Melissa McBride | |
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Born | Melissa Suzanne McBride May 23, 1965 Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1991–present |
Melissa Suzanne McBride (born May 23, 1965) [1] is an American actress. She made her acting debut in 1993, and went onto appear in Walker, Texas Ranger (1997) and Dawson's Creek (1998). In 2007, she also starred in the box office film The Mist (2007). Her breakout role was Carol Peletier on the AMC series The Walking Dead (2010–2022), and later the series' spinoff The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023–present). She has garnered critical acclaim and received multiple awards and nominations for her role on the show. [2] Originally cast in a minor role, McBride's role expanded over time to a main cast member and as of 2020, she is the second billed cast member in the opening credits of the show, and one of only two cast members to appear in every season (the other being Norman Reedus).
McBride was born in Lexington, Kentucky, to parents John Leslie McBride and Suzanne Lillian (née Sagley). [3] [4] Her father owned his own business, and her mother studied at the historic Pasadena Playhouse. [5] She had three siblings: John Michael, Neil Allen, [6] and Melanie Suzanne. [7]
McBride began her acting career in 1991, appearing in several television commercials for clients such as Rooms To Go; she was also a spokeswoman for Ford. [8] [9] She made her series television debut in a 1993 episode of ABC legal drama series Matlock , [9] and later guest-starred in several other television drama series, including In the Heat of the Night ; American Gothic ; Profiler ; Walker, Texas Ranger ; and Dawson's Creek . In the last, she played Nina – a film buff who charms Dawson after his breakup with Jen – in the Season 1 episode "Road Trip" (1998) – and in 2003 returned to the series finale playing a different character. [10]
In the 1990s, McBride had supporting roles in several made-for-television movies, such as Her Deadly Rival (1995) opposite Annie Potts and Harry Hamlin, Close to Danger (1997) with Rob Estes, Any Place But Home (1997), and Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999). In 1996, she appeared on the CBS miniseries A Season in Purgatory , based on Dominick Dunne's eponymous 1993 novel. From 2000 to 2010, she worked as a film and commercial casting director in Atlanta, Georgia [11] and starred in several short films. In 2007, director Frank Darabont cast McBride as the "woman with the kids at home" in the ensemble-cast science-fiction horror film The Mist, alongside Thomas Jane, Laurie Holden, and Marcia Gay Harden. [5] [9] McBride was in contention for a bigger role in the film but did not want to take a significant amount of time away from her job as a casting director. [8] The following year, she appeared in the Lifetime television movie Living Proof .
In 1996, McBride acted alongside both Martin Sheen and Ramon Estevez in the music video for country music group Diamond Rio's single It's All In Your Head .
McBride was cast as Carol Peletier in the AMC television drama series The Walking Dead – her biggest role to date. [12] Peletier begins as a mid-forties abused wife and caring mother to preteen Sophia, fighting to survive in a violent post-apocalyptic world populated with flesh-eating zombies and the few surviving humans, some of whom are diabolical and even more dangerous than the zombies themselves. McBride did not audition for the role, which she thought was temporary. [8] She was a recurring cast member in Season 1 and was promoted to series regular for Season 2. [13] [14] McBride's name appeared in the opening credits sequence beginning with the first episode of Season 4. Carol was supposed to have been killed off in the episode "Killer Within", but the producers eventually had a change of plans. [15]
As the series progresses, McBride's character develops from being weak and dependent, into a strong, cunning, and loyal warrior. The direction of her character is contrasted between the two media. In the comic series, Carol is much younger and exhibits a neurotic, self-centered, and naive demeanor. Throughout her time in the comics, she grows increasingly unstable to the point of being self-destructive. The television show differs in these regards, as she is shown to be a stern, pragmatic, and compassionate individual who has been gradually building inner strength. Producers of the series, Scott M. Gimple and Robert Kirkman, said in 2014 that "Carol is her own unique character; it would be a disservice to Melissa McBride to say she's evolved into the Carol from the comics. The Carol in the TV show is a wholly original creation that we'll continue to explore on the show to great effect. Everyone in the writers' room loves that character, and we're thrilled with what Melissa has brought to the table. She has definitely become a character that is one to watch, and there's some really exciting stuff ahead for her." [16]
