How The Walking Dead Cast Really Felt About Jeffrey Dean Morgan at First
There's no doubt that the cast of the Walking Dead did an exceptional job in bringing to life the characters we know and love – but you'd be forgiven for not realizing that there was actually trouble on set!
Indeed, the terms of how many felt towards Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Morgan plays Negan in the show, and his amazing portrayal of the character is something that many fans – ourselves included – have been absolutely awed by! However, his unorthodox methods for acting certainly raised a few eyebrows from his fellow cast members – which begs the question, what did his fellow cast members actually think?
When Jeffrey Dean Morgan first joined the Walking Dead, it's safe to say that things would have been civil but a little bit reserved, to begin with. Negan's first appearance was in The Last Day on Earth episode in Season 6, and he was always intended to be the "bad guy" of the series – and boy, does he play it well. However, with the main cast well-established, introducing a brand-new antagonist would certainly have been met with intrigue and a little tension.
However, before long, Dean Morgan became an important part of the Walking Dead cast overall. From the show's perspective, however, there was a huge disdain for Dean Morgan for killing off Glenn (played by Steven Yeun). Since Glenn had been in the series at the time ever since the pilot episode, it's perhaps unsurprising that this was met with unhappiness by the cast. He was irrefutably a much-loved member of the cast – and Jeffrey's character, as a result, was despised for his actions.
How Did The Cast's Perception of Jeffrey Dean Morgan Change With Time?
At first, the Walking Dead cast undoubtedly had reservations about Jeffrey, being, as the actor himself described it, "standoffish" – but, as time progressed, they began to respect his acting style much more. However, after standing up for Norman Reedus in April 2022 for toxic behaviors from the fanbase, it's safe to say that the cast – and perhaps the Walking Dead community overall – sees him in a slightly different light (even if the character he plays is still just as despised).
There's no doubt that Jeffrey Dean Morgan's acting style comes across as unorthodox – in fact, it's often the case that he doesn't really act at all, instead getting into character for real by living out his character's lives. While this certainly made some cast members feel suspicious and uncertain about him, it's safe to say that, as the seasons progressed, he made his mark on both the show and them for his incredible dedication to the role overall.