Former “The Walking Dead” actor Scott Wilson has died at the age of 76, according to American TV network AMC.
The iconic actor played the character of Hershel Greene—a veterinarian turned farmer—in the zombie apocalypse drama series.
Wilson, whose acting credits date back to ‘60s movies “In the Heat of the Night” and “In Cold Blood” and starred in around 30 episodes of “The Walking Dead” from 2011 to 2014.
“Scott will be remembered as a great actor and an even better person,” AMC announced in a tweet.
“The character he embodied on ‘The Walking Dead,’ Hershel, lived at the emotional core of the show. Our hearts go out to his wife, family, friends, and to the millions of fans who loved him.”
Fans and friends paid tribute to Wilson, who starred in a total of three seasons of “The Walking Dead.”
Kary Payton, who plays the character of Ezekiel in the show, tweeted his condolences.
“The first time I met Scott Wilson, he gave me a big hug and said that this thing I had become a part of ... was a family,” Payton wrote.
Wilson’s character was killed off in series four of the show. But about an hour before news of his death was made public, showrunner Angela Kang announced that the character of Hershel Greene would be making a cameo appearance in season nine.
Chris Hardwick, host of the after show “Talking Dead” on the AMC network, paid tribute to Wilson on Instagram.
“I am utterly broken hearted to hear about the passing of Scott Wilson this evening. We had just completed the NYCC ‘Walking Dead’ panel on which the crowd erupted in cheers when Angela Kang announced that he’d be appearing on season 9 at some point. A little less than an hour later I got the terrible news,” said Hardwick.
“I really will miss him and the gentle, compassionate eyes that gave Hershel so much soul,” he wrote. “I am so sad to know that the world is without him tonight.”
Actress Yvette Nicole Brown, a frequent “Talking Dead” guest, tweeted her condolences, saying, “He was a wonderful man.”
Actor Titus Welliver, star of the show “Bosch,” in which Wilson also appeared, tweeted “Scott Wilson has departed. I am heartbroken. We are fewer. Go easy into the light brother.”
Wilson is survived by his wife. No memorial plans have been announced, Variety reported.
