Game of Thrones Cast (So Far)

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EDIT: Season 2 Cast List HERE.

As you may have noticed I’m a fan of Fantasy and Science Fiction literature. Well HBO is too as they’ve ordered a pilot for Game of Thrones the first book in George R.R. Martin’s epic Fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. Kings queens bastards zombies imps you name it this series has it.

The author and show producers have been taunting fans with casting clues tormenting us for days on end before a new actor is announced for a role. You have to remember this series is on par with Lord of the Rings in that the characters are larger than life as epic as the story they are beholden to.

I have amassed a running tally of the cast so far. Most all of the major players for the pilot have been filled so I thought it a good time to show you all what to expect (hopefully) come winter of next year. You’ll probably be seeing “Winter Is Coming to HBO” posters next Fall don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Arya Stark

Featured Cast (Alphabetical)

John Campbell-West is

Samwell Tarly

Ron Donachie is

Ser Rodrik Cassel

Jerome Flynn is

Bronn

Conleth Hill is

Varys

Jason Momoa is

Khal Drogo

Donald Sumpter is

Maester Luwin

Guest Cast (Alphabetical)

Amrita Acharia is

Irri

Roger Allam is

Illyrio Mopatis

Josef Altin is

Pyp

Gethin Anthony is

Renly Baratheon

Ciaran Bermingham is

Mord

Esmé Bianco is

Ros

David Bradley is

Ser Walder Frey

Susan Brown is

Septa Mordane

Dominic Carter is

Janos Slynt

Antonia Christophers is

Mhaegen

James Cosmo is

Jeor Mormont

Charles Dance is

Tywin Lannister

Joseph Dempsie is

Gendry

Kate Dickie is

Lysa Arryn

Stephen Don is

Stiv

Emun Elliot is

Marillion

Lino Facioli is

Robin (Robert) Arryn

Elyes Gabel is

Jhogo

Ian Gelder is

Ser Kevan Lannister

Julian Glover is

Grand Maester Pycelle

Jefferson Hall is

Ser Hugh of the Vale

Ben Hawkey is

Hot Pie

Rhodri Hosking is

Mycah

Margaret John is

Old Nan

Wilko Johnson is

Ser Ilyn Payne

Dermot Keaney is

Gared

Sibel Kekilli is

Shae

Susie Kelly is

Masha Keddle

Mark Lewis Jones is

Shagga

Simon Lowe is the

Catspaw Assassin

Francis Magee is

Yoren

Clive Mantle is

Greatjon Umber

Joseph Mawle is

Benjen Stark

Brendan McCormack is

Ser Vardis Egan

Ian McElhinney is

Ser Barristan Selmy

Luke McEwan is

Rast

Roxanne McKee is

Doreah

Kristian Nairn is

Hodor

Rob Ostlere is

Ser Waymar Royce

Art Parkinson is

Rickon Stark

Aimee Richardson is

Myrcella Baratheon

Lalor Roddy is the

Wineseller

Dar Salim is

Qotho

Eugene Simon is

Ser Lancel Lannister

Jamie Sives is

Jory Cassel

John Standing is

Jon Arryn

Mark Stanley is

Grenn

Conan Stevens is

Ser Gregor Clegane

Owen Teale is

Ser Alliser Thorne

Peter Vaughan is

Maester Aemon Targaryen

Natalia Tena is

Osha

Eros Vlahos is

Lommy Greenhands

Bronson Webb is

Will

Callum Wharry is

Tommen Baratheon

Miltos Yeromelou is

Syrio Forel

Comments

69 responses to “Game of Thrones Cast (So Far)”

September 2, 2009

blah

Might want to look at your pictures for 11 and 12 again.
September 2, 2009

Cajunman

I personally like the photo of Alfie Allen grinning with his dimples better than this one. It suits Theon’s personality better, IMHO.
September 2, 2009

shadallion

Great pics. Good lord Joffrey is an ugly little cuss. It will be easy to despise him.
September 2, 2009

invertebrae

@Cajunman

That really depends on which Theon we’re talking about here. I like this one.

…ryan
September 2, 2009

scottr

Wow! Great selections!. They all look like their characters in some way.
Even Tamzin looks like Dany, which should ease the minds of those who aren’t satisfied by the choice (I am not one of them).

I’m surprised more sites didn’t use these headshots.
September 2, 2009

About Yea High

Very cool. I’m forwarding this site to some friends; best cast grouping thus far. Excellent pictures!

