‘The Walking Dead’: Zombie Prank Played On Norman Reedus [Video]

The Walking Dead cast and crew played a scary zombie prank on star Norman Reedus, who plays fan favorite Daryl Dixon.

The show flew superfan and zombie impersonator Nick Santonastasso to Tokyo, where Reedus and Andrew Lincoln among others were doing a promotional junket. Producer Greg Nicotero and other makeup artists made Santonastasso, who has one arm and no legs, look like a flesh-eating zombie. “Nicotero, also the series’ visual effects whiz, put his best zombie makeup on Santonastasso, a New Jersey teen who documents his video pranks on his popular Vine page, which has more than a half a million followers.”

As you can see by the above video, Santonastasso — hiding in a room service cart — scared the daylights out of Reedus, who thought he was going to be interviewed in a hotel room by Japanese media. Lincoln, Nicotero, and others watched the whole stunt unfold on hidden camera.

According to the Uproxx website, “Santonastasso was born with Hanhart syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that often results in missing limbs… but he’s still got one hell of a sense of humor.” He’s done other online prank videos before and apparently that’s how he came to the attention of The Walking Dead crew.

Santonastasso is the subject of a petition drive on change.org to get him an actual role on The Walking Dead. The petition, addressed to series creator Robert Kirkman, states that “Nick has made the best out of his physical [situation] and it would great if he could work as a zombie on [an] upcoming Walking Dead episode.”

After this prank, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Reedus decides to return the favor to Lincoln or another member of The Walking Dead cast or crew who was in on the joke.

What do you think of the zombie prank practical joke on Walking Dead star Norman Reedus?

The second half of The Walking Dead season 4 premieres on February 9 on AMC.

[thumbnail image credit: Gage Skidmore]

Dinner with my boys pic.twitter.com/XuUC7dugEl

— Nick Santonastasso (@nicksanto534) January 17, 2014