Before Resident Evil, Austin Abrams Played A Villain On TV's Ultimate Zombie Series

Before Austin Abrams transitioned to playing a plucky courier in Resident Evil, he starred in one of the most iconic zombie TV shows of all time, The Walking Dead. In the show's fifth and sixth seasons, Abrams portrayed Ron, a teenager whose interactions with the main characters, particularly Rick Grimes and his group, foreshadowed the darker path he would eventually take.

Ron's initial character was shaped by teenage rivalry with Carl Grimes and a significant amount of family trauma, including the loss of his abusive father. This dark turn in Ron's life culminated in Season 6, Episode 9, "No Way Out," where his failure to survive a zombie horde and the subsequent loss of his brother and mother fueled his anger and resentment.

Ron's rage culminated in a failed attempt at confrontational interaction with Rick, leading to the tragic death of Ron's brother and mother. In a moment of desperation, Ron aimed a gun at Rick, which resulted in his brother's and mother's deaths, and accidentally shot Carl in the eye. While this event made him one of the most sympathetic villains the show had ever faced, Ron remained a villain in the end.

This resulted in some fans having negative reactions, as Abrams mentioned in an interview with USA Today in 2026. Despite the backlash, Abrams remained unfazed, happy that his character had left a mark on the franchise.