The Ears of Daryl Dixon

/ Robert K Maxfield

Of all the times to meet Norman Reedus I had to show up the week we filmed the scene with him and his severed ears’ shrine.  If you read ‘Blood, Guts, Gore…and Chiggers’ then you’d know how I came to become the Boom Operator on The Walking Dead.  You’d read about my first day on set, but you wouldn’t read about my first impression of Daryl Dixon.  That comes now.

Daryl w/ Ears FullAt that time I had no idea who any of these actors were.  As far as I knew they were all B-List actors doing another cheap and grotesque horror movie.  I just wanted to earn my paycheck and go back home to Los Angeles.  Now, three and a half seasons later, these incredibly talented actors are not only well known to me, they are also my friends and co-workers.

I now know about Andy Lincoln and Love Actually, I’ve perused Scott Wilson’s 40 plus years of film performances, and I’ve now watched and understand the excitement over Norman Reedus and Boondock Saints.  These are impressive actors with long and formidable histories.

One particularly indelible impression I have of Norman is from a scene at his campsite in Season 2.  It was my first week on The Walking Dead,  and at that time I had really only shaken his hand.  Everyone was so nice when I arrived, and thinking back, in some way they knew before I did that I was in for a real gut twisting experience.  Like them, I now try to welcome new people to our set, so that they may feel the same comfort I felt when I first discovered the camaraderie of The Walking Dead Family.

Daryl Ears CloseThis memorable scene of Daryl sticks with me to this day as a reminder of how powerful The Walking Dead is to us all.  Unlike any film project I have ever worked on, these characters become real to me like they do to you.  I work shoulder to shoulder with them everyday, and even get to know them on a rather personal basis, but yet I come to perceive them as their characters too.  The makeup, the costumes, the hair, the props, their circumstances, and especially for me….their screen voices.  As I am the Boom Operator, who is one of few people to observe their performances from just inches away, these characters  come alive before my eyes.  Daryl’s guttural expressions are comparable to the legendary voices of actors like John Wayne, Ernest Borgnine, Sean Connery, and even Darth Vader.  His voice alone will make him famous for decades to come, and I get to listen to it with professional grade headphones in it’s original form.  Basically me, the sound mixer, and the utility sound person, ever really hear the nuisances of every repeated performance with the equivalent of speakers attached to our heads.  That’s pretty awesome.

For me, I will always hold onto the memory of Norman Reedus as the guy that played Daryl Dixon with the putrid set of decaying ears draped around his neck.  I don’t believe TWD story lines have ever spent much time explaining why he collected those ears, and I find it interesting that you can still find memorabilia with them printed on t-shirts and posters.  But, more than anything I wonder what were those awful ears all about?  And do they say anything about who Norman is as a person?

My interpretation of the dead ears is that they were a rite-of-passage for Daryl.  He had accepted his new role as a lonely hunter and killer.  He was not just a pre-apocalyptic loner who survived by scrapping the barrel of bottom feeding physical abusees, he was now a self-actualized post-apocalyptic survivor.  I guess there was a certain amount of victory in that for a kid who never had a thing worth caring about.  And, he certainly wasn’t going to go about it in the mainstream way, he was going to be an original survivor, an indelible warrior…as only a Dixon can be.  He didn’t care what other’s thought about him, and I’m not sure he cared about what he thought about himself, he just survived.  The ears were his connection to his new intolerable existence.  They were his new identity.  And, reality or fiction, they were my first impressions of Norman Reedus.

Daryl w/ Me being touched upWell now, after 3 seasons of talking with him, observing him, and sweating with him, I know a little bit more about the real Norman Reedus.  It’s only my perception, but it’s a little something of interest to many.  The human I know is a real giver.  More than anyone around campus he gives of himself, to you, even when the going has been exhaustingly rough.  When a 14 hour day has finished, and the sweat and grime has covered his aching posture from a hot afternoon of creating the greatest survivor story ever told, Norman pulls over in his Jeep to give you a hug and take photos.  His time, his presence, and his attitude towards fans like you, make him a very special guy.  He knows how much it means to you to stand at his side and capture a memory with his mug.  He knows that just a few minutes with you will make a huge difference in your life.  He cares about you, and that makes us care about him.  He is so physically strong, yet so gentle and kind.  He stands covered with the residue of a hard day, yet expresses such a clean spirit.  Norman Reedus reminds me of a lot of great things about The Walking Dead, and like it or not, I will always attach my memory of him with a bloody little image of those damn ears.   Thankfully, more than anything, I will always know him as that sweet and caring boy that lives within a glowing soul of diverse expression.  He’s a giver and an unusual creator.  Respect and enjoy your time with him, he’s giving you everything he’s got.

80 thoughts on “The Ears of Daryl Dixon”

  3. Robert thank you so much for sharing this! I have met Norman at a con and you can really tell that he cares that your few moments with him are special! Me and a bunch of ATRPride (All Things Reedus Pride) are coming to GA August 2-5 and are hoping to experience exactly what you described in your article. We have someone coming from Germany and 2 coming from Australia. We’d love nothing more if you could stop and say “Hey” too!

