Walking Dead Actor Scott Wilson Dies But Filmed Scenes For Season 9

Walking Dead actor Scott Wilson has died at age 76. The veteran character actor played the role of Hershel Green for three seasons and was one of the key members of the cast for that time.

The news was confirmed on Sunday, October 7, by The Walking Dead's official Twitter feed. In a subsequent statement, AMC's Walking Dead account said that Wilson "will be remembered as a great actor and an even better person. The character he embodied on The Walking Dead, Hershel, lived at the emotional core of the show. Our hearts go out to his wife, family, friends and to the millions of fans who loved him."

The news of Wilson's death came shortly after Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang announced at New York Comic-Con that the actor had filmed scenes for the show's ninth season. Hershel was killed off in Season 4, so it is unknown how he will make his return. However, the show has a history of using flashbacks and dream sequences that feature deceased characters.

Wilson's fellow cast members took to social media to remember their former colleague. "Scott was one of the greats, both as an actor and a man," producer Gale Anne Hurd tweeted. "We in #TheWalkingDeadFamily are truly grief stricken. He lived life to the fullest with his true love, his wife Heavenly. He is now a shining star in heaven spreading kindness and light forever."

Chandler Riggs, who played Carl until Season 8, posted: "Man am I gonna miss you. We all learned so much from you, and it's so saddening to hear that you aren't with us anymore. I'll never forget the things you told me and the time we spent together on set." Khary Payton, who plays Ezekiel, also offered a tribute: "The time I met Scott Wilson, he gave me a big hug and said that this thing I had become a part of… was a family. He said I had a responsibility to take care of it. I have tried very hard to do that, sir and I will continue. I promise. See you on the other side, my friend."

Prior to The Walking Dead, Wilson had a long and varied career. His first movies were two of the most acclaimed thrillers of the late '60s--In the Heat of the Night and In Cold Blood, in which he gave a chilling performance as real-life killer Richard Hickock. His other movies include Pearl Harbor, The Last Samurai, and Monster, plus the 2016 Netflix sci-fi drama The OA.

In related news, The Walking Dead Season 9 premiered this past weekend. Check out GameSpot's set visit report and interview with Kang.