Norman Reedus

Norman Mark Reedus (born January 6, 1969) is an American actor. Starting his career as a model, he first rose to prominence as an actor for his role as Murphy MacManus in, which he reprised in The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009). Aside from an occasional supporting role in larger budget films such as Blade II (2002) and American Gangster (2007), Reedus mostly starred in independent film productions until being cast as Daryl Dixon in the AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead (2010–2022). Regarded as one of the series' most popular characters, he currently stars as Dixon in the spin-off series The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023–present).

Reedus is also the host of the AMC travel show Ride with Norman Reedus (2016–present) and starred as protagonist Sam Porter Bridges in the video games Death Stranding (2019) and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (2025).

Early life, family and education Norman Mark Reedus was born on 6 January 1969 in Hollywood, Florida, the son of Marianne (née Yarber), a teacher and former Playboy bunny, His parents divorced when he was young. He has a sister, Leslie.

Film and television

Reedus played Jeremy in his major film debut Mimic and Mac in Giovanni Rodriguez's Red Canyon. He played Murphy MacManus in the 1999 film The Boondock Saints. In 2005, he starred as the main protagonist in the hour-long "Cigarette Burns", a John Carpenter-directed episode of Masters of Horror, in which his character seeks a uniquely cursed lost film about an imprisoned fallen angel. He reprised the role of MacManus in the 2009 sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. He played Scud in Blade II. He guest-starred in Charmed as Nate, the boyfriend of Paige (Rose McGowan). Reedus starred in Hello Herman, which opened nationwide and on-demand on June 7, 2013. Reedus stars in the reality series Ride with Norman Reedus, which premiered in June 2016. Most recently, he started Bigbaldhead Productions with an overall deal at AMC.

Reedus played Daniel Pine in the 2025 John Wick spin-off, Ballerina, alongside Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas. In March 2024, Thunder Road Films, Dragonfly Films and Impossible Dream Entertainment announced a "reimagining" of The Boondock Saints, with Reedus and co-star Sean Patrick Flanery reprising their roles from the first two films and serving as executive producers, although Troy Duffy would not return as director for the third film; instead, he plans to write a series of novels.

The Walking Dead

In 2010, Reedus began playing Daryl Dixon in the AMC television series The Walking Dead, a horror drama about a group of friends and family members who fight to survive in a violent apocalyptic world populated with flesh-eating zombies and the few surviving humans. The character was not originally in the comic book series of the same name, but was created specifically for Reedus after his audition for the character of Merle Dixon. The Walking Dead comic creator Robert Kirkman feels "absolutely blessed Reedus has honored the show with his presence, and the way he has come in and taken over that role and defined Daryl Dixon. A lot of Reedus's portrayal of the character in the first season inspired all the writers to do what we did with him in the second season. We love writing him and end up doing cool stuff with him." The drama has evolved into the highest-rated in cable history, smashing all previous records. Reedus was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance and has overall received critical acclaim for the role.

Reedus reprised his role of Daryl as the lead of a spin-off series centered on his character, following the conclusion of the 11th and final season of The Walking Dead. Angela Kang is the showrunner for the series, which debuted in September 2023.

Modeling, music videos, and art Reedus has modeled for Prada, Yohji Yamamoto, Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Durban, Levi's, Lexus, and Morgenthal Fredrics. In 2015, Reedus posed for a Cruelty Free International advertisement in support of ending cosmetic tests on animals.

In the mid-1990s, while working as a model, Reedus appeared in the music videos for "Wicked as It Seems" by Keith Richards, "Violently Happy" by Björk, "Flat Top" by Goo Goo Dolls, "Cat's in the Cradle" covered by Ugly Kid Joe, "Strange Currencies" by R.E.M., and "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead. In 1999, he appeared in the video for "Mean to Me" by Tonic. Since achieving fame as an actor, he has also appeared in the videos for "Judas" by Lady Gaga, "Sun Down" by Tricky (feat. Tirzah), "Gypsy Woman" by Hilary Duff, "No Cities to Love" by Sleater-Kinney, and "Curse of the Blackened Eye" by Orville Peck.