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  6. I’m a bit speechless and that’s a feat. This was awesome and makes me even more excited for your book. Thank you so much for you insight again. Keep it real Robert we all love you and you TWD family thanks for making us all a part of it.

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  7. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us! I don’t think I will ever meet any of the cast since I live in Europe, but knowing that Norman and I’m sure all the other cast as well, do so much for their fans, that truly makes me happy.

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  8. Your words have moved me to tears yet again, Robert. The only way I know to thank you for sharing such a treasure is to assure you that I will forever cherish the gift that exists in the heart and spirit of Norman Reedus. Whether near or far. Always and in all ways.

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    • Tears….that’s so sweet. I’m so happy you felt deeply while reading my story. I strive to bring out powerful emotions in my readers. And now, with The Walking Dead, I have so many juicy stories to share!

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  10. Thank you for sharing. This gives me an insight into what goes on behind the camera. I don’t come from the world of acting, so it’s nice to read how passionate people are about thier jobs and that they pay it forward. I’m proud to be a Norman Reedus fan and have been for 20 years.

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  11. Thanks for this. It’s truly amazing to how kind and generous this man is with his fans. Not only in person but thru social media as well. It’s an honor and a privilege to be a fan of norman reedus.

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  12. I love your blog and I’m always looking forward to reading new articles. The way you describe Norman is all true and I’m sure he appreciates this article as well as we do. Keep up the great work Robert!

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  13. love this….thank you for sharing this. Makes me love the cast and crew of the walking dead so much more..and makes me so proud to be part of the fandom. You captured normal perfectly in your words. We as his fans appreciate everything he does for us. He truly is an amazing person.

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  15. I love this.. It shows an insight to the going on’s of what happens on set and how Mr Reedus is outside of the character he is playing… Thank you for sharing your experiences with us!!!

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  16. Thank you for sharing your first impression as well as how you got to know Norman. He seems like a genuinely caring man. I love reading your stories. You’re an expressive writer and I appreciate all that you share with us.

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  17. I loved and respected Norman already so much, but I will love and respect him even more now. Thanks to him to give so freely of his precious time and thanks to you Robert for your time and effort to make an awesome show and to share your expierences with us. Thank you so much.

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  18. I knew Norman is an amazing person, but now seeing him threw the words of someone who works with him and is his friend makes me love him even more, Robert i adore both Norman & You and thank you for making Me and other TWD fans apart of it. This gives me a lot of insight into what goes on behind the cameras. Robert, Again thank you so much for sharing this ! XoXo

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  19. He definitely seems like a nice guy, it’s great that he takes out time for his fans. Though he does bug me on social media sometimes, for example encouraging his fans to spend hours voting for him on some silly poll, no one should be spending their day doing that. Also he’s a people pleaser, which is a good thing and a bad thing, it affects a lot of his interviews- I want to know what he really thinks, because he can be very insightful at times but most of the time he’s just trying to avoid saying anything that’ll make people mad at him, which in turn makes more people mad at him than if he had given an honest response haha. But he seems like a good dude, I just don’t want the fame to go to his head.

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  20. Great article! Thank you for sharing :). He’s so nice to his fans, and I love how enthusiastic he is about the show and his character.
    Would love to read an article on Melissa Mcbride, she’s definitely one of the greatest actresses on tv right now, and she seems like such a mystery, I would love to learn about what she’s like on set 🙂

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  21. Thank you for sharing this story! Your description of Norman is beautiful and had me welling up with tears because every word of it is true. He is an amazing human being with a truly generous soul. When you have the pleasure of meeting him, his gentle kindness and sweet silliness wrap you up and make you feel like you’re talking with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while instead of a fan meeting a celebrity. He has my gratitude, love and respect for that…always.

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  22. Nice article and touching words! But, honestly, I already knew how Norman is. You can tell just watching any video or reading his tweets, is such a lovely person, that’s what we like about him. I haven’t had the chance to meet him yet (’cause I live in Argentina) but when it happen, I promise I will respect and enjoy my time with him. Greetings.

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  23. Another fantastic article. It will be great when you have enough to put a book together.

    Now, I wonder if you need a professional photographer to get photos of you working. And I wonder who might be really good at that AND live very close to the set. 🙂

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  25. Oh give me a break, NR does that to stay popular. It’s all about him…he has low self esteem and he has never in his life had this much attention thrown at him. He’s getting older and he realizes this won’t last to long and he want’s to hold onto it as long as he can. He doesn’t want fans mad at him. there. It’s still all about the Reedus. Sorry to pop your bubble.

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  26. Wow. I so appreciate your sharing this with us all, Robert! Having met Norman a few times myself, I now appreciate having had those moments even more after reading this. I can’t wait to read your book. You’ve got such an amazing way with words! Thanks again!

