Does Negan die in The Walking Dead?

Negan is one of the most infamous characters in The Walking Dead but does he survive the dangers of the TWD Universe?

If you watched The Walking Dead during its initial 12-year run on AMC, you probably remember the anticipation for the arrival of Negan Smith. An infamously ruthless character in the comics, the TV series made viewers wait for his arrival, teasing it for weeks and months before he finally showed up in the season 6 finale.

If you didn’t watch it then and only came across it on streaming or reruns, then you found out why Negan was infamous in that season 6 debut and its bloody continuation in the season 7 premiere. Portrayed by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the character has gone down in history as one of the greatest TV villains of the past decade. But was that villainy enough to ensure that the character survived?

Whether The Walking Dead was a fixture of your life for the past 12 years, you’re busy catching up, or you’re just curious about what happens to Negan, here’s how his story on TWD ultimately ended.

*** This article contains major spoilers from The Walking Dead seasons 7 – 11. Don’t read on if you don’t want it spoiled. ***

Does Negan die in The Walking Dead?

No, Negan does not die in The Walking Dead. He has come close to death on many occasions, and none more so in the season 8 finale when Rick Grimes finally destroys him and his vicious saviors before opting to save his life and make him a prisoner of Alexandria. He then avoided death again when Maggie Rhee, seeking vengeance for what Negan did to her husband Glenn, tried to kill him in his cell.

After that, the character spent a lot of time reflecting on what he had become and, shockingly, underwent quite the redemption. While he was aware of the fact that he could never make up for what he had done, he fought alongside his former enemies and helped them defeat multiple threats – this is something that even Maggie acknowledges in the series finale.

Negan survives the initial apocalypse in The Walking Dead, finding love with fellow survivor Annie. After that, the two have a child together and head out into the world on their own, with Negan realizing that he could never be part of the family of survivors that he once tried to destroy.

We will once again get to catch up with Negan in upcoming TWD Universe spinoff The Walking Dead: Dead City, which will reunite him with Maggie in New York City.

What did you think of Negan’s character journey on The Walking Dead? Will you be watching his return in The Walking Dead: Dead City? Let us know in the comments below!