Khary Payton Stole Just One Thing From Walking Dead Set, Would Fight to Keep It
The self-proclaimed "King" Ezekiel Sutton of AMC's The Walking dead has always tried to live up to his title – he dresses theatrically, boasts a pet tiger named Shiva, and wields a Shikomizue – a sword concealed under the guise of a walking stick.
Ezekiel has been one of the most popular characters since his introduction in Season 7, to the point where he became one of the few characters who outlived his comic book counterpart. Part of his popularity stemmed from the mysterious sword he wielded.
Like the audience, actor Khary Payton took a liking to his character's sword. Apparently, on his last day shooting on set, he took it home without getting permission from production.
Payton calls the sword "Captain Jack Sparrow" and said that he simply finished filming, grabbed the sword, hopped in his car, and drove away.
Most of the props used in the show have been sold at auction when they were no longer needed by The Walking Dead crew. Over 100 iconic props from the popular zombie drama were sold through Goldin Auctions, including Rick's Colt Python revolver, Daryl's crossbows, and an "End Negan" map. The most popular item auctioned off was Rick's red-handled machete he used to hack Gareth to death in Season 5 with 57 bids. The highest-bid item was Negan's bat nicknamed "Lucille" which he used to crush Glenn's skull in the shocking Season 7 premiere, selling for over $50,000.
Payton saved the prop sword from auction, keeping the memento of his most famous role as a souvenir. He's not the only Walking Dead actor to have swiped a few props from the set; Nadia Hilker (who plays Magna) and Angel Theory (Kelly) have previously said they took home a couple of prop weapons and clothing.
No news has come regarding The Walking Dead's production team whether they want the sword back from Payton for their own keep or to auction it off. Payton seems to be insistent on keeping the prop, issuing the playful threat: "Good luck."
Ezekiel hasn't wielded the famous sword for a while in the show as he's currently locked up as a prisoner by the Commonwealth at Alexandria, so the fact that he had it on hand on his last day on set is interesting. The final episode of the long-running series drops on November 20, so some fans have hoped that they'll witness Ezekiel brandish the sword one final time before the series ends.