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  27. I have had the chance to meet Norman and while it was not long he was still so very amazing, sweet, kind, caring and loving I will always treasure my meeting with him and although we didn’t have the chance to talk much he did stay late to give of himself to so many that day and I say thanks to him because he doesn’t have to he wants to. Thank you so much Robert for always sharing these wonderful pictures and stories you are amazing in all you do as well.
    Much loveFrom
    @annhope75 on twitter and @annhope78 on instagram

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  29. Thank you Robert for sharing your experience with Norman with all of us, i love your blog, especially this article!
    Now i read it i admire and love Norman more than before … is it really possible!?!
    He is so generous with everybody, I’m very proud to be a fan of him!
    So thank you again for this one, the last sentence is just awesome!!!
    Love from France!
    Myriam @elfy54170

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  31. Thank you for sharing this positive story about Norman. There are so many ready to criticize. It’s a sad state of affairs when someone gives their all to their craft and to their fans and people are still ready to tear him apart. I don’t understand that mindset. Norman, from what you describe and from what he’s shown of himself to the public, is a kind and caring man. I look forward to seeing him as Daryl Dixon in S6 of TWD and in his upcoming movies! Thanks again, Robert!

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  32. Wow, this was great! Thank you so much for sharing! This was so sweet! I’m obsessed with you blog now! I was crying by the end of this. It was just that good!

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  33. Thanks for filling us in. I’m happy to hear that someone who seems so genuine is actually being himself, not just playing a role when he smiles with fans. It makes the show even more worth watching.

    It’s good to know everyone is so close, enough to call it a family, and that says a lot!

    I wondered if I missed something about the ears. It was never spelled out but leaves a lot for the imagination. So it’s sort of like a symbol of being a survivor. When I see those necklaces with ears for sale it will mean something different now. 🙂 Thanks. Have an awesome day!

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  34. so happy that Norman has hit the “big time” after all his years of hard work as an actor. Met him 2 years ago in Calgary, AB & he is truly a great guy! Missed you in Calgary this year Norman, hope you come back & see us soon! Love, your Canadian Fans

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  35. I can only agree with your sentiments about Norman.

    I make and sell Flipping Zombie dolls which are normal dolls on one side and then flip inside out to become gruesme zombies (www.flippingzombies.co.uk)
    Occassionally I make custom dolls to send to people I admire in the zombie genre (actors, authors etc) Out of of these, Norman is the only person who has taken the time to personally message me to thank me for his doll. It meant a lot to me and I was grateful that he took the time.

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  36. This article is beautifully written. I think everyone in the world knows that while the cast is made up of a group of insanely talented actors, Reedus is truly something special. In his characters roughest moments (such as the moonshine scene), the viewer has compassion for him. In Boondock Saints, the viewer finds themselves rooting for Murphy & Conner as they enact their vigilante justice. Of course, his looks make women swoon and his bad boy persona is envied by most men, but there’s something deeper to Reedus. One of the best performers of our time. Thank you for sharing your experiences with his fans.

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  38. Thank you for your reflection. My daughters bought me a photo-op with Norman last year for my 50th birthday. I asked if he would pretend to kiss me and he said he couldn’t – however at the end of the 15 second shot he asked my name and held up my hand and said happy birthday to the line of waiting people. He made me feel important. This small gesture will stick with me for a long time. I would like to thank him from a fan at Toronto Fan Expo 2014.

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  39. Thank you, by the exchange of experiences with us, it is very good to read their texts, one in particular. I am a big fan of Norman Reedus. A big kiss from Brazil.

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  41. Hi. I write/blog for Undead Walking. I think I may have to write about Daryl’s ears now. I’ve always had a romantic vision of the ears as being man’s conquering beast like in the bullfight. When a matador does a good job in the ring they reward him with either an ear, two ears or two ears and a tail from the bull.

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  42. Pingback: Daryl Dixon: Matador of Chupacabras - Undead Walking - The Walking Dead News, Rumors, Recaps, Casting

  43. This is so true and he has to be the perfect man I’ve never got to actually be next to him and I still try to imagine if I got to :))

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  44. Thanks for sharing, Robert. I agree with your statement that “he was now a self-actualized post-apocalyptic survivor. I guess there was a certain amount of victory in that for a kid who never had a thing worth caring about.” I have written about Daryl along similar lines. Here is my article about how poverty shaped his character, which was recently published in PopMatters: http://www.popmatters.com/feature/193323-poverty-prepares-you-to-survive-the-worst-even-the-zombies-of-the-wa/ Hoping lots of people wind up reading it and thinking more critically about the class issues his character embodies.

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  45. Such a good read! Unlike yourself i dont personally know norman, but i can read people and their expressions well. And for him i have never seen someone hide their insecurities so well. Its like he bleeds his soul to make everyone happy so they for one second dont feel what he has once felt. I dont know or really want to know what caused his emotional damage that he speaks of but for him to exude such a caring attitude and outlook is what makes him so lovable. His body language shows this giant wall that hides his emotional self with a huge screen over the top showing the world only what he wants you to see. This is not a fault in personality but a smart protective wall in a world where his face is shown around the world. To say he intrigues me is an understatement. past the looks, the fame none of which interest me i would want nothing more than to speak to him and see how he perceives the world around him!

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