a mainstay ever since he was introduced in season 4, featuring in more episodes than most.
While he’s always been more of a supporting character, he had plenty of pivotal arcs and arguably had the biggest development out of all the survivors throughout the show, making him an irreplaceable member of the main group. Thankfully, he redeemed his past mistakes by helping the protagonists win the war against the Saviors, and he remains alive in the TV universe as a valuable part of the Commonwealth.
8Judith Grimes
Played By Cailey Fleming, First Appearance: Season 3, Episode 4, “Killer Within”
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Now, she could arguably take the role Carl was supposed to serve in the comics, especially as she was only alive for mere moments in the source material.
Judith even cameod in The Ones Who Live‘s final scene, suggesting if Rick and Michonne are going to be a part of the story going forward, so will she. Therefore, she could still move up the list, depending on how long the TV universe continues and what direction it takes.
7Rosita Espinosa
Played By Christian Serratos, First Appearance: Season 4, Episode 10, “Inmates”
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She died during the main show’s finale and will only make future appearances through flashbacks or hallucinations.
6Morgan Jones
Played By Lennie James, First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 1, “Days Gone Bye”
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Unlike the other characters in the top ten, most of Morgan’s appearances happen outside the main show. His introduction came in the pilot episode, but he wasn’t seen again until season 3, when he once again had a single appearance. Deservedly, his return in season 5 set up a more prominent role for the following few seasons, but his departure in season 8’s finale left him well short of the other recurring characters, at least until he joined Fear the Walking Dead.
Morgan’s time in the spinoff was nearly double what he had in the main series, which resulted in him featuring in close to 100 episodes across the entire franchise. His final scene in FTWD puts him on an adventure with his daughter to find Rick, meaning Morgan’s Walking Dead return could happen sometime in the future. If he does show up again in a distant project, it could allow him to reach triple digits in appearances, but he’s unlikely to overtake anyone above him.
5Michonne Grimes
Played By Danai Gurira, First Appearance: Season 2, Episode 13, “Beside the Dying Fire”
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With The Ones Who Live season 2 remaining a possibility alongside The Walking Dead‘s rumored crossover show still on the table, it seems likely that Michonne will be a part of the zombie series’ future. Even if she isn’t as involved as she was while being a regular, Danai Gurira’s return to the TV universe in 2024 indicates she still wants to be a part of the narrative, and Michonne will likely remain one of the most frequently recurring characters by the time that the story eventually reaches its overall conclusion.
4Maggie Rhee
Played By Lauren Cohan, First Appearance: Season 2, Episode 2, “Bloodletting”
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Despite losing so many loved ones since the outbreak started, Maggie showed the grit and determination needed to survive, hence her being involved in more episodes than most. She wasn’t the most combat-efficient or hardened survivor when first introduced, but Maggie adapted better than most. Not only did she become a valuable ally to the central group, but she stepped forward as a leader, taking over Hilltop and helping it thrive despite all the trauma she had endured.
3Rick Grimes
Played By Andrew Lincoln, First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 1, “Days Gone Bye”
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Considering he is the protagonist of the series, it’s no surprise Rick has so many Walking Dead appearances, but his season 9 departure prevented him from taking the top spot. Andrew Lincoln left The Walking Dead in 2018 after playing his iconic character for eight years. However, the show opted not to kill him off, allowing for his cameo in the season 11 finale before Rick made his official return to the televised world in 2024’s The Ones Who Live.
2Carol Peletier
Played By Melissa McBride, First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 3, “Tell It to the Frogs”
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Melissa McBride’s commitment to the series cannot be questioned, as alongside being part of all 11 seasons, she has appeared in both seasons of Daryl Dixon and even had a small role in Fear the Walking Dead. Carol is easily one of the most important survivors in the zombie universe, and although her comic book counterpart was killed off relatively early, McBride’s take on the character has been incredible, leading to her featuring in so many episodes.
1Daryl Dixon
Played By Norman Reedus, First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 3 “Tell It to the Frogs”
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With Daryl Dixon season 3 confirmed, the protagonist will likely appear in all six upcoming episodes in 2025, adding to his lead at the top of the appearance list. Being part of The Walking Dead for 15 years straight has been an impressive accolade for Norman Reedus, and the actor suggested he still plans on playing Daryl for another six or seven years. Assuming the franchise goes beyond this, someone could surpass his total episodes, but as of now, Daryl remains the most prominently featured character in The Walking Dead.