The Walking Dead star Chandler Riggs (Carl) reflects on surprise exit

Appearing virtually at Wizard World 2020, The Walking Dead star Chandler Riggs discussed his surprise exit from the show during its eighth season. Riggs, who’d played Rick Grimes’ son Carl since the show began, had hoped to stay on the end, just like his comic book counterpart. But AMC threw him a curveball:

"Honestly, being on that show, it was just an irreplaceable experience. It was really all I had known, and it was pretty hard leaving because it wasn’t as expected as I was hoping. But regardless, I feel like being off the show now, it’s opened up so many more avenues, and I’ve gotten to play so many other characters that I wasn’t used to playing because I had just played one character for eight years."

Carl was written off the show in the season 8 episode “Honor,” where the character takes his own life after discreetly being bitten in episodes earlier in “The King, the Widow, and Rick.” That Carl died saving newcomer Siddiq (Avi Nash) was little consolation to fans, nor was the fact that it inspired Rick to spare Negan’s life later in the season. However, Riggs appears to have no regrets, as this time on the show led to a role on ABC’s A Million Little Things, as well as appearances in a pair of films, Only and Inherit the Viper. 

Just 11 years old at the time The Walking Dead debuted, the role of Carl Grimes will always hold a special place for Riggs. “When I left it, and I feel like it still is, it’s like the majority of my memorable life was on that show. So it was just an incredible experience being able to be part of a family like that for so, so long and to grow up on a show that got to where it is now. That just doesn’t happen, ever.”

The shows’ fans also played a part in making it a special experience. “I just feel super, super lucky to be a part of everything Walking Dead. I’m happy to have been a part of it, to still be a part of it and have people show up and be excited about it, so it’s really, really cool. I thank the fans for keeping me a part of it. It’s really cool, and an experience I will always be grateful for.”

And we will always be grateful for these moments. The show is not the same without you, Coral.

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