# Norman Reedus

Norman Mark Reedus (born January 6, 1969) is an American actor. 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.
Reedus also landed roles in the television series Law & Order and Hawaii Five-O and ventured into voice acting and motion capture, starring as protagonist Sam Porter Bridges in the video games Death Stranding and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and Striker in the animated series Helluva Boss. He has also starred in music videos for Lady Gaga, Marilyn Manson, Keith Richards, Radiohead, R.E.M., and Orville Peck.

## 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, and Ira Norman Reedus. Reedus's paternal grandmother was of Italian and French descent, while his grandfather had English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry. His parents divorced when he was young. He has a sister, Leslie.
As a teen, Reedus lived in Japan with his mother. He attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, for a semester.
After living in Narashino, Chiba, Japan,

## Career

Reedus worked at a Harley-Davidson shop in Venice, Los Angeles, California, and contributed artwork to various shows as a painter, photographer, sculptor, and video artist. He first acted in the play Maps for Drowners at the Tiffany Theater on Sunset Boulevard.

### 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. He reprised the role 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.

#### 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.
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.

#### The Boondock Saints 3

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.

### 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. He released a book of photography on October 31, 2013, called The Sun's Coming Up... Like a Big Bald Head. In September 2014, Reedus announced a fan-art compilation called Thanks for All the Niceness.

### Video games

Reedus reprised his role as Daryl Dixon in the 2013 video game The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, which is based on the television series. He was set to star in Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro's reboot horror game Silent Hills, but Kojima left Konami and the game was canceled in 2015. Reedus stars in Kojima's video game Death Stranding, released in 2019, where he takes the role of Sam Bridges, the protagonist of the game. Reedus reprises his role in the game's sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which is set to release in 2025.

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

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Charmed | Nate Parks | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Masters of Horror | Kirby | Episode: "Cigarette Burns" |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Derek Lord | Episode: "Influence" |
| 2006 | 13 Graves | Norman | Television film |
| 2009 | The Chase | Dangerous Guy #1 | Web series |
| 2010 | Hawaii Five-0 | Anton Hesse | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2010–2022 | The Walking Dead | Daryl Dixon | Recurring (season 1), main (season 2–11), 148 episodes |
| 2016 | American Dad! | Tim | Voice, episode: "Hayley Smith, Seal Team Six" |
| 2016 | Turbo Fast | Wild Pete | Voice, episode: "The Good, The Bad, and the Bugly" |
| 2016 | Voltron: Legendary Defender | Rolo | Voice, episode: "Taking Flight" |
| 2016–present | Ride with Norman Reedus | Himself (host) | 34 episodes |
| 2017 | Robot Chicken | Daryl Dixon | Voice, episode: "The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking" |
| 2018 | Ballmastrz: 9009 | Bacchus LaBrute | Voice, episode: "Leather Passions! 2 Hearts, 2 Wheelz, Infinite Roadz. Ride Now!" |
| 2021 | Helluva Boss | Striker | Voice, episode: "The Harvest Moon Festival"; web series |
| 2021 | The Walking Dead: Origins | Daryl Dixon / Himself | Episode: "Daryl's Story" |
| 2023–present | The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon | Daryl Dixon | Lead role; also executive producer |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
| 2013 | The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct | Daryl Dixon | Based on the TV series |
| 2014 | P.T. | Protagonist | Motion capture and likeness |
| 2019 | Death Stranding | Sam Porter Bridges | Motion capture and likeness |
| 2020 | The Walking Dead: Onslaught | Daryl Dixon | Voice and likeness |
| 2020 | Fortnite Battle Royale | Daryl Dixon | Likeness |
| 2021 | State of Survival | Daryl Dixon | Hero model |
| 2024 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III | Daryl Dixon | Playable character (DLC); voice and likeness |
| 2025 | Death Stranding 2: On the Beach | Sam Porter Bridges | Motion capture and likeness |

### Music videos

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

## Awards and nominations

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