Bob Stookey

Bob Stookey is a fictional character from the comic book series The Walking Dead and the television series of the same name, where he is portrayed by Lawrence Gilliard, Jr. Created by Robert Kirkman and artists Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn, the character made his debut in The Walking Dead #29 in June 2006. Bob is a former combat medic who considered as the town drunk of Woodbury, Georgia. Although he is a minor character in the comics, Bob is notable for saving the life of The Governor, who was severly mutilated by Michonne. His origins are explored in the companion novel The Walking Dead: The Road to Woodbury, which was written by Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga.

In the television series, Bob is introduced in the fourth season as a survivor living amongst the community at the prison. As with his comic counterpart, Bob is a former army medic who struggles from alcoholism.

Comic book series

Bob was the local town drunk of Woodbury. Four years prior to the series, he was supposedly an army medic. He is seen briefly outside The Governor's house, where The Governor expresses concern that Bob isn't eating enough and tells him to get some food. Bob's minor role expands significantly when he saves The Governor's life. Gabe and Bruce call upon him to save The Governor when Alice and Dr. Stevens, the only town medical professionals, flee and Michonne tortures The Governor nearly to death. After a slow recovery, The Governor personally asks Bob to watch over his walker daughter until the Woodbury army returns from killing the prison survivors.

Television series

Fictional character biography

Daryl finds Bob about a week before the start of Season 4. Bob has seen things go bad "over and over" and winding up in the safe prison has not shaken those experiences from him.^[1]

Bob first appeared in the season premiere "30 Days Without an Accident", where it is revealed that he was a survivor who was rescued by Daryl Dixon, who brings him to live with the large community at the prison. A week later, he soon feels he should start "pulling his weight" and volunteers to go on a food run led by Daryl. The scavenger group manages to get into a Big Sp!t shopping centre, where Bob heads straight for the liquor. He contemplates hiding a bottle in his jacket so the others won't notice but places the bottle back on the shelf—and in the process causes the shelf to collapse and come crashing down, pinning Bob to the ground and drawing in the walkers. He cries for help, and the rest of the group saves him, but a young man, Zach, loses his life saving him. In the next episode "Infected", when a deadly flu begins infecting many inhabitants, Bob helps fight back against members of the group who had succumbed to the flu and become walkers. In the episode "Isolation", Bob volunteers to accompany the group led by Daryl and including Tyreese and Michonne to retrieve medicine at a veterinary college, but the group is forced to abandon their car along the road when they are surrounded by walkers. In the episode "Indifference", Bob recounts to Daryl his past: he was the last survivor of his previous two groups, and he would drink himself to sleep to ease the pain. He also admits that he was responsible for Zach's death, but Daryl dismisses it and reassures his place in the group. At the college, the group manages to retrieve the medicine, however Bob is revealed to have only grabbed a bottle of liquor he found. Having lost his trust in him, Daryl threatens to beat him up if he drinks before the medicine is given to the sick. In the episode "Internment", when the group returns to the prison, Bob helps administer the medicine to the surviving inhabitants. In the mid-season finale "Too Far Gone", the Governor attacks the prison, and Bob participates in the prison's defense; the Governor's attack deals enough damage to the prison that the group is forced to abandon it and scatter amidst the chaos of the attack.

Development and reception

It was announced on April 26, 2013 that Lawrence Gilliard, Jr. had joined the cast in a regular role as Bob Stookey, a former Army medic.^[2][3][4] The announcement explained: "Bob is deeply haunted by his past — pre- and post-zombie apocalypse. As a result, he’s a bit of a loner, although he maintains a charming/self-deprecating/confident public face."^[2]

References