Poor Beth Greene never had a chance to reach adulthood, as the character was killed off when she was still a teenager in The Walking Dead season 5, episode 8, “Coda.” Played by Emily Kinney, Beth made her series debut in season 2 as the youngest daughter of Hershel Greene. She appeared in a total of three seasons before she was tragically killed by the leader of a group residing in an Atlanta hospital. So how old was Beth during her arc on The Walking Dead?
Beth made her first appearance in the season 2 episode titled “Bloodletting.” Rick Grimes arrived on the Greene family farm in search of help for his son, Carl Grimes, who had just been shot. Beth was one of the residents that assisted in saving Carl along with her older half-sister, Maggie Greene. At first, Beth struggled with the truth regarding the zombie apocalypse, and she even attempted to commit suicide. In time, though, she emerged as a key member of the group, especially as she served as a caregiver while staying in the abandoned prison. After bonding with Daryl Dixon, Beth gained a new outlook, but her life was cut short after she became trapped in Grady Memorial Hospital.
Related: Beth’s Original Walking Dead Death Would’ve Been Much Worse
According to The Walking Dead, Beth was 16-years-old when Kinney made her series debut. As a teenager who was focused on high school before the outbreak, it was understandable that Beth struggled with the new world. She was still young to cope, but old enough to remember what life used to look like. Though the series didn’t acknowledge her date of birth, the timeline of the show made it possible to figure out a date range. Based on the fact that season 2 was said to take place in October 2010, it would be plausible to track Beth’s birthday to somewhere between late 1993 to mid-1994.
Beth Was 17 Years Old When She Died In The Walking Dead Season 5
In season 3, the timeline of The Walking Dead shifted to June 2011 after some time had passed. Walkers had infiltrated the Greene family farm, overrunning the property, which in turn forced the survivors to scatter. Once they reunited, Rick led them around the area until they wound up at the abandoned prison nearby. During the time Rick’s group lived in the prison, Beth was 17. Even though only a short time came and went, she was forced to grow up fast. Not only did she become one of the primary caregivers to baby Judith, she also witnessed the death of her father, which took place in season 4.
Beth was kidnapped by the police force in charge of Grady Memorial Hospital heading into the events of The Walking Dead season 5. While being kept against her will, she struck up a friendship with a fellow hostage named Noah. When Carol Peletier was taken to the hospital after a botched rescue attempt, the rest of the survivors – led by Rick and Daryl – tried to bargain for Beth’s release. The exchange almost went through without a hitch, but after Noah was denied permission to leave, Beth attacked the hospital’s leader, Dawn. The police officer was shocked at being stabbed in the shoulder by Beth and shot her in the head on reflex, killing her instantly. The episode was set in late 2011, presumably December, which would bring Beth’s age to the later months of 17. Depending on her birth month, there was also a chance that she reached 18 years old during her death. If she was still alive in The Walking Dead now, Beth would be around the age of 26.