Having the opportunity to play an instantly iconic character on a popular TV show is a one-way path to success. When done right, it will continuously nurture your career as an actor. Norman Reedus, probably best known for his role as the crossbow-bearing, motorcycle-riding tough guy with a heart of gold, Daryl Dixon, in AMC’s The Walking Dead is part of that conversation. Reedus began his acting career back in 1992 and has since been a part of many projects to supplement his legacy. From drama and sci-fi to action and dystopian, Reedus is a versatile actor whom we are always excited to see on-screen.
Over the years, Reedus has become one of the most recognizable actors working in entertainment today, and fans of some of his most popular projects eat it up. His on-screen portrayal and his off-screen personality all contribute to his success. Reedus has been present across the movie, TV, comic, and gaming spheres for some time now. Therefore, now is the perfect time to show you our ranking of Norman Reedus’ best performances.
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7 American Gangster
Imagine Entertainment
Every movie lover out there knows of the crime drama American Gangster. This movie stars acting royalty Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, and Idris Elba. Set in New York in the 70s, this movie details the rise of Frank Lucas, a drug dealer in Harlem. Of course, on the other side, there exists law enforcement that is trying to take him down. Reedus plays a detective in this star-studded classic.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
6 The Boondock Saints
Franchise Pictures
The Boondock Saints is the first movie in this series and came out in 1999. Reedus stars as Murphy MacManus alongside Sean Patrick Flanery as Murphy’s twin brother Connor and the incomparable Willem Dafoe as the FBI agent Paul Smecker, who is trying to track down the vigilantes. Reedus fits in perfectly in the action movie genre and this role is only the first of the nice two-movie series.
5 Sky
Le Bureau
In 2015, Reedus starred alongside Diane Kruger in the 2015 drama film Sky. This movie follows a woman who, after getting a divorce from her husband, travels across California’s dessert to try and get away from the mess. Instead, the trip becomes something that she could never have predicted. Reedus plays the character Diego, a park ranger who becomes her next chance at love and companionship. We are used to seeing Reedus star in action-packed and sometimes supernatural projects. This one happens to be a very refreshing change of pace for fans of the actor, and if you are interested in checking out Sky, you can find it on Prime Video.
4 Mimic
Dimension FIlms
Checking off all the genre boxes, Reedus plays the character Jeremy in the 1997 horror sci-fi film Mimic. This movie follows a rising plague that is spread through cockroaches. In the attempt to find a cure and control the disease affecting children, a new bug species becomes accustomed to humans as their new prey. This movie is a great watch for this time of year, and if you are a fan of Reedus’s work, this one is definitely worth a watch.
3 Charmed
The WB
Charmed is a 1998 drama series that ran for eight seasons until it came to an end in 2006. In the show, audiences follow three sisters who suddenly discover that they are witches. This show is the classic band of sister witches coming together to fight evil. However, as we all grow more and more attached to these characters, their individual story lines of love, friendship, and sisterhood bring this show to the next level. Reedus plays Nate Parks. Nate is Paige’s ex-boyfriend, and with the extra complication of Paige’s powers as a part of their relationships, the ups and downs are brutal. Charmed is definitely one of the projects that Reedus is recognized from because of how much people loved this show while it was on.
2 Blade II
Marvel Enterprises
The superhero horror film from 2002 Blade II is based on the Marvel Comics character that is half man and half vampire. Now, although not canon in the MCU as we know it, we love to see Reedus playing a part in a movie like this. Reedus is the character Scud, who is brought onto the team to help Blade once he is exposed to the knowledge of the existence of vampires. The first Blade move came out in 1998 and both films are available on Hulu.
1 The Walking Dead
AMC
For fans of the comic books and AMC’s show The Walking Dead, Reedus is Daryl Dixon. In the show, Daryl has been one of the few characters who have stuck it out to the end and as a fan favorite for sure. Indeed, his presence has kept many fans interested in the long-running show. Daryl is the hardened and intimidating good guy with a heart of gold. His character is loyal, strong, and a complete badass equipped with his iconic crossbow and motorcycle. Reedus has completely taken this role as his own, and it continues to be his most iconic role to date. The 11th season of The Walking Dead is currently airing on AMC, and we are more than excited to see how Daryl’s story wraps up in this incredible show.
