‘The Walking Dead’s’ Norman Reedus: Jeffrey Dean Morgan Spills On Daryl’s Fan Base
The Walking Dead has been through a rough season, mostly due to Negan. That ball bat wielding maniac has Daryl Dixon, portrayed by Norman Reedus, and Rick Grimes, portrayed by Andrew Lincoln, ready to go to war. Thankfully, these veteran actors can separate the in character hostilities from real life interaction.
Despite Negan’s behavior on The Walking Dead, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who portrays Negan is fitting right in with the cast, especially Daryl Dixon’s alter ego, Norman Reedus. Morgan and Reedus have become nearly inseparable.
The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus and Jeffrey Dean Morgan are not only next door neighbors in Georgia, where The Walking Dead is filmed, they are also riding buddies, often taking their bikes out together. Jeffrey Dean Morgan told ABC News he spends time with Norman Reedus every day. Can The Walking Dead fans imagine Daryl Dixon riding around with Negan?
“I spend a lot of time with Norman. Not only do we live next to each other in Georgia, but we both have this big affinity toward motorcycles. And we spend a lot of time on the roads. It’s kind of a great way to unwind and we have that in common. So I talk to him daily.”
The Walking Dead has become the highest rated show on television, clawing its way up from obscure beginnings. The unique perspective of shows like The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad have brought AMC a lot of success.
Norman Reedus’ character Daryl Dixon is one of the most popular heroes on television. Reedus has become Daryl in the minds of many The Walking Dead fans who are in awe of this compelling character. Even Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a Daryl Dixon fan.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan says Norman loves it when dozens of The Walking Dead fans surround him, asking for pictures and autographs.
“That guy [Norman Reedus] can’t go anywhere. And I’ve never seen anybody that has more patience or love for fans than him. It’s crazy.”
The Walking Dead’s Daryl Dixon can attract fans even in the middle of nowhere, according to Jeffrey Dean Morgan. When riding with Norman Reedus, Morgan has experienced first hand the influence of Daryl Dixon on everyday people.
“We [Norman Reedus and Jeffrey Dean Morgan] go to a gas station in the middle of Alabama, and this is a true story. There were no cars anywhere. And within one second of being there, the person in the gas station will say Daryl Dixon’s here, and there’s 50 cars converged on the gas station in the middle of Timbuktu. And he will do a picture and autograph with every one of them. I’m like Norman, keep your helmet on, we’ve got to get out of here.”
Before The Walking Dead, Jeffrey Dean Morgan spent years on the CW’s Supernatural, where he played Sam and Dean’s dad. Jeffrey has enjoyed a long career but Morgan has never seen the type and quantity of fans that The Walking Dead attracts.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is quoted in Comicbook explaining to Peter Travers that he too has been attracting new and interesting fans. Jeffrey relates an experience he had at Atlanta’s Comic Con with Daryl Dixon and Negan fans.
“Norman [Reedus] and I were the first ones there and the last ones to leave for two nights just because I think we’ve got the craziest fans. I’m starting to get weird mail… You know, I’ve gotten some mail with kind of sexual overtones… You know, ‘gag me.’ ‘Spank me.’ ‘Bring Lucille.’ It’s just like whoa. That says a lot, man.”
While The Walking Dead’s new villain Negan is unexpectedly being perceived as sexy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan seems slightly unnerved by the concept.
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Norman Reedus takes his The Walking Dead fame in stride. Norman was recently filmed unwrapping gifts from fans in a video on USA Today. Reedus was especially fond of the motorcycle helmet he received from a lady in Kentucky, and a box of matchbooks from Arizona with the slogan, “If Daryl Dies We Riot.” Reedus also received stickers and a pin from North Carolina, and snacks, a shirt and some photos from Korea.
The Walking Dead’s Daryl Dixon has become a folk hero of sorts, that fans find at least somewhat indistinguishable from Norman Reedus himself. Daryl Dixon is a powerful character that’s like a mix of Daniel Boone and Rambo. Norman Reedus as Daryl oozes masculinity, the potential for deadly force and outdoorsy, down-home charm. Daryl Dixon also rides a motorcycle, shoots a crossbow and uses a hunting knife very effectively as well.
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon on The Walking Dead is a hero to fans according to Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
[Featured Image by John Sciulli/Getty Images]
