Scott Wilson, a veteran actor of the small screen and big screen, has passed away from complications related to Leukemia.
He was 76 years old.
Wilson had an extensive resume to his name at the time of his death, one that included well over 50 movie credits.
But he’s likely best known at this point for his long-running role on The Walking Dead of Hershel Greene.
In both the comic books on which the AMC drama is based, along with television series itself, Hershel was introduced by saving the life of Carl Grimes, the son of Rick Grimes, after the boy is shot by one of Hershel’s neighbors.
During his stint on the program, Greene served as the moral center of his group of survivors.
Wilson appeared on 37 episodes of The Walking Dead, debuting in 2011 and leaving in 2014.
Scott’s rep, Dominic Mancini, spoke to TMZ and confirmed the cause of death fo the celebrity gossip website
He added that Wilson was “a national treasure, a calm voice, and a gentle spirit to everyone who came in contact with him.”
He reportedly passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles.
At The Walking Dead’s panel at New York Comic-Con just this week, showrunner Angela Kang said that Scott (along with former stars Sonequa Martin-Green and Jon Bernthal) would be returning for the upcoming ninth season.
It premieres this Sunday, October 7.
(This announcement took fans by surprise, considering Hershel was decapitated in the season four episode Too Far Gone, only to have his head turned into a zombie and then killed again in the later episode After.)
While most modern TV fans know Wilson well from this role, he arrived to The Walking Dead after many decades in the entertainment industry.
Wilson’s career got underway in 1967 when he landed a role in the classic film, “In the Heat of the Night.”
He went on to appear in a multitude of other iconic movies, such as “In Cold Blood,” “The Great Gatsby” and “Dead Man Walking.”
Scott earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for playing Captain Billy Cupshaw in the 1980 film, “The Ninth Configuration.”
His other recent television roles include Hostiles, The OA, Damien and Bosch.
Tweeted Titus Welliver, the lead actor in the final show listed above, upon learning of Wilson’s passing:
Scott Wilson has departed. I am heartbroken. We are fewer. Go easy into the light brother.
Wilson’s survivors include his wife, Heavenly, an artist and attorney.
No memorial plans have been announced.
May the beloved actor rest in peace.
