Emmy Award-winning actor Colman Domingo has outdone himself in his recent role as media pundit Muncie Daniel in the Netflix original series The Madness. If you have yet to watch this series, I highly recommend it. Domingo has also made headlines with his performance in Sing, Sing, Rustin, The Color Purple, and more.

Domingo also starred in the first Walking Dead spinoff, Fear the Walking Dead, which debuted on AMC in 2015. He portrayed the con man known as Victor Strand, who is the longest-running consistent character on the show. Often, the villain, Strand, did have tender and emotional moments with a redemption arc that allowed him to break with his past.

In 2023, Domingo was kind enough to share his audition tape with Undead Walking which featured his video for the role of Booker (he would later learn was Victor Strand). It is fun to see his self-taped audition, and the scene is from Strand’s introduction.

Fans remember well Victor Strand’s introduction in the fifth episode of season 1, “Colbolt.” He was being held by the National Guard during the first days after the outbreak, where he encountered heroin addict Nick Clark (Frank Dillane). Strand had a knack for reading people and quickly recognized Nick’s strength, and he was in dire need of an ally to assist his escape.

It goes to show the talent Domingo possesses in portraying an excellent villain, as his true demeanor is nothing like that. He was a highlight in the series that often received negative criticism. Domingo portrayed Strand from season 1 through the conclusion of the series in its eighth season in 2023.

Throughout his story line Strand always put his wants and needs before any other and many times had the opportunity to redeem himself. He always came out on top regardless of who was hurt.

After the season 8 time jump, Victor was a changed man. He explained to Madison (Kim Dickens) how he betrayed Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey), someone who truly loved him. He told her that he tried to help others he betrayed, but they couldn’t forgive his past sins and perished. As far as he was concerned, Victor Strand died that day, as well. He took on the name Anton, met his husband Frank (Isha Blaaker) and his son Klaus (Julian Grey), and began a new life. Since then, he has tried to become the person Alicia thought he could be.

In the end he departed with Frank and Klaus determined to find others that need help. It was a solid ending for Victor/Anton.

All eight seasons of Fear the Walking Dead are available on Netflix.