Earl Sutton (TV Series)

"I started drinking right after I quit smoking. How's that for ironic? It wasn't something that got out of control. It was always bad. I was drunk the day Kenneth was born. Hell, I can't even remember the first time I saw him. I joined A.A. after that. But... When Kenny was 2, me and Tammy were barely making ends meet. I guess the stress of it all got to me. I don't know. I was on my way to pick him up from the sitter's, and I saw the sign for McDuffy's off the highway. The sitter could smell the whiskey on me. She told me. She didn't want to hand him over. She tried to grab my keys. I wouldn't give her a choice. I took my son, and I put him in the truck. The next thing I remember, I was pulled off the road and Tammy was there. I called her, I guess, and told her I was drunk. And she came to pick us up and take us home... I thought for sure she'd be gone after that, but she stuck around. She said I was sick that we swore to stay together no matter what and that's what we were gonna do. I never took a drink after that. I wasn't even tempted. At least, not until... Well, you know the rest."

- Earl telling Maggie how he started to drink.

Earl Sutton is a survivor of the outbreak in AMC's The Walking Dead. He is the blacksmith for the Hilltop Colony.

Location Unknown
At some point, Earl married Tammy and had a son with her, Ken. He was an alcoholic, to the point that he was drunk when Ken was born and can't even remember the first time he saw him. When Ken was two, Earl got into a fight with the babysitter and drove off with Ken, drunk. He latter pulled over and called Tammy to pick them up. He expected his wife to leave him, but she didn't. From that day, Earl swore off drinking, staying sober for the next twenty years.

"A New Beginning"
At night, at Hilltop, Maggie breaks the news of Ken's death to Earl and Tammy. An emotional Tammy scolds Maggie for getting her son killed, reminding her that she voted for her in the election. Earl tries to calm her down but Tammy doesn't listen and criticizes Maggie's decision to supply the Saviors. A shocked Maggie offers to help with the funeral but Tammy declines and denies her from being present.

Later, the Hilltop gathers for Ken's funeral. Alden sings and Gregory gives a eulogy. A heartbroken Earl helps to place the lid on the coffin and prepare to bury his son.

Gregory then approaches Tammy and Earl with a bottle of whiskey. She drinks herself to sleep, leaving Earl and Gregory to talk, with Gregory breaking Earl's non-drinking policy and taking advantage of him. Through some cunning words, Gregory suggests to Earl that Maggie does not have to be in charge of Hilltop anymore.

When Maggie rushes towards Glenn's grave to investigate, she is attacked by a hooded and drunk Earl, who also knocks over Hershel's stroller. Enid intervenes but gets pushed to the ground hard and is knocked out. Alden and Cyndie arrive and manage to grab Earl and stop him.

The next day, at night, the residents, including Earl in restraints, gather around the gallows as Maggie explains to her people that the punishment fits the crime. She looks on at Gregory, who has a noose around his neck and is sitting on a horse. Gregory pleads for someone to stop this, but no one moves. A couple of kids show up and Michonne yells for Maggie to stop but it's too late as Daryl smacks the horse and it rides off, leaving Gregory to hang to death to everyone's shock.

Maggie tells her people that she wants this to be the last time they do something like this and then orders Daryl to cut Gregory down.

"The Bridge"
Following Gregory's execution, Earl has been immprisoned in Hilltop's cell as punishment. 35 days later, after Maggie is convinced by Jesus, Tammy is allowed to see her husband. She forgives him and misses him, claiming that what he did was a mistake and he's a good and changed man. They talk a little about their past and he claims he needs the forgiveness of Maggie, who listens on and gets a little emotional.

Later, Maggie talks to Earl herself. He mentions how he became an alcoholic, not remembering seeing his son for the first time and how an accident made him stop drinking for over twenty years. He says that despite being drunk he was aware of his actions and says he regrets trying to kill her.

Finally, Maggie releases him from his cell to pay his debt, since he made her remember how her father was an alcoholic too and got a second chance in life.

Killed Victims
This list shows the victims Earl has killed:
 * Possibly numerous counts of zombies

Season 9

 * "A New Beginning"
 * "The Bridge"