Denise Cloyd (TV Series)

"You turned back for me, maybe it was because you needed a doctor, or maybe you changed."

- Denise to Owen after he was bitten

Denise Cloyd is a survivor of the outbreak in AMC's The Walking Dead. She is a resident of the Alexandria Safe-Zone and took over as the town's doctor after Pete Anderson's execution.

Ohio
Denise attended medical school with aspirations to become a surgeon, however because her high levels of anxiety prevented her from handling such a profession, she eventually changed her focus of study to psychiatry. She was originally from Ohio.

Post-Apocalypse
Denise was living in the Alexandria Safe-Zone and remained largely to herself, presumably because of her anxiety. She had initially offered her support to Pete, but he turned her down. Denise is a peculiar and unusual woman. She's also very apprehensive and insecure.

"JSS"
Denise is first seen studying in the clinic when Tara Chambler and Eugene Porter come in looking for aspirin. Denise insists on examining Tara when she complains about a headache. She reveals to them in casual conversation that she went to med school to be a surgeon, but had panic attacks due to the pressure, causing her to switch into psychiatry.

After the Wolves attack, Denise panics as Rosita Espinosa rushes an injured Holly into the clinic. Tara and Eugene try to encourage her to help Holly as she bleeds out on the table. Denise ultimately agrees to help, but fails anyways. The guilt causes her to lash out at Tara. It is inferred that she stabs Holly in the head to prevent reanimation afterwards.

"Now"
Denise is first seen listening to Rick's speech at the town's gates. She is later found by Tara sulking on the floor of the clinic in frustration over her lack of medical ability. When Tara tries to encourage her, she tells Tara that the patient she's currently treating will most likely die. She confesses to Tara that she wished someone else to could take her spot so that she could just go back to her apartment reading her books. Tara tells her that being afraid is a fear you have to overcome to survive. Denise also witnesses Jessie put down a zombified Betsy and listens to her speech.

After Tara leaves, Denise manages to stabilize Scott's infection. Shortly there after, she finds Tara and, much to Tara's surprise, kisses her.

"Heads Up"
Denise is first seen being confronted by Morgan Jones, who doesn't get the chance to tell her why he's there, as he is interrupted by Rick's arrival. The two leave Denise together. Later, Denise is confronted by Morgan again. Once Morgan is inside, he requests antibiotics and a discussion regarding Scott and her treatment of his injuries occurs. The discussion leads to further probing by Denise, and Morgan finally admits that he isn't the one who needs antibiotics. He tells Denise that the presence of the individual in need of treatment (Owen) is a secret. He leads her to the location of the Wolf, who is confined in the makeshift cell. Carol notices the two leaving and follows them.

"Start to Finish"
Alone with the Alpha Wolf, Denise is sat in the corner as the Wolf tries to talk to her. He asks her a number of questions, to which she does not respond. Denise gets angry at the Wolf, tearing up. She tells him that the things he has done are unjustifiable, such as killing people. He says that he freed the people he has murdered. It is revealed that the Wolf knew that she didn't know that Morgan had him prisoner. He then tells how he got his wound. He vows that he has done his part and that the world will take his role after his death. Denise asks to see the wound, to which he shows her. Denise takes a closer look from afar. She insists that he can change from his current self. He watches her reach into her bag to get the medicine out, silent.

Denise is trying to treat the wound when Carol runs in, pointing a knife at them, telling her to get away from him. Morgan joins them, blocking Carol from killing the Wolf as Denise steps back and sits back in the corner, watching Morgan and Carol fight. Morgan knocks Carol out and the Wolf does the same to Morgan immediately after. Denise screams out, "No!", after Morgan is knocked unconscious. The Wolf points a knife at her.

Denise begs the Alpha Wolf not to kill Carol and Morgan as he unties himself. She says that he thinks they are going to die anyway and therefore he doesn't need to kill them, he can just let them die. The Wolf comes towards her with a knife, backing her against the wall. She exclaims that he is "so full of shit!", the Wolf chuckling at this. Tara, Rosita, and Eugene walks in with their guns pointing at him. The Wolf grabs Denise by her throat, threatening to slit her throat. He orders them to lower the guns, to which they do, sliding them across the floor over to him. He approaches the door with Denise, pointing their guns at them, telling them to stand back. He then turns the gun to Denise's head and walks out of the door to the walkers with Denise still his hostage. Tara, Rosita, and Eugene appearing sad at this event as he closes the door.

"No Way Out"
Denise is first seen with the Alpha Wolf, holding her at gunpoint while hiding from the walkers.

From their hiding spot, the Wolf and Denise watch walkers stream down the street. The Wolf tells Denise they'll make a run for a lookout tower as soon as a gap opens up in the herd.

The Alpha Wolf spots a gap in the herd and sprints to the tower with Denise. He defends Denise when walkers attack her but his arm gets bitten in the process. Denise urges him to come with her to the infirmary so she can save his life, presumably by amputating the limb.

Denise is seen later, taking shelter inside of a house, where she ties a belt around the Wolf's arm to amputate it. Denise says that the Wolf saved her life, signifying his redemption. Both of them run outside, heading to the infirmary. Carol witnesses them running from the townhouse balcony and shoots the Wolf in the chest, wounding him. He urges Denise to keeping going to the infirmary as he gets eaten by walkers. Denise manages to make it back to the infirmary safely where she is met with Aaron, Spencer Monroe and Heath. Just as she makes it back, Denise spots Rick Grimes and Michonne running to the infirmary with a wounded Carl Grimes. Heath begins to question Denise if Carl is bitten but she assures him he's not and begins asking him, Spencer and Aaron to prepare medical stuff for Carl.

Just as Rick, runs through the door, Denise begins to ask about what happens to which Michonne tells her what happened. Denise begins working on Carl's eye immediately, while Rick leaves the infirmary to kill some walkers. Michonne tries to hurry Denise, but Denise tells her that it's Rick's son and he'll be ok, Michonne then leaves to help Rick, and Heath, Spencer and Aaron leave shortly after her.

Denise appears at the end of the episode, tending to Daryl Dixon's wound he received. It also shows that Denise managed to save Carls life but at the cost of his eye.

"The Next World"
Daryl tracks down Denise to review her list of requested supplies and asks why she wants orange soda. Denise explains her plan to surprise Tara, who's leaving with Heath on a two-week supply run.

After Rick and Daryl return with Jesus, who is unconscious, they bring him to Denise, who is with Tara so she can check him out.

"Knots Untie"
Denise is first seen helping pack for the group going to the Hilltop. Denise approaches Daryl and offers him an oatcake she baked. Daryl refuses it, but Denise eventually persuaded him to take it. Daryl hopes it tastes better then it's looks and Denise laughs.

"Not Tomorrow Yet"
Denise is seen present at the meeting in the church, listening to Rick's speech about the danger of the Saviors. When Rick asked if anyone objected to the idea of attacking the Saviors, Denise remained silent.

Later, when Denise is talking to Tara, Tara tells Denise she loves her. Tara tells Denise she doesn't have to reply though and Denise says she will after Tara returns from her two week run with Heath. Tara suggests that Denise come along on to the Saviors compound and then she can come on the run immediately after. Denise says she wants to go but can't as she's the only doctor Alexandria has. Tara understands and the two kiss.

"Twice as Far"
Denise goes out of her way to kill a walker trapped in a car while out with Daryl and Rosita. They yell at her saying it was stupid and she says she did it to prove to herself she is stronger than she thinks. Before she can finish her final thought she is shot in the back of the head through her eye by Dwight, the man that stole Daryl's crossbow.

Killed by
As Denise was giving a speech to Daryl and Rosita, Dwight attempts to shoot Daryl in the head with an arrow, but accidentally shoots Denise through the back of her head and out her right eye, killing her only seconds later,Dwight later reveals that he did not meant to kill her, as he was not exactly aiming at her.
 * Dwight (Accidental)

Killed Victims
This list shows the victims Denise has killed:
 * Holly (Before Reanimation)
 * Owen (Indirectly Caused)
 * A few zombies.
 * Possibly numerous counts of unnamed patients (Out Of Mercy)

Relationships
{{Scroll-1|

Tara Chambler
"You're my first patient, and with that symptom, I'm pretty sure I can't kill you."

- Denise to Tara

Tara and Denise have developed a strong relationship. Tara encouraged Denise while she tried to save Holly. When Denise failed, Tara went to see how she was coping. Later on, outside, Denise kissed Tara on the lips, implying she might have feelings for her. It is unknown if Tara feels the same way, however. When Denise is taken hostage by the Alpha Wolf, Tara appears heartbroken as he has the knife to her and is the first one to turn over her gun when he orders them to. When the Alpha Wolf takes Denise outside with him, Tara looks at them devastated as they go outside to the walkers.

Denise survived and after the herd invasion, Denise and Tara began their romantic relationship. Within two months of dating, they became sexual and began sleeping together and living in the infirmary.

Eugene Porter
"Are you? - I'm sorry, I heard that story."

- Denise to Eugene

It seems like they have a stable relationship. Eugene seems to be friendly to Denise in "JSS", and Denise jokes with Eugene about him "being a doctor", having been informed of his lie about knowing a cure, maybe telling they have a stable friendship. When Denise struggles with the idea of operating a surgery on Holly due to her own inexperience and worry that she'll fail but Eugene tries to tell her that being a coward is worse than trying and failing, and this seems to convince Denise to operate on Holly.

