Real-Life Partners of The Walking Dead Stars and Their Love Stories

Love Beyond the Apocalypse: Real-Life Relationships of The Walking Dead Stars

When you're dealing with a world overrun by walkers, surviving apocalyptic scenarios, and navigating through chaos, love might not be the first thing on your mind. However, behind the scenes, many of the stars from The Walking Dead have found love, built families, and shared heartwarming stories that are just as compelling as the show itself.

Andrew Lincoln and Gael Anderson

Andrew Lincoln is best known for his role as Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead. He also appeared in two of the show’s spinoffs, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live and Fear the Walking Dead. Lincoln has been married to actress Gael Anderson since 2006, and together they have two children: Matilda Clutterbuck, born in 2007, and Arthur Clutterbuck, born in 2010.

Anderson is the daughter of Scottish musician Ian Anderson, who leads the band Jethro Tull. The couple met in 2001 while working on the comedy series Teachers. As of 2025, they remain happily married, balancing their careers and family life while keeping much of their personal lives private.

Jon Bernthal and Erin Angle

Jon Bernthal played Shane Walsh in the first two seasons of The Walking Dead. Though his time on the show was brief, his character left a lasting impression. Bernthal married Erin Angle in 2010, and the couple has three children: Henry, Billy, and Adeline.

They met at a party in Washington, D.C., when both were in their early 20s. In an interview with Men's Health, Bernthal described the moment he saw Erin as unforgettable. “It was like angels were singing,” he said. Despite a temporary breakup due to personal issues, the couple reconciled with the help of country legend Willie Nelson, who played a heartfelt song during a concert that helped set the stage for their reunion.

Steven Yeun and Joana Pak

Steven Yeun portrayed Glenn Rhee until the seventh season of The Walking Dead. His character's death remains one of the most shocking moments in the series. Yeun is currently married to professional photographer Joana Pak. They first met through a mutual friend in Chicago, but nothing happened initially because Pak was dating someone else.

Their paths crossed again in 2009 when Pak stopped by the bar where Yeun was working. He described the meeting as "kismet" and the two began dating shortly after. They were long-distance for a while, but eventually made it work. The couple got engaged in 2015 and married in 2016. They have two children: Jude Malcolm, born in 2017, and a daughter born in 2019, whose name remains private.

Norman Reedus and Diane Kruger

Norman Reedus is well-known for his role as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead and its spinoff, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. He has had several high-profile relationships, including a long-term relationship with Helena Christensen, with whom he shares a son, Mingus Lucien.

Reedus met actress Diane Kruger on the set of the 2015 film Sky. At the time, Kruger was dating Joshua Jackson, so they didn’t start dating immediately. After her split from Jackson in 2016, they began seeing each other. The couple went public with their relationship in 2017 and welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 2018. Although they were reported to be engaged in 2021, they have not yet tied the knot as of 2025.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton

Jeffrey Dean Morgan played Negan, one of the most controversial and beloved characters in The Walking Dead. He continues to portray the character in the spinoff The Walking Dead: Dead City. Morgan has had several high-profile relationships, including a marriage to Anya Longwell and an engagement to Mary-Louise Parker.

He found lasting love with actress Hilarie Burton, whom he met in 2009 after being set up on a blind date by Supernatural star Jensen Ackles and his wife. The couple welcomed their first child in 2010 and a second in 2018. They married in 2019 and currently reside in New York City, living on a farm with their children.