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Redshirts (Guts)

Several background survivors in camp

Woodbury extras

Background survivors gather in Woodbury

Core Background Survivors (Rest in Peace)

Core Background Alexandrians and Hilltoppers in Season 11, Episode 24

The Background Survivors, also sometimes classified as "redshirts"[1] are the survivors who linger in the background during episodes while the main survivors are engaged in the story. These survivors usually have no part in the main storyline and perform normal, everyday, non-crucial actions, such as laundry and chores in the camp.

Background survivors are usually left unnamed, have no speaking roles, and are uncredited. They are ideal for being used as redshirts, characters used to "dramatize the dangerous situation experienced by the main characters", such as the zombie attack on the camp in Season 1 Episode 4 ("Vatos") or in the prison in Season 4 Episode 2 ("Infected").

With the introduction of several towns and communities, extras are utilized as background survivors to show a large population at these settlements, including Woodbury, Alexandria Safe-Zone, Hilltop Colony, and the prison community. Extras are also used to populate several groups, including the Wolves, the Saviors, the Governor's new group of followers, and the Vatos gang, among other minor groups.

Atlanta Survivor Camp[]

A total of thirteen (13) background survivors lived in the camp set up outside of Atlanta, Georgia. During the zombie attack on the camp in the episode "Vatos", all background survivors were killed in the attack, whether they appeared or not.

Atlanta Nursing Home[]

A nursing home in the city of Atlanta became a safe haven after the nursing home's staff abandoned the elderly when the outbreak began, leaving the Vatos gang to take care and defend the nursing home residents. In total, there were at least thirty-five (35) background survivor part of the group.

At some point, everyone at the nursing home was killed.[2]

Harrison Memorial Hospital[]

Numerous members of the United States Armed Forces, civilians, and hospital staff members appear in "TS-19" in which several infected civilians are executed while many others are evacuated.

National Guardsmen[]

Six (6) National Guardsmen were part of a small encampment in "Walk With Me", along with Brady and the National Guardsman. They were all murdered by The Governor's men as they led an ambush on the group. One of the extras, Bob Fisher, portrayed two separate soldiers.

Woodbury[]

Woodburybackground

"Say the Word"

Governor and Woodbury extras

"I Ain't a Judas"

Woodbury extras bts (The Suicide King)

"The Suicide King"

For a list of background survivors, their episode appearances, and additional images, please see: Background Survivors (TV Series)/Woodbury

According to Rowan, a total of 73 survivors live in the town of Woodbury, with approximately 60 of them being unnamed. These men, women, and children live in the town and perform certain duties as apart of their jobs, such as landscaping or gardening, while children attend schools. Some men act as the town's guards and defenders, patrolling the walls.

Oftentimes, the citizens of Woodbury can be seen walking around town casually socializing or doing errands.(Walk With Me, Killer Within, Hounded)

The survivors gathered around The Governor when he and his men returned to town with several military vehicles, and they examined the vehicles after The Governor's speech. (Walk With Me)

Many of the town's residents were seen enjoying the midday barbecue and listened to The Governor's speech and attended the gladiator fight at night between Merle Dixon and Caesar Martinez. (Say the Word)

Many survivors were seen out and about on the streets after Warren's gun went off. Many are reassured by The Governor that things are okay and are told to return to their homes, while a few other armed residents were told to be on the look out for the intruders. When Rick and his group start shooting in town, the residents start fleeing and racing for cover. The gunfight left five of the guards dead (including Bob Adams and Eisenberg). A large group of angered residents gather at the arena and demand the deaths of the Dixon brothers. (Made to Suffer)

The residents flee in terror after Rick and Maggie shoot out the lights and throw in smoke grenades in order to rescue Daryl, leaving Haley dead as she was hit by a stray bullet. The next morning, many are seen trying to flee Woodbury, but are prevented by Martinez and the other guards. They also witness the attack and mercy killing of Richard Foster. Later, they are back on the street but are calmed down by Andrea, who gives a speech about sticking together. (The Suicide King)

Many of the already-trained townspeople are seen on guard duty on the walls and streets, an increased presence than before. Others help board the buildings' windows with wood and secure the fence to make it stronger. A number of residents, including Noah and Ms. McLeod, are evaluated by The Governor, as they are drafted to be trained in firearms in order to increase the town's number of defenders and soldiers. (I Ain't a Judas)