Reedus is also a painter, sculptor, and photographer who has shown his artwork in galleries in New York City, Barcelona, Berlin, and Frankfurt.

Video games In 2014, it was revealed that Reedus was set to star in Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro's horror game Silent Hills, but Kojima departed Konami and the game was canceled in 2015. Reedus went on to reunite with Kojima to star in the videogame Death Stranding (2019) where he takes the role of Sam Porter Bridges, the protagonist of the game, a courier tasked with reconnecting a post-apocalyptic United States. Reedus reprises his role in the game's sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (2025).

Reedus has also reprised his role as Daryl Dixon in the 2013 video game The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, which is based on the television series, and has additionally provided his likeness as Daryl for Fortnite Battle Royale, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, and Dead by Daylight.

Author In 2022, Reedus released his debut novel The Ravaged.

Personal life Reedus was in a five-year relationship with Danish-Peruvian ex–Victoria's Secret Angel and supermodel Helena Christensen from 1998 to 2003. Despite reports to the contrary, the two were never married. Together they have a son, born in 1999. They remained friends and shared joint custody of their son until he reached adulthood.

Reedus owns part of the restaurant chain Nic and Normans.

In February 2005, Reedus sustained a head injury when a truck collided with his car in Germany. His nose was reconstructed with the aid of four screws and his left eye socket with titanium.

In 2015, during the filming of Sky, Reedus met German actress Diane Kruger; the two were first seen together as a couple in July 2016. In November 2018, Kruger gave birth to their daughter, his second and her first child. Reedus has lived in New York City since 1997.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role(s) Notes 1997 Floating Van Mimic Jeremy Six Ways to Sunday Harold 1998 I'm Losing You Toby Dark Harbor Young Man Davis Is Dead Larry 1999 Let the Devil Wear Black Brautigan 8mm Warren Anderson Murphy MacManus 2000 Beat Lucien Carr Gossip Travis Preston Tylk Jonathan Casey Sand Jack 2001 The Beatnicks Nick Nero 2002 Luster Sextools Delivery Boy Blade II 'Scud' Deuces Wild Marco Vendetti 2003 Nobody Needs to Know Kurt Tough Luck Archie Octane Recovery Man Overnight Himself Documentary film 2004 Until the Night Robert Great Wall Great Medicine Norman 2005 A Lot like Love Emily's Ex At Airport Uncredited role Antibodies Polizist Schmitz Billy Neal 2006 Walls Henry Flesh Short film Vincent Harris I Thought of You Unknown Short film; also writer and director Killer Queen Jack Trust 2007 American Gangster Detective Norman Reilly Moscow Chill Ray Perso 2008 Hero Wanted Swain Direct-to-video film Meet Me in Berlin Unnamed American Short film Red Canyon Mac Dead*Line Seth Short film Clown Lucien Cadillac Records Chess Records Engineer Echoes of Extinction Eric Richards Styrofoam Soul Joe 2009 The Chase Dangerous Guy Messengers 2: The Scarecrow John Rollins Direct-to-video film Pandorum Shepard Murphy MacManus 2010 Meskada Dennis Burrows Lewis Payne Ollie Klublershturf vs. The Nazis Barry Short film 8:28 AM Stranger 2011 Hello Herman Lax Morales 2012 Night of the Templar Henry Flesh 2013 Iron Man: Rise of Technovore Frank Castle / Punisher Voice role; direct-to-video film Sunlight Jr. Justin Pawn Shop Chronicles Stanley 2014 Stretch Himself Cameo appearance 2015 Vacation Truck Driver Air Bauer Also executive producer Sky Diego 2016 Triple 9 Russel Welch 2017 Alien Invasion: S.U.M.1 K.E.R.4 Voice role 2023 The Bikeriders Funny Sonny 2025 Ballerina Daniel Pine 2027 Pendulum Post-production TBA Untitled Takashi Miike film Filming +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television Year Title Role(s) Notes 2003 Charmed Nate Parks Episodes: "Sense and Sense Ability" & "Necromancing the Stone" 2005 Masters of Horror Kirby Sweetman Episode: "Cigarette Burns" 2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Derek Lord Episode: "Influence" 13 Graves Norman Television film 2009 The Chase Dangerous Guy #1 Episode: "The Final Chapter" 2010 Hawaii Five-0 Anton Hesse Episode: "Pilot" 2010–2022 Daryl Dixon Recurring role (season 1), Main role (seasons 2–11), 148 episodes 2016 American Dad! Tim Voice role; Episode: "Hayley Smith, Seal Team Six" Turbo Fast Wild Pete Voice role; Episode: "The Good, The Bad, and the Bugly" Voltron: Legendary Defender Rolo Voice role; Episode: "Taking Flight" 2016–present Ride with Norman Reedus Himself (host) Travel Docuseries; 37 episodes 2017 Robot Chicken Daryl Dixon Voice role; Episode: "The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking" 2018 Ballmastrz: 9009 Bacchus LaBrute Voice role; Episode: "Leather Passions! 2 Hearts, 2 Wheelz, Infinite Roadz. Ride Now!" 2021 Helluva Boss Striker Voice role; Episode: "The Harvest Moon Festival" The Walking Dead: Origins Daryl Dixon / Himself Episode: "Daryl's Story" 2023–present The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Daryl Dixon Lead role; 19 episodes (also executive producer)