(Is it me or does Jack Gleeson look a little like Geddy Lee’s unclaimed son?)
September 3, 2009

WinterIsComing

AYH: Haha! Yeah he does. And Richard Madden looks like a young Guy Pearce.
September 9, 2009

Dawn Mcmanaman

I think the actors playing Robb and Jon should be switched. And **SPOILER** why does Sean Bean always play characters that are going to die?? **SPOILER** Tim Roth for Little Finger!!! Gary Coleman as Hotpie!
September 9, 2009

sedeslav

I found that Goran Visnjic really look like a Khal Drogo. and Jennifer Ehle is very good actress but i will like to see in that role Catrine Zeta Jones…but…who ask me…and i don’t like Nikolaj as Jaime Lannister. He isn’t good looking enough (no ofense Nikolaj…) Born for Jaime is Brad Pitt. Eh…as I said: I love fantasy! 🙂
September 11, 2009

Priyadarshini

The Lannister twins look nothing alike. And Nikolaj doesn’t do it for me. Too…rugged. Jaime is kinda more beautiful, in my mind.
October 4, 2009

Valtaya

Aren’t the Lannister twins supposed to be blonde? I’m assuming they will have to dye their hair.
October 4, 2009

Kris

Probably not a bad idea to be going with an older Dany than is in the novels (at least I hope they don’t intend to try passing a 22-year-old off as thirteen). Merchant does definitely have the right look.

The dude for Sandor Clegane looks awesome for the part.

Dawn, I totally feel you on the Sean Bean/Ned thing.

I can live with the Lannister twins not looking too much alike, but I agree that this Jaime doesn’t look “pretty” enough. Personally I like to picture Jesse Spencer, but that might just be my inner House nerd talking. Cersei should be a good, meaty role for Lena Headey, in any case.
October 10, 2009

nil

I’m not so happy with Mark Addy, his a great actor but I can’t see him as the king, he’s too jolly and baby faced.
look at his pic, you jast wanna sqees pinch his cheek.
October 10, 2009

Sherry

I know its early, but hope Colm Feore is cast in GoT as maybe Stannis or Davos or Kevan Lannister!
October 10, 2009

darlene

I think Angus McFadyen would have made an excellent Robert, but Angus is too big a name, I guess. Dreamcasting is fun, but it does not hit reality alot of times. 😀
October 13, 2009

Jbug

You mixed up your Stark girls. Sansa is the older.
October 15, 2009

Eric

I always thought No. 3 should be Cersei Lannister and No. 5 should be Catelyn Tully instead of the other way around. 🙁 I want Sarah Connor as the Wolf Mother! 🙁 And No. 3 is blonde so she should be Cersei….

So why is it the other way around?
October 17, 2009

Tobi

Great listing… thanks

Peter Dinklage… best choice ever!!! As well as Sean Bean, Lena Headey and Jennifer Ehle. I don’t like Alfie as Theon and Nikolaj as Jaime… but we’ll just have to see how they play the part.
Cant wait for the pilot to be released!
October 17, 2009

MikeyB

I just realized that Mark Addy was the dad from Still Standing. That’s an interesting development.
October 19, 2009

Eric

Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo???? Are you serious???? Nooooooooooo…
October 20, 2009

darlene

Kathryn Morris would have made a terrific, bitchy, and attractive Cersei as well. 🙂
Lena Headey will be great, however! She was a wonderful choice. Thumbs up on all the cast!
October 21, 2009

The White Viper

Don’t worry about whether they have “the look.” Especially stuff like hair colour that’s easily changed. This is Hollywood, people! I have very dark hair; I didn’t think it could be done, but I was once turned into a natural-looking blonde by the magic of stage makeup. (And that was just for a local stage production.) If it’s possible for me, I have no doubt that it’s possible for Lena Headey. Worrying about an actor’s hair colour being wrong is like complaining that the clothes s/he’s wearing in the photo are not genre-appropriate!

As for the age thing, I think they can probably do that too. There are very few physical features that can’t be faked impressively well. (Height is one that can only be fudged to a limited degree.)

What we should be speculating about is how well these actors will play their parts. I’m not familiar with all of them (some, of course, are newcomers, especially quite a few of the children) but I’m thrilled with several of the choices. As for the unknowns (and the unknown-to-mes), I have faith in HBO based on the casting for previous miniseries. They don’t need to get the most famous actors, the Brad Pitts and the Catherine Zeta-Joneses, to put together a brilliant cast.

