You probably remember him as the kid in the oversized sheriff’s hat. For nearly a decade, the answer to who plays Carl on TWD was a name that became synonymous with growing up in a world of rot: Chandler Riggs.
He didn’t just play a character; he basically grew up on our TV screens. One minute he’s a ten-year-old kid hiding in a quarry, and the next, he’s a hardened survivor making moral calls that put the adults to shame. Honestly, it’s kinda wild to think about how much pressure was on a child actor to carry one of the biggest shows in history. But Riggs did it. He took Carl Grimes from a background character to the moral compass of The Walking Dead, and his exit is still something fans argue about at conventions today.
The Face Behind the Hat: Meet Chandler Riggs
Chandler Riggs was cast as Carl Grimes in 2010 when he was just ten years old. Before the zombies took over his life, he was a kid from Atlanta doing musical theater and a few indie horror flicks like Jesus H. Zombie. It’s almost poetic that his first gig involved the undead.
When The Walking Dead blew up, Riggs became a household name. He wasn’t just "the kid." He was the bridge between the old world and the new one. While Andrew Lincoln (Rick) and Danai Gurira (Michonne) were the powerhouses, Carl was the reason they were fighting.
Why his casting worked
- The Look: He actually looked like he could be Andrew Lincoln’s son.
- The Growth: Unlike many shows that swap out child actors, TWD let us watch Riggs age in real-time.
- The Range: He went from "Stay in the house, Carl" to a guy who could stare down Negan without blinking.
Riggs won three Saturn Awards for his performance. That’s not just "participation trophy" stuff; the industry actually recognized that playing a kid losing his innocence is brutal work. He had to handle scenes like putting down his own mother (Lori) and losing an eye to a stray bullet. Most adult actors would struggle with that emotional weight, but Riggs made it feel raw and, honestly, pretty heartbreaking.
📖 Related: Ashley Johnson: The Last of Us Voice Actress Who Changed Everything
What Really Happened with Carl’s Shocking Exit?
If you want to start a fight in a TWD subreddit, just mention Season 8. The decision to kill off Carl Grimes is widely considered one of the most controversial moves in modern television. In the comics, Carl is the one who survives until the very end. He’s the protagonist of the final issue.
But in the show? He gets bitten by a walker while helping a stranger named Siddiq.
The Behind-the-Scenes Reality
The "why" is still a bit of a sore spot. Riggs had just bought a house in Georgia to be near the set. He was planning on starting college while filming. Then, he got the call. According to his father’s social media posts at the time, the family was blindsided.
Showrunner Scott M. Gimple explained the move as a narrative necessity. Rick needed a massive, soul-crushing reason to spare Negan and end the war. Carl’s death—and his dying wish for peace—provided that bridge. It was a "story turn," but for fans who had invested eight years into who plays Carl on TWD, it felt like a betrayal of the source material.
👉 See also: Archie Bunker's Place Season 1: Why the All in the Family Spin-off Was Weirder Than You Remember
Life After the Apocalypse: What Is Chandler Riggs Doing Now?
So, what does a guy do after being the most famous teenager in a zombie apocalypse? He pivots. Riggs didn't let the TWD exit slow him down. He’s leaned heavily into his music career, performing as a DJ under the name Eclipse. If you’ve been to a major electronic music festival or a niche club set lately, you might have seen him behind the decks.
On the acting front, he didn’t stay unemployed for long. He landed a recurring role on the ABC drama A Million Little Things as PJ. It was a massive departure from Carl. No guns, no dirt, just a kid dealing with complex family secrets.
His Latest Projects (2024-2026)
Riggs has been busy lately. He recently starred in a movie called Breakup Season (2024), where he played a lead romantic role. It’s a huge shift to see him in a "normal" setting without a katana-wielding stepmom nearby.
He also stepped into the superhero world—sorta. He voiced Superman in the animated Justice League x RWBY crossover. And for the real nerds out there, he even played Peter Parker in a high-budget fan film called The Spider. It’s clear he’s still got the acting itch, even if he’s not dodging walkers every week.
✨ Don't miss: Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises: What Most People Get Wrong
The Legacy of Carl Grimes
People still ask "who plays Carl on TWD" because the character’s shadow is huge. Even in the spinoffs like The Ones Who Live, Rick and Michonne are constantly haunted by Carl’s memory. He’s the reason Alexandria exists. He’s the reason the "New World" has a chance.
Chandler Riggs took a character that could have been a generic "annoying TV kid" and turned him into a legend. Whether you loved him or spent the early seasons yelling at him to stay in the house, you can't deny the impact he had.
Next Steps for TWD Fans
If you’re missing the Grimes family dynamic, you should definitely check out the spinoff The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. While Riggs doesn't appear in person (aside from some archival footage), his influence is the driving force of the entire plot. You can also follow Chandler Riggs on social media or catch his music on Spotify under "Eclipse" to see what he’s building outside of the horror genre. He’s grown up, but to us, he’ll always be the kid who survived the end of the world.