Eugene Lynden

This article is about the character from the HBO series. For his appearance in the video game series, see Eugene Linden.

Eugene Lynden
Biographical information
Status	Deceased
Gender	Male
Occupation(s)	Soldier (formerly) Militiaman (formerly) Patrolman
Affiliation(s)	United States military (formerly) Fireflies (formerly) Jackson community
Relationships	Gail Lynden (wife)
Resides	Jackson, Wyoming
Hair color	Gray/White
Eye color	Blue
Behind the scenes
Appears in	HBO's The Last of Us (season 2)
Portrayed by	Joe Pantoliano

“

You can't do this to me, Joel! Last words for her? No, I need her last words! For me! ―Eugene begging Joel to let him live longer.

”

Eugene Lynden is a supporting character in the second season of HBO's The Last of Us. He was the husband of Gail Lynden. Eugene was killed by Joel Miller after being bitten by an infected, causing both Gail and Ellie Williams to resent Joel over how his death happened.

Biography

Background

Eugene was born sometime before 1955 and eventually went on to become a soldier in the United States military, serving in the Vietnam War. He survived the conflict, but it left him psychologically scarred and traumatized by the amount of people that he had to kill in order to survive. He left the army and eventually met his wife Gail in 1987. The two remained together for over four decades, celebrating each of Gail's birthdays side by side. Prior to the Cordyceps brain infection outbreak, he was experienced in botany and could grow his own marijuana. He regularly grew it to give to Gail. He was skilled at it, able to make it even during winter months.

After the outbreak, Eugene joined the Fireflies. However, he once again grew tired of all the killing he had to do with them, deciding to leave the group by 2010. Before leaving, he learned that the WLF was one of the western resistance groups, in Seattle. He criticized these various groups, however, believing that they would have been more likely to succeed at overthrowing FEDRA if they had banded together to work in concert.

Eugene and Gail then joined the community of survivors living in Jackson, Wyoming. While in Jackson he became a patrolman, and eventually found and converted an abandoned 7/11 into a marijuana grow house for his and Gail's consumption, despite believing Maria would disapprove. When he was assigned as Jesse's first patrol partner, he even took him there when on patrol on the assurance he would not tell anyone in Jackson about it. He later recounted his knowledge of the WLF to Dina at some point before 2028.

Death

Sometime early in 2028, Eugene and his patrol partner Adam needed backup after dealing with infected in the forest. They radioed the request to Jackson, who sent Joel and Ellie to help them. Before they arrive, Eugene is bitten by an infected on his side and Adam is killed but Eugene manages to kill the remaining infected. Eugene rests by a tree as Joel and Ellie reluctantly reveals he was bit. Noting they most likely have an hour, he requests that they take him back to the walls of Jackson so he can say a last goodbye to Gail before they kill him. Joel refuses, citing town protocol, but Ellie interrupts him and makes Eugene do the number test for infection that the Fireflies did to her. He passes it, which Ellie states is proof he has time, suggesting they tie him up and bring him back so he can see his wife. Joel tells Ellie to go get the horses and bring them down the trail, and they will meet up again, adding when Ellie hesitates that he promises.

Joel leads Eugene through the woods, as Eugene admits the Cordyceps is making him feel cold. They arrive at the shore of the lake, which Eugene admires briefly before realizing that Joel intends to go through with killing him before they ever get to Jackson. Joel says he can pass on Eugene's last words, but Eugene insists that he needs to see Gail one last time himself. Joel tells him that if he loves someone, he can always see their face. Eugene removes his glasses as he looks out on the horizon, saying after a moment, "I see her." Joel aims and shoots him in the head, killing him. Ellie arrives minutes later to find Joel standing over Eugene's dead body. They return to Jackson with the body in tow, Joel justifying to her that he had to kill him.

Arriving back at Jackson with Eugene's body, Joel consoles Gail by claiming Eugene's last words were that he loved her and he ended his own life peacefully. However, Ellie spitefully reveals the truth, that Eugene begged to see her and Joel promised him and Ellie that he would take him back to see Gail, only to shoot him in the head. Gail slaps Joel and insists that he get away from her. Ellie turns to Joel and tells him "You swore" before running off.

Gail continued to grieve his death despite offering Joel therapy sessions.

Physical appearance

Eugene was an older man with greying, balding hair and a white beard. He also wore glasses.

Relationships

Gail Lynden

Eugene was married to Gail, who knew him for at least 41 years and is still grieving his death. He cared for her, making an effort to provide marijuana for her even when it was difficult to grow during the winter months. When Eugene was bitten, he longed to see Gail one more time before his death in the hope she could comfort him and imagined her face, wanting it to be the last thing he ever saw.

Behind the scenes

Joe Pantoliano, the actor who will portray Eugene.

• Eugene is portrayed by American actor Joe Pantoliano. His casting was officially announced by HBO on March 5, 2025. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann explained that although Eugene only appears in a photograph in The Last of Us Part II, they saw the show as an opportunity to expand on his character, similar to how Bill and Frank's story was explored in the first season.
• Eugene's Firefly pendant is identical to that of his video game counterpart, aside from a slight variation in the spelling of his surname. It features the same identification number: 000314.

Gallery

Official stills

Eugene surrenderas to Joel and Ellie.

Eugene asks to see Gail before he dies.

Eugene looks out at the lake shorty before his death.

Other

Eugene Lynden's last name on the back of the Firefly pendant.

Appearances

• HBO's The Last of Us
  • Season 2
    • Episode 1: "Future Days" (mentioned only)
    • Episode 2: "Through the Valley" (mentioned only)
    • Episode 3: "The Path" (mentioned only)
    • Episode 6: "The Price" (flashback)