Norman Reedus Andrew Lincoln The Walking Dead

We won’t see Andrew Lincoln departing AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead‘ until some point after Season 9 kicks off next month but the actors have already been saying their goodbyes. Even though Lincoln will likely return for the tenth season to direct an episode, the cast and crew likely didn’t know that while filming the actor’s final scenes. Specifically, Norman Reedus couldn’t help but have a good time helping his old friend during his final days on set.

The mischievous grins that Reedus likes to share as Daryl Dixon are nothing compared to the pranks that he and Lincoln would play on one another and that tradition has carried through to the very end of Lincoln’s filming from the very beginning over eight years ago. However, while there wasn’t a prank at the last scene, they did have a few laughs.

According to Reedus, they had a very lighthearted moment as the final shot was being filmed:

“His very last scene, he’s laying there, and he’s supposed to giggle. “The camera’s [up] here and I’m under the camera tickling his feet so he can giggle. So, it was a good way to end it. At the very end, he got up, and we gave him a standing ovation. He gave a little speech, and people pulled out their phones. He goes, ‘Everybody put down your phones. This isn’t for them; it’s for us.’ In such true Andy spirit, it was a very inspirational, honest goodbye. It was very touching. He’s still around. His spirit’s still around; he’s still very much a part of the show.”

For the cast to say goodbye, they ended up throwing a pool party which “was at Melissa [McBride]’s house” and “was fun” according to Reedus. We’ve heard from all of the cast and crew over the years that Lincoln was an inspiration to them all and helped everyone whenever he could. Reedus doesn’t feel like anyone can replace the actor and he doesn’t mean just in the main role of the series either:

“I don’t think anyone’s gonna step up and be Rick. Everybody on the show is gonna step up and elevate their game and fill that hole. I don’t think there could be a new Rick. I know the internet’s like, ‘Screw, Norman! Who does he think he is?’ I’ve just got to sit there go, ‘Oh, whatever.’ Everybody sort of steps up to the plate, but the best thing, not even the story, but Andy as an actor, as a person, as a friend … When people show up on the set for the first time, he’s the first person that says ‘Hello.’ He’s the first one there. He’s the last one to leave. He’s the one that’s like, ‘Come on, guys! Stop f—ing around! Let’s do-” I would look at him, and I’d go, ‘Do the thing. Come on, guys! Let’s get this thing!’ and just all this stuff. I’d be like, ‘This is really good. Louder.”

A great actor and motivator for those he worked with. Clearly, ‘The Walking Dead’ will be feeling the loss of Andrew Lincoln for years to come.

Are you sad to see Andrew Lincoln leaving ‘The Walking Dead’? Do you think that the series will be able to keep fans interested without either of the older Grimes family members still on the show? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: Comic Book