'Walking Dead' Star Josh McDermitt on Loving Eugene's Mullet: 'I Want to Look as Stupid as Possible'

Bringing a comic book character as divisive as The Walking Dead’s Eugene Porter to life is no simple task, but Josh McDermitt relishes the challenge. McDermitt loves Eugene’s “roadie for Metallica” style — the mullet, the cargo shorts, the oversized clothes — and his strong vocabulary makes his lines some of the fans’ favorites.

“I want to look as stupid as possible,” says McDermitt about his Tennessee Top Hatted character. “I don’t want to look like a normal guy in the background.” And since Eugene first appeared on the show back in Season 4, he has never once blended into the crowd.

Now on the series, Eugene is “leveling up” in the role-playing game of life as he trains to become a useful member of Alexandria, so McDermitt has been given the opportunity to shine in the role. And the first big moment the writing staff afforded him happened to be biting the crotch of a villain during a tense standoff. McDermitt had plenty to say about his… performance there:

The scuttlebutt on The Walking Dead Season6 finale is that Eugene will play a crucial role in the power struggle between Rick’s followers in Alexandria versus Negan and the Saviors. But as long as McDermitt keeps his Redneck Samson-esque locks of power, Eugene should be able to rise to any challenge.

For more Eugene/Josh McDermitt, check out Yahoo TV’s game of “Name That Mullet” from the last time he sat down with us…

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC.