The Walking Dead is known for its memorable characters, many of whom weathered the storm of the zombie apocalypse to become true survivors in a dangerous world. However, not every character in the post-apocalyptic drama has had the same level of success. Some even fail to survive the bounds of a single season.
Whether they were killed off too soon or merely introduced in the eleventh and final season, there have been plenty of The Walking Dead characters who didn't last past their debut season. Nevertheless, some of these characters proved to be quite memorable in their limited screentime.
10 Lance Hornsby
Lance Hornsby emerged as an enemy of Daryl Dixon and his friends in the eleventh and final season of The Walking Dead. Played by Josh Hamilton, Hornsby was a high-ranking official in the Commonwealth who schemed to consolidate power for Pamela Milton's administration.
After being set up as one of the season's main villains, Hornsby is unceremoniously killed with an arrow to the throat by Carol Peletier when he tries to murder her and Daryl. His reanimated corpse later returns in the series finale when Pamela Milton discovers him outside the gates of the Commonwealth.
9 Michael Mercer
Michael Mercer is the head of security in the Commonwealth, working directly under Lance Hornsby and Pamela Milton. Portrayed by Michael James Shaw, Mercer makes his first appearance in the premiere of The Walking Dead's final season.
Although Mercer manages to survive the events of The Walking Dead, he made his debut late enough to only appear in a single season. Furthermore, while his superiors proved to be despicable leaders who had to be dealt with, Mercer is revealed to be an honorable man. He ultimately helps the main group of survivors overthrow the Commonwealth's government in the show's final arc.
8 Milton Mamet
Dallas Roberts portrays Milton Mamet in the third season of The Walking Dead. Milton is a leading individual in Woodbury, the community run by the villainous Governor. However, he gradually comes to disagree with the Governor's tactics, eventually betraying his superior and helping Andrea sabotage his plans.
When the Governor learns of Milton and Andrea's conspiracy later in the season, he takes drastic action to punish them. He mortally wounds Milton and leaves him to die beside Andrea, who is held captive in an old dentist's chair. By the time Andrea's friends found her, Milton had already transformed into a walker and bitten her.
7 Pamela Milton
Few characters in The Walking Dead were more prepared for the apocalypse than Pamela Milton, whom the main characters meet in the eleventh and final season of the series. Portrayed by Laila Robins, Pamela is the final antagonist of the series, abusing her power to service the needs of her own family above her people.
Pamela does manage to survive the events of The Walking Dead's series finale but was introduced late enough to have only appeared in one season. By the end of the series, Pamela is locked away in a Commonwealth prison, forced to watch as what was once her community prospers without her.
6 Lizzie Samuels
Brighton Sharbino portrays Lizzie Samuels in the fourth season of The Walking Dead. Lizzie and her sister, Mika, are both introduced as a part of Rick Grimes's Prison Community, which is razed by the Governor halfway through the season. After the fall, the two sisters go on the road with Carol Peletier and Tyrese Williams--a journey that quickly goes awry.
It quickly becomes clear that Lizzie's obsession with walkers has made her a danger to herself and others. After Lizzie horrifically murders her own sister and very nearly kills the infant Judith Grimes, Carol is forced to kill Lizzie herself before she takes any more lives.
5 Gamma
Thora Birch portrays Gamma, a leading member of Alpha's Whisperer clan in the tenth season of The Walking Dead. While guarding the border between Alexandria and the Whisperers' domain, Gamma befriends Aaron, leading her to betray Alpha and act as an informant for her enemies.
After Gamma is discovered as a traitor, she takes refuge with her former enemies, who can only defend her for so long. Alpha's lieutenant, Beta, eventually slips into Alexandria and stabs Gamma to death, leaving her to turn. Alden later finds her reanimated body and puts her down.
4 Otis
Pruitt Taylor Vince played a small but memorable role in The Walking Dead's second season. Vince portrays Otis, Hershel Greene's farmhand, who accidentally shoots Carl Grimes in the season premiere.
Otis devotes himself to helping Rick's group find the necessary medical equipment to keep Carl alive after shooting him. However, while on a supply run with Shane Walsh, Otis is devoured by a horde of walkers. It is later revealed that Shane had deliberately injured Otis, using him as a distraction so that he could escape the horde with the supplies.
3 Pope
Pope is the leader of a group of survivors known as the Reapers. Portrayed by Ritchie Coster, Pope is referenced in the final episodes of The Walking Dead's tenth season but doesn't officially make his debut until season eleven. He acts as the main antagonist in the first of three parts in The Walking Dead's final season.
Although Pope is set up as a major villain, he doesn't last very long in The Walking Dead's eleventh season. After attempting to sway Daryl Dixon to his side, Pope finds himself betrayed by his lieutenant, Leah Shaw, who has romantic feelings for Daryl. Leah kills Pope right in front of Daryl, ending his reign of terror once and for all.
2 Amy Harrison
Emma Bell portrays Amy Harrison in the first season of The Walking Dead. Amy is Andrea's younger sister who is a part of Rick Grimes's first group of survivors in the series. While she ultimately doesn't last long in the show, Amy still holds a place in viewers' memories.
Amy has one of the saddest deaths in The Walking Dead, dying of a walker bite after the camp is raided by the undead. Andrea is forced to put down her reanimated sister, marking the first time that a character died and came back as a walker in the history of The Walking Dead.
1 Noah
Tyler James Williams plays a pivotal role in The Walking Dead's fifth season as Noah. Beth Greene first meets Noah after being captured by Dawn Lerner's community. After Beth's death, Noah joins Rick's group and follows them all the way to Alexandria, where he hopes to help build new defenses that would keep the community safe for many years to come.
Unfortunately, Noah's aspirations would never come to pass. Only a few episodes after the group comes to Alexandria, Noah joins Glenn Rhee and a few other survivors on a supply run. When things go awry, Noah, Glenn, and Nicholas are trapped in a revolving door while walks attempt to get to them from the other side. Nicholas panics and tries to escape, leading the walkers to grab Noah and devour him right in front of Glenn.