Pete Anderson
"Pete didn't want me here."

- Denise to Tara and Eugene regarding her position.

Despite never interacting on screen, Denise mentions Pete didn't want her in the community during his time as the town's medic, indicating a bad relationship.

Morgan Jones
"Swelling?"

- Denise to Morgan whilst he quizzes her on her medical skills.

Denise's help was enlisted by Morgan after he finds that the Wolf he has secretly in detainment has an injury. At first, he is hesitant to ask Denise for help, even walking away from her when she asks what is wrong, but later returns and assures her that her medical skills are better than what she gives herself credit for, showing that they have a good relationship. He also shows trust in her when he admits that she has a prisoner from the Wolves attack on Alexandria. Later, Denise appears upset that Morgan has thrown this weight on her to keep it a secret from everyone else in the Alexandria Safe-Zone.

Rosita Espinosa
"Rosita you know how to stick an IV!?"

- Denise to Rosita as Denise begins to help Holly.

It is implied that the two have a stable relationship. After the death of Pete, Rosita now becomes Denise's medical assistant, and helps her when they bring in an injured Holly.

Owen
"You turned back for me, maybe it was because you needed a doctor, or maybe you changed."

- Denise to Owen after being bitten.

Owen had a strange relationship with Denise. The two first interact when Morgan secretly enlists her help to treat his infected wound. After a massive herd of walkers invade Alexandria, Denise and Owen share conversations over the atrocities that he has committed and appears disgusted, however after some thought she ends up treating his wound and tells him that he is capable of changing. Later on, following the confrontation between Carol and Morgan in which the two are knocked unconscious and Owen frees himself, Denise begs him not to kill them but he walks up to her and holds a knife to her throat, claiming that she represents what he likes about people. After gaining a gun from Tara, Owen holds Denise at gunpoint and exits the building with her as a hostage.

In No Way Out, as Owen and Denise watch as the herd passes by, Denise goes into a state of shock, and starts to have a panic attack. The Wolf calms her down, and implies that he needs her, and says that he enjoys her company. Denise tells him to go to hell and insults him over the deaths of his entire group, although he just smirks at her comments.

As night falls, Owen plans to escape Alexandria with Denise by his side, and says we find a gap, we go up that guard tower, and go. They then run for the ladder of the tower, but Denise is grabbed by a walker and tries to wrestle it off of her. Owen, instead of escaping, runs over and stabs it, getting bitten on the arm by another walker in the process. Denise insists that if he gets her to the infirmary, she can save his life. Once inside a building, Denise grabs Owen's belt and ties it around his arm, meaning that she intends to remove it. She seems very concerned that he is bit, and says she needs to get him to the infirmary immediately, showing that Denise wants him to live, and believes he is a better person than before. Denise finishes tying his arm up and they prepare to run to the infirmary.

The two push and shove through walkers, but Denise gets grabbed again. He pulls the walker off of her and reaches out for her and yells at her to come on!. Carol then unexpectedly shoots Owen through the chest twice and shouts at Denise to GO!, Denise is very shocked that he got shot and stops. Owen tackles the walkers that were approaching her and tells her to go!. He is then devoured as Denise runs to the infirmary. It is unknown if Denise feels remorse for Owen's death.

Daryl Dixon
TBA }}

Appearances
{{scroll
 * content =

Season 6
}}
 * "JSS"
 * "Now"
 * "Heads Up"
 * "Start to Finish"
 * "No Way Out"
 * "The Next World"
 * "Knots Untie"
 * "Not Tomorrow Yet"
 * "Twice as Far"

Trivia

 * Denise was revealed on July 29, 2015 and was described as "a medic becomes critical in the community of Alexandria after the death of Pete, and in the comic her skills as a surgeon prove pivotal, especially after a ghastly injury incurred by one of the main characters—an injury which may or may not happen on the TV version."
 * The casting call for this character was Allison.
 * Denise got Abraham's death from the comics in Issue 98.
 * Despite her humble introduction, in which Denise only mentions attending medical school, a psychiatrist must also complete three years of an in-house residency at a hospital, meaning that Denise has nearly twice as much medical experience as she lets on. Given her anxious nature regarding surgery and her line about not wanting people to have high expectations, Denise may have been trying to undersell the extent of her medical knowledge.
 * In "Now," Denise was revealed to be lesbian or bisexual when she kissed Tara. She is the third LGBT female in the show and the fifth openly gay character following Tara, Alisha, Aaron, and Eric.
 * She also is the first character adapted from the comic series that has her sexual orientation changed, as in the comics she is in a relationship with Heath.