McBride has received critical acclaim for her performance as Carol and won positive reviews from critics during Seasons 3, 4, and 5. [17] Many critics praised McBride's performance in the Season 4 episode centered on her character, "The Grove". [18] [19] [20] Others singled out Carol's actions in the Season 5 premiere, "No Sanctuary", which earned critical praise and positive fan reception. Despite the praise of some critics [21] [22] [23] and a fan campaign, [24] McBride did not receive a nomination for the 2014 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. [25] However, she won the 40th Annual Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television, [26] [27] and was nominated for the 2014 Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in Season 4. [28] In March 2015, McBride was nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Leading Actress in a Television series, for her role as Carol. [29] She once again won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television at the 41st Saturn Awards, for the second year in a row. [30]
McBride was set to reprise her role as Carol in a spin-off series centered on her and Daryl Dixon (played by Norman Reedus), following the conclusion of the 11th and final season of The Walking Dead, which is set to debut in 2023. [31] In April 2022, it was reported that McBride dropped out of the series which was relocated to Europe, with AMC citing that McBride's decision to drop out was because it was "logistically untenable" for her to film in Europe. [32] [33] Despite this, she eventually returned to her roles as Carol as a special guest star for the final two episodes of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 1. In season 2, she returned to the show in a lead role and as executive producer; the show was also re-titled The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon - The Book of Carol for that season. [34]
In the mid-1980s, McBride moved to Atlanta, where she still lives. [8]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | Mutant Species | Tiffany's Mom | |
2002 | The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys | Mrs. Doyle | |
2006 | Nailed! | Various characters | Short film |
2007 | The Promise | Stacey Johnson | Short film |
The Mist | Woman with Kids at Home | ||
Lost Crossing | Sheila | Short film | |
2008 | Delgo | Miss Sutley / Elder Pearo | Voice role |
2014 | The Reconstruction of William Zero | Dr. Ashley Bronson | |
2016 | The Happys | Krista |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | Matlock | Darlene Kellogg | Episode: "Matlock's Bad, Bad, Bad Dream" |
1994 | In the Heat of the Night | WPMM Reporter | 2 episodes |
1995 | American Gothic | Holly Gallagher | Episode: "Dead to the World" |
Her Deadly Rival | Ellie | Television film | |
1996 | Profiler | Walker Young | Episode: "Insight" |
A Season in Purgatory | Mary Pat Bradley | Television film | |
1997 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Dr. Rachel Woods | 2 episodes |
Close to Danger | Natalie | Television film | |
Any Place But Home | Brett | Television film | |
1998 | Dawson's Creek | Nina | Episode: "Road Trip" |
1999 | Nathan Dixon | Janine Keach | Pilot |
Pirates of Silicon Valley | Elizabeth Holmes | Television film | |
2003 | Dawson's Creek | Melanie | Episode: "All Good Things..." |
2008 | Living Proof | Sally | Television film |
2010–2022 | The Walking Dead | Carol Peletier | Recurring (season 1), also starring (seasons 2–3), main cast (season 4–11); 125 episodes |
2013 | Conan | Episode: "It's not the Hotlanta, It's the Humidylanta" | |
2017 | Robot Chicken | Episode: "The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking" | |
2018 | Fear the Walking Dead | Special guest star, episode: "What's Your Story?" (season 4) | |
2019 | Ride with Norman Reedus | Herself | Episode: "Scotland With Melissa McBride" |
2021 | The Walking Dead: Origins | Herself | Episode: "Carol's Story" |
2023–present | The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon | Carol Peletier | Special guest star (season 1), lead role and executive producer (season 2–present) [35] [36] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | The Walking Dead: No Man's Land | Carol Peletier | Likeness |
2020 | The Walking Dead: Onslaught | Carol Peletier | Voice and likeness [37] [38] |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Satellite Awards | Best Cast – Television Series | The Walking Dead | Won | [39] |
2013 | Shorty Awards | Best of Social Media | Herself | Nominated | [40] |
2014 | Critics' Choice Television Award | Online Love Award | Won | [41] | |
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama | The Walking Dead | Nominated | [42] | ||
Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress on Television | Won | [43] | ||
EWwy Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Drama | Nominated | [44] | ||
IGN Awards | Best TV Hero | Nominated | [45] | ||
2015 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress on Television | Won | [30] | |
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | Best TV Supporting Actress | Nominated | [46] | ||
EWwy Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Drama | Won | [47] [48] | ||
2016 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress on Television | Nominated | [49] | |
