Norman Reedus capitalised on his fame through Boondock Saints, but the popularity came with The Walking Dead.
Merle was the brother of Daryl in fiction so that the first idea was that Reedus out this character and not Dixon , but responsible at the time , Frank Darabont and producer Gale Anne Hurd were not really interested in the actor since they had signed Michael Rooker to be Merle and finally saw.
Reedus however liked and therefore was called for another second casting in New York:
"I went and read different lines Merle. I thought maybe Rooker would not. When I left the offices in New York, I was walking home through Chinatown and got a call saying that Frank had a new personage Daryl - for me. I did cartwheels in Chinatown! Was it a dream. I did not know how long it would last or whether it would be only for one episode. "
Considering that The Walking Dead already had a full list of characters drawn comics, one of the most respected writers and directors of Hollywood created a new character specifically for Reedus was something quite special. If we think well, Daryl is now one of the main reasons why fans are so passionate series, and has been at the center of the series since almost the beginning, and every season although rumours of its death have always survives so that Reedus can say it definitely was a success ask to be on the show and in fact choosing it before any other because, once met Daryl, you imagine the actor as a doctor or a policeman in any other series? Surely No.