Beloved character actor Scott Wilson passed away on Saturday to the surprise of fans the world over and now, the 76-year-old’s representative has revealed what the former Hershel Greene portrayer died from: leukemia.
In a statement released this weekend, his representative called Wilson a “national treasure, calm voice and gentle spirit to everyone who came into contact with him.” In addition, several of the actor’s former co-stars on The Walking Dead took to social media to also express their condolences. Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon), for instance, said he’d miss Wilson very much while Michael Cudlitz (Sergeant Abraham Ford) told his former friend to “rest easy.”
Though I personally soured on the show and its continuously recycled premise years ago, this death is still a sad reminder of a pattern we’ve seen all too often in the last few years.
Alan Rickman, David Bowie, I could go on and on and on and on. It happens all the time. Celebrities loved the world over keep their illnesses a secret and too often we’re stunned when they pass away. Though I recognize the right of people to keep such things to themselves, I wish it wouldn’t happen as frequently as it does. Like mental health issues, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being candid about how you’re doing physically. Just consider the long-troubled musician Johnny Cash.
Towards the end of his life, he recorded a cover of the Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt.” If you haven’t seen the video, go out and give it a watch, as he was in poor health at the time but nonetheless soldiered on and produced a cover so legendary it’s eclipsed the original version. Maybe I’m naive, but I really do think all celebrities should be that open.
Circling back to Scott Wilson, though, and he’ll certainly be missed as he was always an enjoyable presence on screen. Thankfully, then, we’ll get one more chance to see him, as he’d already shot his scenes for season 9 of The Walking Dead before passing away.