[warning:spoilers below]
As long as we’re discussing how the actors look in these photos, though, I think Jennifer Ehle looks way too perky for Catelyn, with that smile! Catelyn’s all melancholy: she’s always grieving over this, that, or the other. If she ever smiles in the entire series, it’s probably fake. (And let’s not forget, Ehle will have to be able to morph into Zombie!Catelyn, if — as I hope — this is successful enough to breed multiple sequels.)
October 21, 2009

Josh

I’d always pictured Ian McNeice as the spider Lord Varys. I was excited to see him cast, and I think he’ll do fine as Illyrio, but c’mon! He’s perfect for Varys! Oh well, our minds do tend to get set on things don’t they?
October 22, 2009

jb

I was able to line up a bunch of these pictures with the right character, so I think these are fine choices.

I will actually pay for HBO if I must, just to see this series.
October 27, 2009

Dawn Mcmanaman

Love Mark Addy, but I can’t picture him as Robert. I’m sure he will do a fine job though. Jamie should have been played by Brad Pitt, but something about him makes me think that hes not smart enough to play Jamie. A perfect Jamie would have been a young Carl Elwes, but since he is older and has put on some weight, howabout Cary as Robert?
October 28, 2009

darlene

On the ASOIAF board someone compared Littlefinger to the AntiChrist! 😀 Well, I think Gordon Currie who portrayed the sneaky, evil AntiChrist in the Left Behind movie would make a very convincing Littlefinger! Gordon, although Canadian, can do near perfect accents as well.
November 1, 2009

Pol and Rous

This is the best page we could find with the character lineup! Congratulations! Keep up the good work!
If we may suggest something, when the list of people becomes longer it will be a little cumbersome to look up the names from the list. You could link the pictures to the names or just write names next to pictures…
November 1, 2009

Ryan Dunn

@Pol and Rous

Yes, a good idea. I will break them apart once the pilot is picked up. That way I can more easily keep it updated.

Thanks!

…ryan
November 5, 2009

Brigette

My only objection to Sean Bean as Ned is that he will (SPOILER!) be killed off far too soon. He would have made a lovely Hound……
November 7, 2009

darlene

Gleeson Brendan Gleesons son? There is a resemblance. Brendan would be a terrific addition to GoT, too. Balon Greyjoy, perhaps? 😉
November 14, 2009

Rudsgi

I just wonder…
Who will get the doubtfull honour of playing Brienne?

*(assuming the series are sucsessfull enough to get enough seasons)
November 23, 2009

darlene

Gary Busey as Barristan Selmy! 😉
But, are Americans off limits? There are lots of American actors who could really do a great job in this series.
Who is going to play Maester Pycelle? Maximillian Schell would be a good choice, I think.
December 2, 2009

Paul

I am actually in the middle of GoT right now and having such a good time with it that I thought I would look on line for any movie that may have been made. Glad to see a series coming out. It is quite funny that as I have been reading the book, I have been visualizing the characters and I’ll be damned if I could not get Peter Dinklage out of my head for Tyrion L. Well whadya know…who coulda thunk. Well I guess given dwarven roles in Hollywood (and outside Hollywood), Peter tends to be a one man show. Not so surprising afterall. The cast looks great and I plan to have the book wrapped up this weekend. Thanks for this web page.
December 23, 2009

David

The picture of Nikolaj doesn’t do him justice. No still image of him does. But anyone who’s seen him on screen knows he’s perfect for Jaime. He’s sex-on-a-stick. There’s something cat-like and graceful about him, yet also cocky and smokin’ hot. I’m thrilled by his casting.

Same thing for Cersei–I was confused at first by Lena Headley, but put a blond wig on her, and she has that icy arrogance down. She can also play crazy really well, and Cersei is certifiable in my opinion.

I’m also thrilled about Maisie as Arya. PERFECT casting. She’s definitely not a “horseface,” but there’s something wickedly precocious about her, and she’s not classically beautiful. I can totally buy her as Arya.

Also love Alfie Allen as Theon. Alfie was born to smirk, and that’s all Theon is.

FANTASTIC casting. Mark Addy is my one question mark, but considering how well the producers picked everyone else (all the way down to Maester Luwin), I’m going to trust them on this one.
December 25, 2009

Sherry

Brienne will be hard to cast. In the books she is thought of as ugly, but I have to wonder if part of that perception is simply because Brienne is a masculine tomboy. And during medieval times women were thought of as very unattractive if they liked masculine hobbies, etc.
I thought of Katie Sackoff, who is very pretty but very tall and well built muscular. Someone like that. Or Katie Holmes, maybe. Even though Katie is pretty, too.
So, this one will be one of the hardest roles in this series to cast, in my opinion.
December 29, 2009

Bruno

Was able to guess most of them, so pretty good casting, although, if I’m not mistaken, aren’t Jaime and Cersei supoosed to be blonde. I guess some hair colour will fix that. Can’t wait for this to come out, love the series.
January 2, 2010

Bas

Ron Perlman for Barristan Selmy!
I so hope this gets greenlighted, though with the cast, budget and the general popularity of fantasy series these days I’d be surprised if it didn’t.
January 12, 2010

Janos

Have to say, I am waiting in anticipation for a air date.

