Warning: There are Walking Dead spoilers roaming around in this Norman Reedus bio list, so please proceed with caution. Wouldn't want any walkers to sneak up on you!
If you’re a Norman Reedus fan, you probably have more Norman Reedus fun facts and Norman Reedus images stored in your brain than we do, but we’ve tried to do you proud with the below list. We all know that Reedus currently plays fan favorite, Daryl Dixon, on The Walking Dead, but did you know that he had a cult following as Murphy MacManus in The Boondocks Saints? Before he became an actor, Norman Reedus was just a disgruntled bike mechanic who happened to fall into acting without really even trying. He also used to be a professional model, although he was never truly serious about it. Mostly, Reedus has appeared in a bunch of dark films where he either killed someone, thought about killing someone, or was suspected of killing someone. He did all of these things with that unique Norman Reedus-ness that fans have come to know and love.
The Walking Dead Norman Reedus is our new Chuck Norris, our post-apocalyptic Rambo, and our favorite go-to redneck for one-liners, but there’s also a softer side to him. He’s a painter, sculptor, photographer, director, animal lover, and father. He’s also packing in as much film work as possible between seasons, appearing in indie projects and popping in for cameos in bigger blockbusters, as well as loaning his voice to video game characters. Somehow, the NYC-dwelling Reedus also finds time to hop on his bike and ride cross-country during seasonal breaks from The Walking Dead.
Norman Reedus stories run the gamut - from terrifying Heidi Klum with life-sized rat art, to keeping Andrew Lincoln’s prop beard in his fridge. Check out this list of things you didn't know about Norman Reedus below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.
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Norman Reedus
Mark Norman Reedus was born in Hollywood, Florida on Jan. 6 1969. His parents divorced when he was very young. His mother, Marianne, traveled around the world as a teacher and adventurer. Reedus and his younger sister were raised in Los Angeles, but they traveled to Texas, Colorado, Tokyo, Motookubo, and London with their mother.
Reedus lived in Spain for a while, then Tokyo, and eventually followed a girl to Los Angeles. She pretty much dumped him for someone else immediately, leaving him alone in the city. After an argument with his boss, he was fired from his job as a motorcycle mechanic at Dr. Carl’s Hog Hospital in Venice. Feeling upset and frustrated, he headed to a party in the Hollywood hills, where he got wasted and started yelling at various party-goers. As a result, he was cast in the play Maps for Drowners, and even took the lead when the real lead actor failed to show up on the first night. An untrained Reedus completely winged his first performance.
A casting agent from William Morris saw him in the play and began to “hip pocket” the young actor, putting him out there for roles without formal representation. His first film was Floating in 1997, followed by Guillermo del Toro’s Mimic the same year.
Reedus is best known, prior to playing Daryl Dixon on The Walking Dead, as Murphy MacManus from The Boondock Saints and The Boondock Saints: All Saints. He has held the lead in many films, mostly playing highly flawed characters. He did some modeling in the ‘90s, but never developed a true passion for it. Dixon has a son, Mingus Lucien Reedus, with Danish model Helena Christensen.
Robert Kirkman Credits Reedus with Shaping and Evolving Daryl Dixon
In the early scripts, Daryl was supposed to say racist things and take drugs. Reedus fought that because he wanted to play a more nuanced character. He’d played bad guys before, and knew that there was more to these kinds of characters than meets the eye. “You want to root for them as they fight their way through something,” Reedus said.
The Walking Dead comic creator Robert Kirkman credits the actor with taking Daryl to a whole new level. "I would have to credit Norman Reedus a great deal for how his character developed just because it was the first time in the show, in real time, watching the actor read the lines the way they did, seeing the choices that they made inform what went into who that character was.”
His Character, Daryl Dixon, Wasn't in the Comic Books
Daryl Dixon is not a character in any of the original The Walking Dead comic books. Reedus came to LA for the 2010 pilot season to read for The Walking Dead. All of the roles for the series had already been cast, but he just wanted to "get in the room" and show off his skills to the show's producers. Frank Darabont was so impressed with his performance that he created a whole new character just for him. Now, Reedus plays the brother of the menacing redneck character, Merle, on TWD.
