There’s so much more to Norman Reedus than just his role as Daryl Dixon on The Walking Dead , even though fans love to remember him for that.
For instance, did you know that Norman was once bitten by a fan? Or that he’s been dating Diane Kruger?
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Yep, he’s one mysterious and complex creature. For everything Norman, here are 10+ cool facts about the star.
1. The creators of *The Walking Dead* created the role of Daryl Dixon just for him:
Norman told GQ that he took a lot of creative liberty with Daryl.
He helped turn the character into a co-lead role by ignoring the rednecky and druggy path the producers had originally laid out.
2. He’s dating Diane Kruger:
The Hollywood pair first met in 2015 on the set of Sky , but they didn’t start dating until 2017.
They even welcomed a baby together in December 2018. Fans have been so incredibly supportive for the duo.
3. He was once bit by a fan:
This took place at Walker Stalker Con in 2016.
“We took this picture and she sort of morphed into a werewolf,” he recalled to Jimmy Kimmel.
“She kinda started to shake like that, and then she went up like this and kinda howled.”
“And then she came down and bit me on the breast, the chest. And howled again. I kind of went, ‘Ow.’ And Michael Rooker was there and went, ‘What the [expletive] was that?’”
He continued:
“And then a couple of nice officers tackled her to the ground. She was escorted out. And she came outside and went ‘What happened?’ And they said ‘Ma’am, you just bit Norman, and she said ‘I did?'”
4. He once starred in a Lady Gaga music video:
The Walking Dead actor landed the music video for “Judas” — no audition needed.
“I was in LA doing a movie and had the weekend off, and my manager had been talking to Gaga,” he said.
“She asked if I wanted to do the video so I said, ‘[expletive] yeah, that should be fun!’
5. He’s been in six other music videos:
No wonder he landed the Lady Gaga video without an audition!
He’s also appeared in Keith Richards’ “Wicked as It Seems,” Cranes’ “Shining Road,” Bjork’s “Violently Happy,” Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees,” R.E.M.’s “Strange Currencies’ and Goo Goo Dolls’ “Flat Top.”
6. He has a child with Helena Christensen:
Norman and the model were together from 1998 to 2003 .
While they didn’t work out, they’ll always be connected through their 20-year-old son, Mingus, who they had in 1999.
7. He’s obsessed with motorcycles:
He has this in common with his The Walking Dead character, Daryl!
In addition to owning motorcycle s all his life, he even has his own show with AMC called Ride with Norman Reedus .
8. He has a side business as a professional photographer:
You can catch the actor’s talented photographs on his website, Big Bald Head .
He’s even released a book of photography called The Sun’s Coming Up Like a Big Bald Head .
9. He once got a really weird gift from a co-star:
Scott Wilson, who played Hershel on The Walking Dead once gave Norman his hair…
“Scott Wilson? Yeah, he’s my buddy. He actually just sent me his ponytail from the show. It’s in my refrigerator,” Norman once revealed .
10. He used to be a model:
He modeled for Prada during the ’90s. He’s also landed gigs with GAP, H&M, and Levi’s.
This modeling work even helped him break into his acting career. Needless to say, it’s his acting career that really shot him into stardom.
11. He once beat out Nicholas Cage for a modeling job:
“It was a series of actors who did the campaign — Tim Roth did it, John Malkovitch did it, Joaquin [Phoenix] did it,” he said on Live with Kelly in 2016.
“And then I got a call saying, ‘It’s between you and Nicolas Cage to do a Prada campaign.'”
Back then, he didn’t even know what Prada was (I know, the horror).
“I know, I know, I know. I learned really quick,” he quickly added to the shocked crowd.
12. His eyeball once popped out:
He recalled the scary experience to Wired :
“I was in a car crash in Berlin maybe 10 years ago – or even before that! And I was hit by a truck, an 18-wheeler truck, and I went flying through the window of a car and my eyeball popped out.”
He had to get a titanium eye socket.
“They had to put me back together. I have a whole titanium eye socket here, and I have four screws in my nose, and ever since, bright light really bothers me – and so I wear sunglasses all the time.”