Admittedly, I cringed when I read that Mark Addy was playing Robert Baratheon as I always pictured Brian Blessed when reading GoT.
But thinking it over, he might actually pull it off as he seems to be taking more serious rolls these days.

I don’t see any problem with the Lannister twins, they are just as I pictured them.

Just checked IMDb again and see Brian Thompson has been added but doesn’t stated who he’s playing. Maybe Gregor Clegane at the tourney perhaps?

As for Brienne, hmmm…
Missy Pyle from Dodgeball comes to mind. lol
January 12, 2010

Janos

Ohh just had a thought…

What about poor little Rickon?
January 16, 2010

Craig

@ Janos

I was actually thinking of her too, but i think shes too old.

Thanks for the headshots. This is going to be great.
February 5, 2010

margaet carolan

Hi i played the chicken plucker,kitchen staff loved every second of it,played of lot of extra roles for Scottish T.V but that was the best to date hope it really takes off and i am asked back to do more scenes as an extra.
Thanks every one involved.
Margaret.x
February 12, 2010

Low

No one else thought the choice for Joffrey is terrible? :S I know the character is horrible and everyone hates him.. but still, he is supposed to be very handsome… and the kid they’ve chosen… *cough* *cough*
February 24, 2010

david

i think jon and robb should be switched. dany is wrong also.other than that,awesome choices!i have not been this excited by a book adaption since lord of the rings,even more so!
March 24, 2010

stefan from germany

catelyn stark is replaced i heard
March 30, 2010

littlefinger

great cast so far!
I wonder who will get the part of Littlefinger,
My personal favorite:-)
April 30, 2010

Schimmy

Where is Hodor?
July 12, 2010

scottr

Any chance this post can be updated? There’s been a lot of new casting since your last edits.

I have this page bookmarked because it has such awesome pictures, and all in one spot.

Cheers!
July 12, 2010

Ryan Dunn

@scottr

I’ve been abreast to the casting updates. I am going to rework this page so that it’s not one giant image. It’s a photoshop nightmare!

Look for update soon.

…ryan
July 15, 2010

Shae

I failed miserably at noting that Littlefinger had been cast. The guy looks GREAT!
Really, the whole cast is *perfect* in my opinion. Though, I’m still upset about Jennifer Ehle not being Catelyn anymore. I thought she was perfect for the role.
Alas, I can’t complain one bit about any of the cast members. In all the book series-made-movies/tv shows I generally am upset about the cast. They never get them right according to my image of them (which is understandable seeing as they’re fictional and real people aren’t!) but I have to say, this cast is so damn perfect it’s better than what my imagination came up with!

Great job on the images! I hadn’t seen a good photo of Richard Madden ’till just now. He looks a lot better than I deduced from the shitty photos I had seen earlier! Joy!
July 16, 2010

scottr

Nice job Ryan!

Might want to take out Will, he’s being recast: http://winter-is-coming.net/2010/07/will-being-recast-prologue-will-be-reshot/. But also, Varys has been cast.

I also liked the ordering/size by importance, but this is fine too.

Cheers!
September 6, 2010

Lori

I agree with whoever said Lena Headley would make a better Catelyn Stark than Cersei. But then maybe I’m used to seeing her as Sarah Connor. I always pictured Cersei as more along the lines of Nicole Kidman – though she might be to much of a big name for them to afford.
September 8, 2010

Arcter

I had always thought Clea Duvall would make an excellent Brienne. They could just use camera tricks to make her really tall.
September 30, 2010

Shelby

God I just want to see the series!! I can’t wait. I still don’t believe its gonna happen. Still feel like it isn’t real. This story is THE BEST EVER WRITTEN. No other series will EVER touch it in my mind. Cast is wonderful… I just wonder… How will the y finish off a series that hasn’t officially been ended itself?? Come on George!! Where’s Dances With Dragons??
October 12, 2010

