KEY POINTS

  • Jeffrey Dean Morgan shared an IG post to mark final season of "The Walking Dead"
  • He said he's "incredibly proud" to have been part of the show
  • "Proud of your hard work," his wife, Hilarie Morgan, commented on his post

“One Tree Hill” alum Hilarie Morgan sang praises for her husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan ahead of the final season of “The Walking Dead.”

On Sunday, Jeffrey Dean marked the 11th season of the hit zombie series with an Instagram post, expressing how “incredibly proud” he is of being part of the show. The 55-year-old actor joined the cast of the AMC series in the season 6 finale, where he first appeared as the villainous Negan.

“Well shoot,” he wrote. “Here we go folks. The beginning of the end. First of the two-part premiere airs tonight. It’s good… I’ve actually watched first two, and yeah… Hell of a way to begin, and end, this amazing journey. I’m talking all of us. Cast, crew, and mostly you fans. I’m incredibly proud to be a part of this show, this family, and all of you. So… thank you now… with many more thanks and thoughts to follow as this season progresses.”

Hilarie was quick to comment on her husband’s post, telling him how proud she was of his work on the show. “Proud of you,” she wrote. “Proud of your hard work and grateful for all the lifelong friendships this job has brought to our family. And proud of how absolutely HOT Negan is.”

Hilarie guest-starred in the season 10 finale as Negan’s late wife Lucille. She appeared in flashback scenes, shedding light on how Negan became the villainous character the show has depicted him to be.

In an April interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jeffrey Dean described Hilarie’s cameo appearance as “the highlight” of his career, although he admitted it made him nervous at first.

“We shot all of her stuff in three or four days, I think,” he told the outlet. “We never left the basement that we were in. that was a joy. I couldn’t have asked for a cooler deal of working with Hilarie. I’m not going to lie, I was nervous as hell going in. I didn’t know how she would be. I don’t f*** around. I go to work. We better f***ing bring it. And it was great. That first day with her, I went home just like, ‘Thank God!’”

Hilarie Burton, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Hilarie Burton has given birth to her second child with the “Walking Dead” actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Pictured: Morgan and Hilarie arrive at the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Pier on Feb. 25, 2012 in Santa Monica, California. Jordan Strauss/Getty Images for Piaget