Chandler Riggs
He grew up on screen as the resilient son in a zombie apocalypse, becoming a defining child actor of a television phenomenon.
Born 1999 (age 27)·American actor·Birthday: June 27·Generation Z
Biography
Chandler Riggs stepped into the global spotlight at age ten, landing the role of Carl Grimes on AMC's 'The Walking Dead.' For eight seasons, audiences watched him evolve from a wide-eyed boy into a hardened survivor, his character's journey mirroring his own coming-of-age in front of millions. The grueling filming schedule in rural Georgia became his unconventional childhood, balancing schoolwork with a demanding acting job that required emotional depth beyond his years. His performance earned him multiple Saturn Awards, cementing his place in the show's legacy. After leaving the series in 2018, Riggs pivoted to college and pursued music, demonstrating a deliberate shift from the franchise that made him a household name to exploring his own creative identity.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Chandler was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chandler Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Chandler's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won three Saturn Awards for his performance as Carl Grimes on 'The Walking Dead.'
- Portrayed a central character on one of the most-watched cable television series for eight consecutive seasons.
- Received a Young Artist Award for his work as a young actor in a television series.
Did You Know?
He is an accomplished DJ and electronic music producer, performing under the name Eclipse.
He attended the University of Georgia, majoring in astronomy.
His father, William Riggs, was a personal trainer on the set of 'The Walking Dead.'
“I grew up on that set; it taught me everything about this business.”
