The following is a list of characters from The Walking Dead television series based on the eponymous comic book series. Although some characters appear in both the television and comic series, the continuity of the television series is not shared with the original comic book series.

Rick Grimes, portrayed by Andrew Lincoln, is a former sheriff's deputy from a small Georgia town. He is an everyman — smart, calm, just, a sharpshooter, and a good friend, husband and father — but flawed. Rick is a natural leader, someone his fellow survivors will turn to in a crisis, confident in his guidance, even when he at times doubts himself. His overwhelming need to do the right thing and protect those who can't protect themselves may pull him away from his family, causing cracks of tension within his marriage with Lori and his relationship with his son, Carl. Frustrated about leading his group and keeping them safe, Rick gradually changes into a darker person.

Eventually, he breaks down once again, following the deaths of Glenn and Abraham, and the overshadowing presence of Negan — the series' central antagonist in season six and seven. Throughout season seven, Rick slowly regains his footing and then starts preparing for an all-out war against Negan and the Saviors. However, before the war is over, Carl dies when a walker bites him with his last wish being for his father to find a way to forgive Negan and even join forces with him so that a large, strong community can live in peace, safe from walkers. Rick is then torn between his desire for revenge and his son's final wish for reconciliation. At the end of season eight, Rick manages to find a middle ground by almost, but not quite killing Negan and deciding to keep him locked inside a prison cell in Alexandria, thus ending the war.

When Rick and the communities decide to build a bridge the following season, chaos erupts with the rebellious, remaining Saviors and conflict with members of Rick's group who believe Negan should die in retribution for brutally murdering Glenn and Abraham. In the midst of the conflict, Rick is critically wounded, the bridge is blown up, and Rick is presumed dead. However, unbeknownst to Michonne, Daryl, and the rest of the community, a nearly dead Rick is discovered by Jadis, who arranges him to be taken off in a helicopter with her to an unknown destination. In the series finale, Judith reveals to Daryl and Carol the truth about Michonne's departure in search of Rick, who is still alive.

Shane Walsh, portrayed by Jon Bernthal, is a former sheriff's deputy from a small Georgia town. He was Rick's partner in the sheriff's department and his best friend since high school.

After the walkers begin to take over, Shane goes to visit Rick in the hospital, where he has lain in a coma since being shot. He cannot save Rick (and he also welcomes this opportunity to take Rick's place with Lori and Carl), but he blocks the hospital door with a gurney and hopes Rick will die quietly of natural causes. Until Rick's recovery and reappearance, Shane led the group of Atlanta survivors and was Lori's lover. His fixation on Lori becomes very obsessive and deranged, though he tries to acclimate to the reality of Rick as leader of the group and Lori's rightful husband. Additionally, Shane shows a ruthless side, allowing Otis to be killed by walkers so that he can escape. Rick eventually confronts him for all his atrocities, but even so he forgives him. Later, Shane formulates a plan to kill Rick but fails. Rick ends his life with a knife in the chest and Carl then ends his reanimation.

Lori Grimes, portrayed by Sarah Wayne Callies, is Rick's wife, and Carl and Judith's mother. In the first season, Lori believes that Rick has died in the hospital from a gunshot wound, while the walkers are taking over, creating chaos and forcing Lori and Carl to run, under the protection of Shane. A few episodes later, they find out Rick is alive. When Rick reunites with Lori, this attracts the harassment of Shane who gradually becomes more and more hostile even when he knows that she is expecting a child of his. Eventually, Rick manages to learn about this event afterwards.

From their escape from Hershel's farm to their endeavor to take up residence at a prison, Lori becomes increasingly estranged from Rick and Carl, which she blames on herself; she becomes worried about her baby's survival. In "Killer Within", when she goes into labor during an unexpected walker attack, Lori convinces Maggie to give her a C-section, despite the fact that it will prove fatal for her. Lori then dies giving birth and Carl is forced to shoot her to prevent reanimation; this breaks Rick into an emotional state.