Lori Grimes

Lori Grimes is a fictional character from the comic book series The Walking Dead and was portrayed by Sarah Wayne Callies in the American television series of the same name. Created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore, the character made her debut in The Walking Dead #2 in 2003. In both forms of media, she is married to Rick Grimes. They have two children Carl and Judith. The character escapes the zombie apocalypse with Carl, and Rick's partner Shane Walsh. Believing her husband to be dead, she starts a relationship with Shane, but breaks it off when she finds her husband is alive. For her performance as Lori, Callies was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television in 2010, and was among the cast members of The Walking Dead winning the Satellite Award for Best Cast - Television Series in 2012.

Quick Facts

Series

The Walking Dead

Portrayed by

Sarah Wayne Callies

Creator

Robert Kirkman; Tony Moore

Adapted by

Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead)

Occupation

Housewife
Comic:
Art College Student

Spouse

Rick Grimes

Partner

Shane Walsh (affair)

Family

Comic:
Jeffrey Grimes (brother-in-law)
Andrea Grimes II (granddaughter)

Lore & Background

In the comic book series, Lori Grimes is an average middle-class housewife living in Cynthiana, Kentucky. As the outbreak begins, her son Carl and she are evacuated out of the city with help from her husband Rick's best friend and work partner, Shane Walsh, in hopes of getting to where her parents live. During the evacuation, the guilt with which she has been racked over abandoning Rick leads her to have a sexual relationship with Shane, which she deeply regrets afterward.

She continually brushes off Shane's attempts at advancing and ignores him even more when Rick miraculously arrives at their campsite. Lori soon finds out, after counting her missed periods, that she is pregnant; however, she hesitates to tell anybody until after Shane's death and their move back onto the road. Lori faces typical pregnancy issues such as morning sickness and mood swings throughout the first few months of her term. Lori and everyone else find relative stability at an abandoned prison, with hot showers, supplies, and security.

While at the prison, she also begins to deepen her bond with fellow survivor Carol Peletier. Lori is frequently concerned with the well-being of both her family and the rest of the group. After giving birth to an infant girl that Rick and she name Judith, she remains extremely protective over her. During the final stages of the prison assault led by the Governor, Lilly Caul by orders of the Governor, shoots Lori in the back with a shotgun, and she falls while holding Judith, crushing her.

Lori's death leaves Rick and Carl emotional wrecks. Rick suffers frightening hallucinations, both visual and auditory, at one point even using a phone to have what he believes are actual conversations with his deceased wife. He confides in Michonne, who has also talked to a deceased loved one to help the coping process. Carl frequently blames Rick for Lori and Judith's deaths.