A group of nine unnamed men, in addition to Ben, Allen, Shumpert, and Martinez, accompanied The Governor to the feed store to ambush Rick's group when they came with Michonne Hawthorne. Instead, they were attacked by Merle, who was able to kill eight men (including Ben), before being attacked by two surviving unnamed men, Martinez, and The Governor. (This Sorrowful Life)

The town is divided in two, as a group of armed residents head to the prison to attack Rick's group while a few others, mostly children and elderly, stay behind in Woodbury. The prison assault fails and everyone flees. The Governor stops the fleeing convoy on the road and demands everyone to go back, in which people begin to protest. As a result, the Governor opens fire in a rage, killing everyone, including Allen and Paul, while teenager Jody was killed by Carl Grimes in the woods. The residents back at Woodbury are brought to the prison to join the community after they find out that The Governor has slaughtered everyone. (Welcome to the Tombs)

Notes

  • Despite some of the background survivors not appearing in the army for the prison raid or even the episodes after the mid-season finale, it is assumed that they all have been killed by the Governor. As for all of the children not seen at the prison afterwards, it is unknown what happened to them. Regardless, even with the lack of continuity in the extras, it is assumed that anyone not at the prison is simply dead.
  • Two background survivors have been identified as Eileen and Ms. McLeod while any of the others may be Pete or Robbie, as those two characters are unseen. In addition, two of the guards killed in "Made to Suffer" are Bob Adams and Eisenberg.
  • There are far more extras in total than the official population count, as some extras may not be able to return for scenes in certain episodes and have to be replaced by others.
  • Since the arena is a separate set & filming location, there is a noticeable difference in the extras that play the Woodbury citizens. Some are seen only at the arena while others are only seen in town, though there are numerous people who appear at both locations.
  • In the first scene of residents gathering at the Arena in "Made to Suffer", the shot of people sitting on the bleachers is actually from "Say the Word" as they are in same clothing and do not appear in the rest of the scenes during "Made to Suffer".

Prison Community[]

For a list of background survivors, their episode appearances, and additional images, please see: Background Survivors (TV Series)/Prison Community

Many of the prison community members are seen idling in the background talking to others, eating their meal or performing chores as seen in "30 Days Without An Accident". Many of the prison extras were victims of the zombie attack in Cell Block D while many more were able to escape alive in "Infected". However, many of these cell block survivors fell ill to the mysterious flu in "Isolation", and many eventually died as seen in "Internment". Those who survived were administered aid and have begun recovery. Following the prison attack led by the Governor in "Too Far Gone, a group of people were able to flee on the Woodbury bus with Jeanette, while some have been killed in the prison as the tank destroyed the buildings and scores of zombies flooded the complex. In "Inmates", it is revealed that all of the prison residents who escaped on the bus were killed after a few people reanimated due to being shot and fed upon their fellow survivors.

Notes
  • It is said that all of the Woodbury children and elderly have been moved to the prison. However, there were significantly more children extras seen in town that have not been seen past the mid-season finale. This is most likely due to lack of extra continuity.

Martinez' Camp[]

In "Dead Weight", the Governor and the Chambler family join a camp consisting of Martinez, Mitch Dolgen, Pete Dolgen, and Alisha along with 20 unnamed survivors. As of "Too Far Gone", the majority of the background survivors are dead, having been killed during the prison assault. A few background survivors (mostly children, women, and the elderly) were left behind that the river camp and their fates remain unknown, despite not participating in the prison assault.

For a list of background survivors, their episode appearances, and additional images, please see: Background Survivors (TV Series)/Martinez's Group Survivors

Notes
  • While "Dead Weight" and "Too Far Gone" used the same extras for both episodes, a few extras were brought in specifically for the prison assault, including Clyde Harrold III and Glen Padgett.
  • One camp extra, Vernon Swygert, was selected to return as a newly-reanimated zombie in "After" and briefly served as one of Michonne's pets.
  • Some of the camp extras were not shown killed in "Too Far Gone", but they are all assumed dead, having died off-screen.

Terminus[]

In "A", Rick and his group arrive to Terminus, consisting of a leader Gareth and a woman named Mary who welcomes in all survivors. Terminus contains over forty (40) residents, with some being part of the original community and others who joined after accepting the cannibalistic way of life.

Only a few residents are seen doing everyday tasks in "A", such as painting signs which lead to Terminus or eating their meals. In "No Sanctuary", many new Terminus residents are seen, bringing Rick, Daryl, Glenn, and Bob to the slaughter room and defending Terminus from the horde of walkers that overrun Terminus. Most of the residents were victims of the walkers being devoured, were shot down by Carol or killed by the flames that spread throughout Terminus. Although unknown if any escaped, Maggie tells Rick that it was either run or die as the fences were brought down.

