The Walking Dead’s Scott Wilson Dead at 76

Actor Scott Wilson, best known in recent years for playing kindhearted farmer-turned-zombie apocalypse survivor Hershel Greene on The Walking Dead, died at 76 after a battle with leukemia, TMZ reports.

The news of his death was first reported by his Bosch co-star Tituss Welliver, who tweeted “Scott Wilson has departed. I am heartbroken. We are fewer. Go easy into the light brother.”

It was just announced during The Walking Dead‘s Comic Con panel Saturday that Wilson, whose character was killed in Season 4, would be making a special return during the AMC drama’s upcoming ninth season. He had already filmed his scenes at the time of his passing.

Wilson’s career began in 1967, with acclaimed roles in two of that year’s biggest movies, In the Heat of the Night, which won Best Picture, and In Cold Blood, the adaptation of Truman Capote’s famous book in which he played the murderer Dick Hickock. He was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1980 for his performance in the film The Ninth Configuration.

Later in his career he appeared on numerous TV shows, including CSI, Bosch and The OA.