He Was Burnt Out on Show Business Before TWD
Reedus had already made a bunch of films before The Walking Dead, and had performed in a few other productions. He was weary of the continual disappointment of the finished product.
“I was definitely becoming a little down on it, but I don’t know if I was going to give it up. But I wasn’t enjoying it as much, to be honest. I had been in a few films where I thought we were going in this direction and then, after the editing and the music and it’s put together, it was sort of going in a different direction I didn’t feel so connected to. And there were a few films I had done that the advertising for the film or the promotions for the film ended up being a different animal than the film itself.”
Reedus has repeatedly said that if he wasn’t acting, he’d live in Montauk with a bunch of cats, making art, and walking around in a onesie.
Reedus Pondered Becoming a Pro Tennis Player
Leaving home at around 12, Reedus was out on the youth tennis circuit. He trained in Kalamazoo, Michigan with amazing athletes, like Andre Agassi. “I practiced with him and a group of people - never one on one. He was younger than me, too, and he would have killed me,” he said.
“I studied with a coach who approached me and offered to train me because he thought I had potential… I played the junior circuit, against guys who had all the fancy equipment and shoes and everything. I was in, like, basketball shoes and had a toy racket. I was surprised I made it as far as I did.”
Fans Send Reedus Bizarre and Deeply Touching Gifts
The most famous thing Reedus has received was a breast implant from fan who said he looked depressed during an interview. When he first got it in the mail, Reedus lobbed it out his trailer door at Steven Yeun, who was doing an interview for international press. Another fan gave him a bag of squirrel meat that she claimed she “hunted with a shovel.” Reedus has also received a Special Olympics medal that a fan earned playing soccer.
Another gift was just as personal. “A girl and her brother recently gave me a New York fireman uniform from their father who died in 9/11. I was like, ’You can’t give this to me.’ And they were so insistent. You know, sometimes you’ll get gifts that aren’t like crazy fan gifts but they’ll say, "You know your character on the show is a fighter and I related to him in a time in my life when I needed to fight something and be strong.’”
In the video, he gives viewers a tour of his trailer on the set of The Walking Dead and opens fan gifts.
He Wasn’t Fond of Modeling
Annie Liebovitz took pictures of Reedus on the set of Six Ways to Sunday (also starring Debbie Harry), and Miuccia Prada saw them, leading the designer to ask him to be the face of a large campaign. Other designers followed suit, but Reedus never really understood the allure of his own appearance.
When asked if he liked modeling, Reedus said, “No. Hated it. F*cking hated it.” He went on to say, “Yeah. I mean I’m short and fat and drink beer."
He Didn’t Get Cast in Tomorrowland Because of His Hair
Director Brad Bird originally wanted Reedus to play George Clooney’s father in the film, but the actor couldn’t cut his hair due to his commitment on The Walking Dead. Reedus didn’t understand why Bird was exasperated with the situation. “I was like, ‘Don’t they know I’m on a TV show?’” Reedus figured that the magical wizards over at Disney could figure out a bald cap or something.
“It went down to the last minute, and everyone knew I couldn’t cut my hair," Reedus said. "Then, I think the director, Brad Bird, threw a fit and was like, ‘If he’s not dedicated to this role and he can’t cut his hair, then it’s not going to work.’ I’m on a f-----’ TV show! I can’t just shave my head!”
The role ended up going to Chris Bauer (Sheriff Andy for True Blood fans out there).
Rode the Bike from TWD Through Madison Square Garden for the Season Six Premiere
Nearly 15,000 fans were treated to a special screening of the season six premiere. All of the cast was decked out in their finest, and Reedus made his entrance from the back of the Garden, riding the same bike his character rides in The Walking Dead. The entrance was definitely a hit.
He's Got an Unscripted Travel Show on AMC
Ride with Norman Reedus will feature Reedus traveling across America on his motorcycle across six episodes in 2016. Get excited for a ton of "Wooooooooooo's" and "Daaaaaaaaruhhhl's!"