The beloved Belgian Malinois who captured hearts on The Walking Dead, known affectionately as Dog but whose real name was Seven, has passed away. The sad announcement was made by AMC on their X account, where they commemorated the canine actor as the “best boy.”
Seven was more than just a pet on the show; he was Daryl Dixon’s faithful sidekick. His departure has deeply affected the cast and fans alike. The official Walking Dead account shared their sorrow on social media, stating, “All dogs go to heaven. Rest in Peace, Seven.”
Norman Reedus, who brought Daryl Dixon to life, expressed his personal loss with a series of heartfelt pictures on his Instagram stories, captioning them, “Gonna miss you Seven.” He fondly remembered Seven as ‘the best TV buddy ever.’
Tributes also poured in from other cast members. Lynn Collins, Khary Payton, and Sabrina Gennarino, who played Leah, Ezekiel, and Tamiel respectively, all shared their affection for Seven in the comments. Angela Kang, a runner on the final three seasons, reposted the sad news to her Instagram stories, acknowledging, “RIP Seven,” and reflecting on how Reedus had influenced the decision to cast Seven on the show.
Seven was a late addition to the series, debuting in the seventh episode of Season 9, yet he quickly became a fan favorite. His sudden popularity even sparked a fan petition to ensure his safety on the show.
Over his tenure, Seven appeared in more than 25 episodes, right up until the series finale in 2022. Reedus shared with ComicBook.com in 2018 about the unpredictability and joy of working with Seven, saying, “We just did a scene the other day that ended up being the opposite of what it was supposed to be because the dog just wanted to do something else, and it came out so much better. He’ll probably be running the show. It’s great! I love it. He loves me, too. I think he’s the smartest cast member we got.”
Since the conclusion of The Walking Dead in 2022, the universe has expanded with several spin-offs, including The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. The next installment, titled The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol, is eagerly anticipated along with The Walking Dead: Dead City and The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.