“I immediately went to YouTube to search ‘How to die on screen.’
It’s literally in my YouTube history.”
Warning: This article contains spoilers aboutThe Walking Dead: The Ones Who Liveepisode 2, Gone.
Matthew August Jeffers on ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’.Gene Page/AMC
Its been a big week for Matthew August Jeffers.
Unfortunately, it appears as though Jeffers zombie apocalypse debut will also be his finale.
Nat burst onto screen as a community member sick of leaving others behind.
Danai Gurira and Matthew August Jeffers on ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’.Gene Page/AMC
you’re able to do both.
Its not giving up.
And then, fate struck.
Matthew August Jeffers and Danai Gurira on ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’.Gene Page/AMC
Spotting a CRM helicopter, Nat shot it down with one of his rockets.
When Michonne discovered Rick was aboard and survived the crash landing, shehad her reunion at last.
But there were casualties, as Nat was shot and killed by one of the CRM soldiers.
Matthew August Jeffers on ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’.Gene Page/AMC
It was an all-too-quick ending for an electric character with a deep backstory.
What was it like working so closely with Danai and this time on screen as opposed to on stage?
These actors, they’ve reached the heights that they’ve reached because they are serious about the work.
I’ll give you one little story that I hold dear to my heart.
And that became a ritual.
Did you know Nats fate when you took the job?
I wasn’t certain.
I was like, Okay, great!
But I didn’t get the script until after I had signed on.
This beautiful, beautiful man!
There’s a scene toward the end at the campfire where Nat says, I can come with you.
We’ll do it.
And, of course, because I’m so optimistic, that did not happen.
Six pages later I read it, and I was like, Oh, okay.
I immediately went to YouTube to search How to die on screen.
It’s literally in my YouTube history.
I was like: I’ve never done this, so this will be interesting.
What did you think about the way Nat went down?
Painful, but I think it’s poetic.
And when he knew that that point had arrived, he realized that he had done his mission.
And its because his dad helped him fulfill his dreams when he was young.
I love that you were YouTubing how to die on camera.
So tell me about actually doing it and filming your big death scene.
And so it wasn’t necessarily so much about, how do I physically die?
And I did what I thought was the best that I could.
I think the only thing that I was worried about was the snowflakes were falling in my eyes.
I was like, Don’t blink.
Are you little bummed you didnt get to play a zombie version of Nat?
Or are you happy you didn’t have to sit in makeup for five hours to do that?
Yeah, no, I’m good.
I did a commercial in 2015 for this app video game, and it was all prosthetics.
So I’m good seeing all the other zombies.
What was your favorite scene to shoot?
I’ll give you two quick things.
And we shot at the Izod Center, which was the home of the New Jersey Nets for years.
And I’m so thrilled and honored to be a part of it.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Liveairs 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC.