Poppy Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Drama | Nominated | [50] [51] | ||
2017 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress on a Television Series | Nominated | [52] | |
2018 | Nominated | [53] | |||
2019 | Nominated | ||||
2021 | Nominated | ||||
2022 | Best Supporting Actress in a Network or Cable Television Series | Nominated | [54] | ||
2025 | Best Actress in a Television Series | The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon | Pending | [55] |
Norman Mark Reedus is an American actor and former fashion model. He made his acting debut in the 1990s, starring in the role of Murphy MacManus in The Boondock Saints, followed by supporting roles in successful box office films 8MM,Blade II, and American Gangster. Reedus rose to prominence for his portrayal of Daryl Dixon in the hit AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead (2010–2022). Regarded as one of the show's most popular characters, he has starred in his own spin-off series, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, since 2023. Reedus is the host of the AMC show Ride with Norman Reedus (2016–present). He has modeled for various fashion designers, including Prada.
The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic horror drama television series developed by Frank Darabont, based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. Together, the show and the comic book series form the core of The Walking Dead franchise. The series features a large ensemble cast as survivors of a zombie apocalypse trying to stay alive under near-constant threat of attacks from zombies known as "walkers". With the collapse of modern civilization, these survivors must confront other human survivors who have formed groups and communities with their own sets of laws and morals, sometimes leading to open conflict between them. The series is the first television series within The Walking Dead franchise.
The second season of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series on AMC, premiered on October 16, 2011, and concluded on March 18, 2012, consisting of 13 episodes. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. It was executive produced by Darabont, Kirkman, Glen Mazzara, David Alpert, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Mazzara assuming the role of showrunner after Darabont's departure from the series.
"Tell It To The Frogs" is the third episode of the first season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on November 14, 2010. The episode's teleplay was written by Charles H. Eglee, Jack LoGiudice and Frank Darabont, the creator of the series, from a story by Eglee and LoGiudice. It was directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton.
The third season of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series on AMC, premiered on October 14, 2012, and concluded on March 31, 2013, consisting of 16 episodes. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. It was executive produced by Kirkman, Glen Mazzara, David Alpert, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Mazzara as showrunner for his second and final season. The third season was very well received by critics. It was nominated for multiple awards and won two, including Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series, at the 39th Saturn Awards.
Angela Kang is an American television writer known for serving as showrunner on the AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead for the final three seasons.
Daryl Dixon is a fictional character from AMC's horror drama series The Walking Dead, and the protagonist of its last three seasons, replacing Rick Grimes. The character was created for the television series by writers Frank Darabont, Charles H. Eglee and Jack LoGiudice specifically for Norman Reedus, and does not have a counterpart in the comics on which the series is based. The character was introduced in the first season as a southerner, expert tracker, living in the shadow of his older brother, Merle. Despite his bad temper and volatility, he is tolerated by the core group of survivors due to his skills in hunting animals and fearless efficiency in killing walkers.
Carol is a fictional character from the comic book series The Walking Dead, and the television series of the same name, where she is portrayed by Melissa McBride. Carol is introduced in the third issue of the comic's first volume, "Days Gone Bye", and the third episode of the first season of the television series, as a meek housewife and mother of Sophia at the survival camp in Atlanta, Georgia. Her arc in the television series was described as a "hero's journey" by executive producer Scott M. Gimple, having made many difficult decisions in order to survive.
The Walking Dead is an American zombie apocalypse media franchise centered on a number of television series based on the comic book of the same name. Set in one fictional shared universe, the franchise has developed into seven live-action television series, with one additional series in development. The franchise also includes eight web series that tie into the first two television series. The series all air on AMC and AMC+.