For a list of background survivors, their episode appearances, and additional images, please see: Background Survivors (TV Series)/Terminus

Grady Memorial Hospital[]

A number of officers and patients reside at the community established at Grady Memorial Hospital.

At some point during the multi-year time skip, the community of survivors at Grady Memorial eventually fell and everyone was killed.[3]

Alexandria Safe-Zone[]

Alexandria Extras (Rest in Peace)

Background Alexandrians for Season 11, Episode 24 (Behind the Scenes)

The Alexandria Safe-Zone community is home to at least 60 people, a mix of credited characters and extras. Most of the background survivors can be seen socializing with neighbors, serving on the construction crew, or carrying out everyday tasks (reading, on guard duty, walking the dog). Often times, many extras are present for various events, including the Glenn/Aiden confrontation, Deanna's party, the Rick/Pete fight, and the community forum regarding Rick's fate in Season 5; the town meeting at Deanna's house, the construction of the diversion wall, Rick's speech at the town gates, the battle against the zombies after the walls fall, and Rosita's machete class in Season 6.

The majority of the background cast has been recurring between Seasons 5, 6 and 7, appearing in many episodes and some having been killed off in notable events (Wolves attack, quarry mission, etc.). There are a few extras who have only appeared once or twice, but the majority are recurring extras for Alexandria, with several recurring extras making their debut appearance in Season 6. In Season 8, a large number of new extras were hired to represent Alexandria background survivors, with many returning for later seasons and some becoming the core background cast for certain seasons.

For a list of background survivors, their episode appearances, and additional images, please see: Background Survivors (TV Series)/Alexandria Safe-Zone

The Wolves[]

The Wolves refer to a dangerous scavenging group of at least thirty (30) bandits known for raiding camps and butchering survivors. The Wolves were responsible for a surprise attack on Alexandria, in which at least a dozen residents were murdered, while Carol and several others were able to kill most of the Wolves before the surviving ones were eventually gunned down by Rick out on the road.

Credited minor characters who remain unnamed are: Red Jacket Wolf, Satchel Wolf, Shaved Head Wolf, Black Bearded Wolf

Hilltop Colony[]

Hilltop Extras (Rest in Peace)

Background Hilltoppers for Season 11, Episode 24 (Behind the Scenes)

The Hilltop Colony is a farming community made up of a smaller group of survivors than Alexandria. Many of the residents can be seen meandering in the background, working with farm animals or crafting tools at the outdoor workshops, or simply chatting with fellow residents. Over time, more and more people join Hilltop, turning it into a bustling community before it was destroyed by the Whisperers. The community was eventually rebuilt, with some core extras returning to represent the final population before the show concluded.

For a list of background survivors, their episode appearances, and additional images, please see: Background Survivors (TV Series)/Hilltop Colony

The Saviors[]

Including named characters, there are over 700 unique individuals that make up the Saviors. Most of the Saviors met in Season 6 were killed off in skirmishes, and it wasn't until Season 6 finale "Last Day on Earth" and onward that Savior extras began to become recurring, while many remained as one-time appearances. The Saviors are divided into two main groups: Negan's soldiers and the workers, the latter of which primarily live at the Sanctuary, along with many soldiers. Workers and soldiers also populate various outposts throughout the Saviors' territory. Even after the conclusion of the Savior war and with the death toll of background Saviors being in the hundreds, a few dozen extras remain recurring, with some joining Alexandria, Hilltop, and the Kingdom after the Sanctuary's fall in Season 9.

Despite this, as of Season 11, it has been estimated that only eight (8) background Saviors are confirmed to be alive and currently living in either Alexandria or Oceanside as numerous mass casualty events throughout the various communities since Season 9 have left many of the assimilated Saviors either dead or missing.

For a list of background survivors, their episode appearances, and additional images, please see: Background Survivors (TV Series)/The Saviors

The Kingdom[]

More than 200 extras have represented the background population of the Kingdom over the course of its existence. After the Kingdom falls, a number of extras were brought in to live as refugees in Hilltop and Alexandria, before becoming fully integrated into those communities.

For a list of background survivors, their episode appearances, and additional images, please see: Background Survivors (TV Series)/The Kingdom

Oceanside[]

A group of more than 90 women and children make up the background population of Oceanside. Most of the children are seen playing while the women look after them or perform other duties such as lookout, gardening, laundry, and many participate in going after Tara when the alarm is raised. As of Season 10, several men have joined the community.

