Jeff Kober Walking Dead Mystery

During last Sunday's episode of The Walking Dead I had a definite double-take. One of my superpowers is recognizing actors. So in the episode Claimed, when Rick finally escaped from beneath that bed and the tennis ball tossing leader of the men who'd seized the house was glimpsed out on that porch, I exclaimed, "That's Jeff Kober."

I've been a fan of Jeff Kober's since Kindred: The Embraced, back in 1996. This Montana native has been quite the journeyman actor, showing up in tons of roles from China Beach to Walker, Texas Ranger to Sons of Anarchy. Sometimes he just shows up, uncredited (as in Lost), and sometimes he makes a big impact (like on Sons), but I figure if he's showing up on The Walking Dead, it's a seed being planted - and while Rick got the heck out of Dodge shortly after glimpsing him, smart money is that Kober will resurface.

Is he connected to Terminus, the sanctuary that we've seen mentioned? There's even speculation that he could be an early incarnation of Negan, before he rises to full bat-wielding power. Kober is now listed as an uncredited "Joe" by IMDB for the episode. But where he's a recognizable cult fave - and isn't dead - I think it's a safe bet Kober is going to loom large again at some point. Five more episodes left this season.

Jeff Kober as Daedalus on Kindred: The Embraced

Kober as Jacob Hale on Sons of Anarchy