The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3's Rif Hutton Tribute Explained
The opening episode of "Dead City" Season 3 paid tribute to an actor who made a huge contribution to "The Walking Dead" during his lifetime.
The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3 premiered with Trillium, an episode that introduced an unexpected alliance between Negan and Maggie. This episode also featured a touching tribute to Rif Hutton, a renowned voice actor who passed away on April 18, 2026, at the age of 73. Hutton's contributions to The Walking Dead and its spin-offs were significant, as he provided the distinct snarl for the walkers in all iterations of the franchise from the pilot onward.
Scott M. Gimple, TWDU's Chief Content Officer, expressed his profound loss on X, acknowledging Hutton's unparalleled skill in crafting those chilling sounds. Hutton's career extended beyond the realm of The Walking Dead, encompassing a diverse range of voice acting roles in animated films such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Angry Birds Movie 2, and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, among others.
In live-action, he made his debut in the 1983 sci-fi film Wavelength and became a familiar face on Doogie Howser, M.D., appearing in 17 episodes over three years. Hutton's notable roles in daytime dramas include Lenny Caulfield on General Hospital and Lenny Caulfield on Tribes, spanning a combined 95-episode run. His contributions to military-themed shows are evident through his appearances in JAG and NCIS, where he played Marine General Phillip Braxton and Commander Albert Burns, respectively.
Following Hutton's passing, NCIS acknowledged his passing with a heartfelt tribute in the Season 23 episode, Deal with the Devil, reading, "In memory of our friend and colleague Rif Hutton. We will miss you."
Written by urgent.news from TVLine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