For a list of background survivors, their episode appearances, and additional images, please see: Background Survivors (TV Series)/Oceanside

The Scavengers[]

A group of more than 200 different extras make up the background population for the Scavengers. The Scavengers primarily appear at the Heaps, their home, as well as with Jadis when visiting Alexandria or the Sanctuary.

For a list of background survivors, their episode appearances, and additional images, please see: Background Survivors (TV Series)/The Scavengers

The Whisperers[]

More than a hundred extras have made up the population of the mysterious Whisperer cult. The majority of them wear dead skin as masks, while some, mainly at their camps, remain unmasked. Most of the Whisperers serve as hunters, trackers, herders, and soldiers to carry out Alpha and Beta's orders.

For a list of background survivors, their episode appearances, and additional images, please see: Background Survivors (TV Series)/The Whisperers

Jocelyn's Group[]

The Highwaymen[]

The Commonwealth[]

Background Survivors (TV Series)/The Commonwealth

Opium Poppy Farm[]

Riverbend[]

Miscellaneous[]

The following are miscellaneous characters, though not all necessarily survivors, that have appeared in the TV Series.

Linden County[]

Several unnamed Sheriff's deputies from Linden County and criminals were involved in a flashback scene in "Days Gone Bye".

Road to Atlanta[]

Dozens of background survivors were seen standing and milling around their cars, talking to others, and some fighting over supplies in the traffic jam outside of Atlanta, where they were heading to in hopes of safety, during the flashback at the beginning of the episode, "Chupacabra". They also witnessed the U.S. Military firebombing of the city. It is unclear what happened to all of the survivors, whether they escaped or were killed by zombies, it is ultimately unknown.

King County Elementary School[]

In Season 2's Bloodletting, there are numerous mothers waiting outside the elementary school in King County. They can be seen chatting as Lori and Paula converse. After dismissal, the children, including Carl, head to their mothers to go home.

Credited minor characters who remain unnamed are: Mom #1 and Mom #2

Woods Camp[]

The following survivor extras appear in the episode "Dead Weight".

Baltimore Survivor Shelter[]

The Wardens[]

The Reapers[]

The Ferals[]

Other[]


Photographs[]

References[]

  1. Redshirt is a slang term for a minor stock character of an adventure drama who dies violently soon after being introduced in order to dramatize the dangerous situation experienced by the main characters. The term originated with fans of the science fiction television series Star Trek, from the red shirts worn by Starfleet security officers and engineers, who frequently meet their demise during the episodes. Redshirt, Wikipedia.
  2. During Talking Dead for "Evolution", Robert Kirkman answered a fan question regarding the status of all the Vatos gang members and elderly residents at the nursing home and confirmed that they are all dead.
  3. During a live Q&A with Gregory Nicotero hosted by Shindig.com on May 29, 2020, a user asked Nicotero about the status of the hospital survivors and Nicotero confirmed they are all dead.
Frances Cobb
  • Frances Cobb is a frequent background extra in many movies & TV shows, including as a campground survivor in The Walking Dead episodes "Days Gone Bye" and "Guts". Taken from her November 7 Facebook status posting:
Her status: Well, no luck in being seen in either Due Date or For Colored Girls, but I was seen for the second time in The Walking Dead. Last week, I was seen after about an hour. This time, I was at the beginning in the background preparing my tent and space in the campground. Looks like they will be using the campground a couple of more times. They filmed this all in one day.
A comment from a friend: I think I saw you in last nights episode. Don't think you were wearing your straw hat?
Her reply: Yes, you picked me out again. I was in the background arranging things for my tent. It was near the end of the day, so, they asked that I "lose the hat." I took it off, since I was finally in the shade! I think I will be in a couple of more episodes now because of the way they are inserting these scenes. Even though we were only there one day, it looks like we were there for weeks.
  • Through email, Frances Cobb was asked by User:Mistertrouble189 about her role as background survivor (clarification when compared with a screenshot of her) and whether she only appeared in the show's pilot episode, as well as fate as of the zombie attack on the camp. This is what she had to say:
L. Stephanie Ray
Hello. Yes that is me. Thanks for the picture. I was also in the "Guts" episode in the distance preparing my tent. I was not consciously killed, but I have not seen myself except in the first two episodes. I could not believe how many scenes there are in the campground. I was only used one day perhaps due to my need of wearing a hat due to the sun. I'm glad it has been picked up for another season, but due to the ending of the last episode, they may have to change locations of the campground!

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