Video games Year Title Role(s) Notes 2013 The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct Daryl Dixon Based on the TV series 2014 P.T. Protagonist Motion capture, voice and likeness 2019 Death Stranding Sam Porter Bridges 2020 The Walking Dead: Onslaught Daryl Dixon Voice and likeness Fortnite Battle Royale Likeness 2021 State of Survival Hero model 2024 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Playable character (DLC); voice and likeness 2025Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Sam Porter Bridges Motion capture, voice and likenessDead by Daylight Daryl Dixon Playable character; voice and likenessWorld of TanksCommander with custom voice lines 2026 World War Z Playable character (DLC); voice and likeness

Music videos Year Title Artist Role(s) 1992 "Wicked as It Seems" Keith Richards 1994 "Violently Happy" Björk 1995 "Strange Currencies" R.E.M. "Fake Plastic Trees" Radiohead 2011 "Judas" Lady Gaga Judas Iscariot 2014 "Sun Down" Tricky 2015 "It Just Feels" Jihae 2020 "Don't Chase the Dead" Marilyn Manson 2021 "Never Look Back" Run the Jewels 2022"The Curse of the Blackened Eye"Orville PeckThe Curse

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 1997 New England Film & Video Festival Special Jury Award for Best Acting Performance Floating 1998 Gotham Awards Breakthrough Actor Six Ways to Sunday 2012 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor on TelevisionThe Walking Dead Satellite Awards Best Television Ensemble (shared with cast) IGN Awards Best TV Hero IGN People's Choice Awards Best TV Hero 2014 EWwy Awards Best Supporting Actor New York City Horror Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor on TelevisionThe Walking Dead Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best TV Supporting Actor 2017 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor on a Television Series 2018 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Unstructured Reality Series Ride with Norman Reedus 2019 People's Choice Awards The Male TV Star of 2019The Walking Dead The Drama TV Star of 2019 The Game Awards Best PerformanceDeath Stranding 2020 British Academy Games Awards Performer in a Leading Role D.I.C.E. Awards Outstanding Achievement in Character 2022 Hollywood Walk of Fame Television The Walking Dead 2024 Saturn Awards Dan Curtis Legacy Award 2025 Best Actor in a Television Series The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon