The 2024 Oscars didn’t just validate but celebrated a widespread consensus that’s persisted among The Walking Dead fans for almost a decade. As a series-based franchise encompassing the performers and storylines of The Walking Dead TV show, the Fear the Walking Dead spinoff, the Walking Dead: World Beyond limited series, and more, The Walking Dead rarely warrants a nod from the film-centered acknowledgment of the Oscars. On special occasions, when a TWD alum traverses into film acting and dominates their movie role quite like they did in their franchise role, the Oscars will acknowledge their exceptional talent.

It happened to be the case for TWD actor Steven Yeun – after Glen Rhee’s death in TWD season 7, Yeun left the franchise, later starring in the 2020 drama Minari. For his performance in the must-watch Minari movie, he received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, which endorsed the acting talent that every TWD fan already knew he had. At the Oscars this year, another alum of the TWD franchise was recognized for their remarkable acting talent, even though it was nearly 10 years in the making for franchise fans and even longer for admirers of the actor’s 30-year-long career.

2024’s Oscars Finally Recognized Colman Domingo’s Acting Talent

The Oscars finally recognized Colman Domingo’s acting prowess with a Best Actor nomination for his performance in the biographical drama film Rustin, about the true story of the civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. Domingo took on the lead role of Rustin’s revolutionary with electric appeal, earning him a nod beside the likes of Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction), Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers), and Bradley Cooper (Maestro). Domingo lost the award to Cillian Murphy of Oppenheimer, though the Rustin actor’s place in the running was still an incredible testament to his exceptional career.