The Walking Dead Season 3 Interview with IronE Singleton (T-Dog)

2012/11/07 00:24:58 +00:00 | Jonathan James

Regular Daily Dead readers know that we've had plenty of Walking Dead cast and crew interviews, but we haven't had the opportunity to talk with IronE Singleton about The Walking Dead Season 3. That changed yesterday when we took part in an interview call with IronE to discuss his role in episode 3.04.

**Spoiler Warning: Don't read this interview if you haven't watched episode 3.04**

Thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us today. Especially after seeing your character step it up in Season 3, it's sad to see you go so soon. What were some of your favorite memories of working on the show? What do you miss the most?

IronE Singleton: First and foremost I want to thank you for taking the time to talk to me also. I appreciate you and all of your readers and your fans. The entire process was so great and I didn't have one bad day on the set. Every single day was like pure bliss to me, so I can't pinpoint a single day that was more interesting or better than the other. It was just a true pleasure and pure joy for me to go to work every day.

How did it feel to watch the last episode? Was it your first time seeing it?

IronE Singleton: It was surreal. I didn't get an opportunity to watch it in its entirety earlier, but I did before Talking Dead. Watching it in the studio it was just kind of a surreal experience. It was like, "Wow, it's over." Bittersweet. I tried the best I could to keep my tears on the inside, so hopefully I did a good job of that on Talking Dead.

What was your reaction when you finally read the death scene and found out that you went out as a hero?

IronE Singleton: I had no idea how I was going to go out so heroically. When I was first cast in the show, I was told that I would do two, maybe three episodes. I ended up staying on the show for three seasons so how miraculous is that? I'm very thankful.

When I got the phone call, "the death call" as I call it, Greg [Nicotero] was very gracious and appreciative of what I had done, as was the entire executive team. I was just very thankful to have received a phone call and to be respected in that sense. Thankfully, T-Dog would go out as a hero and it made me feel really appreciated.

Do you wish your character had been fleshed out more before they killed you off?

IronE Singleton: I am totally and completely satisfied with how the show ran. I think that the show is a success because of a brilliant team of individuals with everybody coming together and doing their part. I can't say that I wanted more or less or anything like that. I'm just so pleased to have been part of something so special and historical.

When you first took on this role, did you have conversations with Robert Kirkman or anyone else about T-Dog's backstory and where he'd end up?

IronE Singleton: I didn't have any conversations with Robert Kirkman or anybody else at the beginning and they were fine with what I brought to it. Whenever I have any role, I try to bring that character as far up as I can in the present day. That way I won't have to do so much homework trying to find my character.

So T-Dog basically had my life story. He grew up in the projects in the city and he was fortunate enough to get to college through a football scholarship, eventually academic scholarships, and he majored in speech communications. Then he graduated from college; he didn't make it to the pros, but he came close and ended up getting a regular blue collar/white collar-type of job.

Did you have any say in T-Dog's demise?

IronE Singleton: I didn't have a say directly, but I'm wondering if the execs listened to any of my interviews. I had been asked how would I like T-Dog to die and I said, "Just heroically". It makes me feel so good, because that's how I would like to go out as a person.

Can you tell us about your experience of being ripped apart by zombies at the end?

IronE Singleton: Well I guess that's like anything else. With film, you stop and go, you stop and go. You have twenty takes or whatever, so I'm kind of used to it because I've been doing this for a while. As far as getting my flesh ripped apart by a zombie, it felt really good. It was a great feeling; you should try it sometime!

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Later this week we'll return with an interview with Sarah Wayne Callies and an early review of episode 3.05. Catch up on our recent coverage of The Walking Dead with the following articles: