This Fan-Favorite TWD Character Was Killed Off Because the Actor Chose to Leave
Why did Jeffrey DeMunn decide to step away from his role on The Walking Dead?
The Walking Dead shocked us with many deaths of our beloved characters throughout its 11-year run. However, only a few of those deaths had a real-life reason behind it, such as an actor’s departure from the show. That is exactly what happened with Jeffrey DeMunn's character, Dale Horvath.
Dale was one of the fan-favorite characters of seasons 1 and 2 for being this wise old-man who kept the group on track with his moral compass. His exit wasn't just some surprise in the story. Turns out, the actor himself chose to make that call.
Jeffrey DeMunn and Frank Darabont share a long history of working together. Their collaboration began with the 1988 horror film The Blob. Over the years, Darabont cast DeMunn in several projects, including such iconic movies as The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and The Mist.
They had a solid work relationship based on trust and respect. So, when Darabont, who helped create TWD, got kicked off the show, DeMunn took it to heart.
DeMunn chose to step away from TWD because of Darabont. He felt really angry about how they treated Darabont and made up his mind that he didn't want to be involved in the show anymore.
In his own words, DeMunn said in an interview to Cleveland.com, "I was furious about how Frank was pushed out of the show. I spent a week not being able to take a full breath. And then I realized, 'Oh, I can quit.' So I called them and said, 'It’s a zombie show. Kill me.'”
This led to the heart-wrenching scene where Dale meets his end, a scene that deviated significantly from the original comic series. In the comic book, Dale even made it to the prison.
Leaving TWD didn't mean the end for DeMunn's career. He continued to shine in various roles, from TV series like Chicago Fire, The Good Wife, and The Blacklist to films such as Adult Beginners and Marshall.
His passion for acting and his dedication to his craft is evident in every role he takes on, and it’s a shame he left TWD.
Source: Cleveland