Beth Greene is a fictional character from the American horror drama television series The Walking Dead, created by season two showrunner Glen Mazzara, and was portrayed by Emily Kinney. She is the daughter of veterinarian and farmer Hershel Greene and the younger half-sister of Maggie. Unlike the majority of the series' cast of characters, Beth has no specific counterpart in the comic book series on which the show is based.
The fourth season of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series on AMC, premiered on October 13, 2013, and concluded on March 30, 2014, consisting of 16 episodes. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. It was executive produced by Kirkman, David Alpert, Scott M. Gimple, Greg Nicotero, Tom Luse, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Gimple assuming the role of showrunner after Glen Mazzara's departure from the series. The fourth season was well received by critics. It was nominated for multiple awards and won three, including Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series for the second consecutive year, at the 40th Saturn Awards.
The fifth season of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series on AMC, premiered on October 12, 2014, and concluded on March 29, 2015, consisting of 16 episodes. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The executive producers were Kirkman, David Alpert, Scott M. Gimple, Greg Nicotero, Tom Luse, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Gimple as showrunner for the second consecutive season. The fifth season received widespread critical acclaim. It was nominated for multiple awards and won three, including Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series for the third consecutive year, at the 41st Saturn Awards.
"Still" is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on March 2, 2014. The episode was written by Angela Kang and directed by Julius Ramsay.
"Alone" is the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on March 9, 2014. The episode was written by Curtis Gwinn and directed by Ernest Dickerson.
"Consumed" is the sixth episode of the fifth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead which aired on AMC on November 16, 2014. The episode was written by Matthew Negrete and Corey Reed, and directed by Seith Mann. The episode primarily focuses on Carol Peletier as she accompanies Daryl Dixon in searching for Beth Greene. Several flashbacks in the episode explore the different stages in Carol's life, such as her rescue mission to save the group and several tragedies she is attempting to rebound from, including the deaths of her surrogate daughters, Lizzie Samuels and her sister, Mika, as well as the lasting effect of her banishment. The title of the episode refers to Carol's explaining to Daryl about the events in her life and how she has changed, saying that "everything now just... consumes you".
"Remember" is the twelfth episode of the fifth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on March 1, 2015. It was written by Channing Powell and directed by Greg Nicotero. In the episode, the group enters the Alexandria Safe-Zone and struggles to adapt to the community's normality and lifestyle, as well as distrusts their environment. Several group members are interviewed by the shrewd former congresswoman, Alexandria leader, Deanna Monroe, as they are given houses to live in.
The tenth season of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series on AMC, premiered on October 6, 2019, and concluded on April 4, 2021, consisting of 22 episodes. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The executive producers are Kirkman, David Alpert, Scott M. Gimple, Angela Kang, Greg Nicotero, Joseph Incaprera, Denise Huth, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Kang as showrunner for the second consecutive season. The tenth season received generally positive reviews. It was nominated for multiple awards, including a fifth consecutive nomination for Best Horror Television Series, at the 46th Saturn Awards.
The eleventh and final season of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series on AMC, premiered on August 22, 2021, and concluded on November 20, 2022, consisting of 24 episodes. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The executive producers are Kirkman, David Alpert, Scott M. Gimple, Angela Kang, Greg Nicotero, Joseph Incaprera, Denise Huth, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Kang as showrunner for her third and final season. The eleventh season has received positive reviews by critics.
"Diverged" is the twenty-first and penultimate episode of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. The 152nd episode overall, the episode was directed by David Boyd and written by Heather Bellson. "Diverged" was released on the streaming platform AMC+ on March 26, 2021, and aired on television on AMC two days later, on March 28, 2021.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, or simply Daryl Dixon, is an American post-apocalyptic horror drama television series created by David Zabel for AMC, based on The Walking Dead character of the same name. It is the fifth spin-off and overall sixth television series in The Walking Dead franchise, sharing continuity with the other series and set after the conclusion of the original The Walking Dead television series.