Walking Dead casts Windermere resident Jordan Woods-Robinson as Eric

The writers of “The Walking Dead” are masters at building their audience’s suspense through keeping them in the dark.

So, it’s no surprise that when they introduced a new character, Eric, earlier this year, his presence carried significant weight and anticipation long before the audience ever saw his face.

And when Eric finally was revealed on-screen — crouched behind a tractor and spying on main characters Glenn, Michonne, Abraham, Maggie and Rosita, viewers still didn’t know what to think.

Is he good? Is he evil? Is he a threat?

It takes serious acting chops — both physically and otherwise — to land a role on AMC’s über-popular horror drama. Casting directors searched long and hard for their Eric and finally found him — in Windermere resident Jordan Woods-Robinson.

“It’s a grueling show; it’s definitely not a courtroom drama,” Woods-Robinson says from the air-conditioned comfort of his home studio. “We film in Atlanta — outside, in the hot and the cold.”

However, the extreme working conditions seemed to have fostered a strong sense of family among cast and crew members.

“The first person I met on set was Norman Reedus (the actor who portrays Daryl Dixon, one of the show’s main and most popular characters),” Woods-Robinson says. “It was a big battle scene, and after a take, as he was walking off, someone introduced me and told him I was playing Eric. Without even knowing me, he gave me a big hug and said, ‘Welcome to the family.’”

DEAD HEAD

Since it debuted in 2010, “The Walking Dead”  has become the highest-rated show on cable television and boasts viewerships that rival large sports games and awards shows. However, although Woods-Robinson was familiar with the show, he and his wife didn’t get caught up on all four previous seasons until after he was cast.

“I started watching it right after my first child was born,” Woods-Robinson recalls. “She was 3 months old, and I remember feeding her a bottle and watching it. But my wife had no interest in it. She’s not one to watch zombie shows or gory things. So I kind of put a pin it.

“But, after I was cast, we knew we had to get caught up,” he says. “After that first episode, though, you learn that the show is about relationships. It’s about the characters. It’s about love and trying to survive. It’s about people bonding together to be bigger than themselves.

“My wife latched onto that, and now, she’s a bigger fan than I am,” Woods-Robinson says, laughing.

Casting for “The Walking Dead” is done completely through recorded audition videos. Woods-Robinson recorded his from his Windermere home and survived several rounds of cuts and subsequent auditions to land the role.

The show takes some of its characters and story from the graphic-novel series of the same name. Because of that, the exact names and roles being cast are kept secret, so fans cannot anticipate where the television storyline is heading. For an actor, that complicates the audition process. After all, imagine interviewing for a job but not knowing what the job duties entail.

In addition to “The Walking Dead,” Woods-Robinson’s résumé also includes a small role in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1,” and he will be seen later this year in “Solace,” which stars Sir Anthony Hopkins and Colin Farrell.

THE BLUE MAN

Originally from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Woods-Robinson grew up on a 180-acre animal preserve. He picked up the violin at 4 years old and cut his teeth in the spotlight as part of the Dollywood entertainment scene.

Following his graduation from high school, Woods-Robinson earned a spot in New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts for theater. Immediately after graduation, he took a gig with the Blue Man Group, which sent him all over the country and later, the world, as a performer.

He and his wife later relocated to the Orlando area. Here, Woods-Robinson continues to perform with the Blue Man Group.

“It’s fantastically stable,” he says. “And it allows me to do all these other things.”

In addition to “The Walking Dead,” Woods-Robinson still writes and performs music. He just released his second album, titled, “Crazy and Back,” and he also founded SOSstudio, a full-production online recording service. The studio helps network musicians from around the world, giving them the opportunity to collaborate and record without ever having to leave their homes.

And, as a father of two young children, Woods-Robinson also makes sure to carve out time to play his most important role — Daddy. He completes all of his work in a soundproofed studio at the back of his house and closes the door to separate work from home.

“I try not to ever bring my laptop downstairs,” he says. “Also, I wake up at 5 a.m. and work for two hours before the kids get up. Then, I’ll go into dad mode for a few hours and then pick up work at nap time.”

ERIC AND AARON

The writers haven’t revealed much about Eric. He’s a gay man in a relationship with another character, Aaron, portrayed by Ross Marquand. But the audience — and Woods-Robinson for that matter — knows little about either character’s backstory.

“The first night I showed up in Atlanta, Ross and I just sat up on a balcony and talked — getting to know each other,” Woods-Robinson says. “We never ran through the scene, but we talked about what we thought our relationship was and what our backstories were. 

“Ross and I decided that our story was one about love,” he says. “It’s a universal truth, no matter what your beliefs are.”

Filming for Woods-Robinson’s episodes took place last fall, and he says he spent a large portion of the seven-hour drive to Atlanta carving out his complex character.

“Usually, with a scene, I’ll do a loose paraphrase,” he says of his rehearsal technique. “Then, I’ll dive down into the pauses and beats. Every piece of the script, every ‘um,’ every pause, was put there for a reason by the writer.”

With a show notorious for killing off even some of its most beloved characters, it’s unknown whether Woods-Robinson will remain on “The Walking Dead” for years to come or whether he meets his demise on this Sunday’s finale. 

However, Woods-Robinson says the experience will be one he cherishes for life.

“It’s been such a rewarding experience,” he says. “‘The Walking Dead’ is legendary; it will live on for years. And no matter what, to say that I was a part of that is a very cool thing.”

Contact Michael Eng at [email protected].

In addition to his role on “The Walking Dead” and steady gig in the Blue Man Group, Jordan Woods-Robinson also is an accomplished musician.

He just released his sophomore EP, titled, “Crazy and Back,” a folk-based pop-rock affair available on iTunes, Amazon and more.

He also is an entrepreneur who runs SOSstudio (sos studio.co), a full-production online recording service, and hosts a podcast to help aspiring artists navigate the oft-murky waters of the entertainment industry.