Art Costa (Fear)

"Good morning, students. The district has decided today will be a half day. Repeat, today will be a half day. When the bell rings, proceed to your buses... (...) in a calm, orderly fashion."

- Art to the high school students over the intercom

Art Costa, sometimes referred to as Artie, is a character in AMC's Fear The Walking Dead. He is a principal at the Paul R. Williams High School.

Los Angeles, California
Art Costa serves as the principal of Paul R. Williams High School in Los Angeles.

"Pilot"
Art is often seen greeting students and staff at the beginning of each school day. When Tobias triggers the metal detectors, Art tries to stop him, but Madison intervenes and pats him down, stating his loose change must have set off the alarm. Later, Art is observed listening in on classroom discussions as a part of teacher evaluations. During another school day, Art sees much of his staff watching a video regarding a walker attacking emergency services. At the start of a new school day, Art is shocked to see only five students get off of a school bus, due to the flu. With such a low attendance at school, Art contacts the district office and decides to dismiss the school early.

"So Close, Yet So Far"
Art is first seen walking in a hallway at the high school where he hears a noise and turns. Eventually, Madison and Tobias encounter him as they leave the school, discovering that he's undead. Madison talks to him, saying that she can get him help, but an undead Art attacks her. Tobias attempts to attack him with his knife, but he is unfazed by the attack (as Tobias hits his torso and not the head) and the two tumble down some stairs. Art tries to bite Tobias, but Madison grabs a fire extinguisher and hits him several times, eventually killing him.

Killed By

 * Zombie (Alive)
 * Madison Clark (Zombified)

While escaping the school with medicine for Nick, Madison and Tobias encounter an undead Art. After Madison tries to tell him they'll get him help, he attacks, only for Tobias to intervene and attempt to put him down with his knife. The two tumble down a flight of stairs with Tobias struggling to push off the zombified man, however he is saved when Madison uses a fire extinguisher to bash Art's head in.

Season 1

 * "Pilot"
 * "So Close, Yet So Far"

Trivia

 * The casting call for this character used the name Canning. The casting call described Canning as "being an alpha male who is from a gritty neighborhood. He loves his family."