Ever watched The Walking Dead and wondered why Rick Grimes seems to tower over some people but then suddenly looks average-sized next to others? It’s a weird phenomenon. You see him leading a group, staring down a walker, and he feels like this massive, 6-foot-4 presence. Then, Jeffrey Dean Morgan walks into the frame as Negan, and suddenly, Rick looks like he’s shrunk.
So, let's get into the actual numbers. Andrew Lincoln is 5 feet 10 inches tall (178 cm). He isn't a giant. He isn't short either. He’s basically the definition of "average height" for a man in the UK or the US. But there is a lot of nuance to how he carries himself that makes that number feel like a lie sometimes.
The Mystery of the Rick Grimes Stature
When we talk about how tall is Andrew Lincoln, we’re usually talking about the "Rick Grimes effect." On screen, Lincoln has this incredible ability to take up space. It’s a theater trick, honestly. Having trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), he knows how to use his posture and center of gravity to command a scene.
In the early seasons of The Walking Dead, Rick is often framed from a lower angle. Directors do this on purpose. It’s called a "hero shot." When the camera is slightly below eye level, the actor looks more imposing, more like a leader. Combine that with the cowboy boots he wore for nearly a decade, and you’ve got a guy who looks like he’s pushing 6 feet easily.
Comparing Him to the Rest of the Cast
The real confusion starts when you see him standing next to his co-stars. This is where the 5'10" reality hits home.
- Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon): Norman is roughly the same height, maybe a hair shorter at 5’9” and some change. When they stand together, they look like peers.
- Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Negan): This is the big one. JDM is 6’1”. When Negan leans in to taunt Rick, that three-inch difference feels like a foot because of the power dynamic.
- David Morrissey (The Governor): Morrissey is a big dude, standing at 6'3". In their face-offs, the height difference was used specifically to make Rick look like the underdog.
It’s kind of funny because Lincoln has actually joked about this in interviews. He’s mentioned how he’s often the "smallest" guy in the room when the villains show up. Jon Bernthal, who played Shane, is also about 5’11”, so they were always very evenly matched in those early-season brawls.
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Why 5'10" is Actually the Perfect Height for an Actor
There’s a reason so many leading men are in the 5'9" to 5'11" range. If you're too tall, you’re hard to frame with other actors. If you're too short, you might need "apple boxes" to stand on during close-ups.
Lincoln fits right in that "Goldilocks" zone. He’s tall enough to be a convincing action star but not so tall that he looks out of place in a domestic drama like Love Actually.
Speaking of Love Actually, think back to his character, Mark. He didn't feel "tough" or "imposing" there, right? He felt like a regular guy. That's the range. His 5’10” frame allows him to play both the vulnerable romantic and the grizzled survivalist without the audience questioning it.
The Physicality Beyond the Inches
Honestly, his height is only half the story. Lincoln is known for being incredibly fit, but not in a "bodybuilder" way. He’s lean. During his time on The Walking Dead, he famously stayed away from heavy weightlifting. He preferred running and "zombie fitness"—basically just doing the intense physical work required by the scripts.
Being lean makes you look taller. When you have a slender build and good posture, people naturally assume you’re taller than you are. If Lincoln had bulked up like a linebacker, he probably would have looked "stockier" and shorter.
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The Fan Theories vs. Reality
If you go down the rabbit hole of fan forums, you’ll find people swearing he’s 6 feet tall. Others claim he’s 5’8” and wears lifts.
The truth is usually the most boring answer: he’s exactly what his agency says he is. IMDbPro lists him at 5’10 ¼”. That extra quarter-inch is usually the kind of detail an actor fights for during a physical.
It’s worth noting that height in Hollywood is notoriously inflated. We’ve all heard the stories of actors claiming 6'0" when they can barely hit 5'10" in sneakers. But with Lincoln, the 5'10" mark seems very honest. When you see him at fan conventions like San Diego Comic-Con, standing on level ground in normal shoes, he doesn't look like he's trying to fake anything.
What This Means for His Career
As he moves into the next phase of his career—especially with The Ones Who Live—Lincoln is leaning more into that "weathered leader" look. Height doesn't matter as much as "presence" does when you're older.
He’s now in his early 50s. The way he carries his 5’10” frame has shifted from the athletic intensity of the early 2010s to a more grounded, heavy-set authority. It works.
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If you’re trying to compare your own height to his, just remember that the "camera adds ten pounds" rule doesn't really apply to height. Instead, the camera adds "status."
Wrapping It Up
Next time you’re re-watching a Rick Grimes rampage, keep that 5’10” number in your head. It’s a testament to his acting that he feels like a giant. It’s all in the eyes, the tilt of the head, and that weird, sweaty, intense walk he does.
If you want to see how he stacks up in real-time, your best bet is to look for "red carpet" photos where he's standing next to his wife, Gael Anderson. She’s quite tall herself, and seeing them together gives you the most "human" perspective of his actual stature without the smoke and mirrors of a TV set.
Actionable Insight: If you're curious about celebrity heights, always check photos from "candid" events rather than movie stills. Look at the footwear—actors often wear boots with a 1-to-2-inch heel (like Rick's signature boots), which can easily skew your perception of their true height.