Dawn McManaman

Has anyone else noticed that “Dances With Dragons” was supposed to be out in 2007 and it will soon be 20011??? I hope George doesn’t pull a Robert Jordan on us. Take a look at his site Not a Blog, he writes away like a speed demon, but still hes not finished with Dances. Given the history of HBO I doubt that they will carry this series to its conclusion, but I hope they do. So George, stop posting about the Giants and your travels, stop editing anthologies, stop taking pictures of your knight dioramas and finish the series!!
October 20, 2010

Lancel_Lannister

Eugene Simon seems to me a very handsome boy. I hope thaey dare to show a sex scene with Lena Headley. mmmmmmmmmm
October 20, 2010

Tom Wallace

Jason Momoa is
Khal Drogo

EXCELLENT CASTING!!!!!!!
November 17, 2010

sherry

I can think of soooooooooooooooooooo many suitable actors, most of them American or Canadian, who would be terrific in this series. If I were casting, it would probably go bankrupt lol because I’d try to get some more well-knowns, or recently out of work television actors for example. I’m not even going to give examples because that would take up too much time and space. I will say that the actors who played in Legend of the Seeker are all very qualified to play parts in Game of Thrones. Although Tabret Bethel is pretty, she would be a great Brienne, and Bridget Regan could do Asha perfect. Bruce Spence would be a creepy Roose bolton, and Greg Horner could be a Dornish character. Greg Parker could fit in somewhere, too maybe as Mance?
December 25, 2010

Robin Henry

Hey to all the complainers out there. Yes, we all picture who should play who, but is it not enough just to be abke ti see the best fantasy ever come to kive action.

And Joe, remember, those who have not read the series are not true members of the club.

Lastly, George R.R., it has been 5 insane years since A feast of Crows, so for all of us, please finish the dam book.

By the way, \i am on my 4th time around The Song of Ice and Fire.

Robin H
January 25, 2011

S. Funk

Reading is more than just a hobby for me. I LOVE READING. The Game of Thrones soon became my favorite series after the first book. I am very impressed with Martin in that he had been approached several times bt movie makers and he declined there offers. He held out until someone offered a TV series. Best decision he ever made!!! Thanks George!!!!

As to the cast… My biggest complaint is that Jaimie and Cersei were identical twins. They even switched places at times when they were younger. Im sure it would have been difficult to do but I had hoped the actor and actress they cast would have been a little more identical.

Tyrion was very ugly and misshaped.

I could go on but I wont. I will just hope the series stays to true form and follow the books. I’m sure when we each read the books we all had our own ideas of what each character looked like. When the story hits the screen I’m usually dissappointed because I have become set in what I think a character should look like/act like/talk like. This is the greatest story ever…I hope the big screen does it justice.

Thanks for this site and the hard work you put into it,

S. Funk
January 25, 2011

Ryan Dunn

@S. Funk

Technically Jaime and Cersei could not have been identical, as they are different sexes. I know that nitpicking the aesthetics of an actor is tempting, but the problem is that you want the absolute best actor to EMBODY THE CHARACTER for all of these roles. Those often times don’t come both in the same package.

Can’t wait to see this on the small screen!

…ryan
January 25, 2011

S. Funk

Ryan,

I realize the scientific impossibility impossed upon the casting dierctor. I was just saying that I wish they looked more alike.

More often than not I have to veiw the movie and the book as two separate stories in order to enjoy both. Regardless I am very excited. It also means I have to convince my wife to purchase HBO just for A Game of Thrones.

Thanks for you comments

S. Funk
March 13, 2011

DLopez

I’m excited! I enjoyed the series and introduced them to my son who also became a fan during his first tour in Iraq. The only complaint is that George RR Martin never seems to finish the next book…..after waiting for 3 years for a sequel I stopped reading the series. Now, I’m thrilled to have it represented onscreen. The casting of Peter Dinklage as Tyrion is PERFECT!

If HBO stays close to the books this is sure to be one of the most entertaining series since Rome and True Blood. BOOYAH Showtime–in yo’ face!

Dar
May 25, 2011

Game of Thrones – Page 6 – Ultimate Metal Forum

[…] think he meant Bran. This helps, though to be honest I still can't put a name to every character yet. __________________ […]
June 6, 2011

Dawn McManaman

ANyone else think that Lena Headey sucks as Cersei??? Horrible acting, and the same constipated look from show to show.
June 8, 2011

John Vreeland

I think Lena Heady is fine. I am assuming that she is playing Cersei as someone who is trying–and not always succeeding–to be subtle at her manipulations. She is also a queen; they are supposed to look constipated, or as if everyone they meet is beneath their dignity to require her taking notice.
June 8, 2011

John Vreeland

What about Chella of the Black Ears and Timmet of the Burned men?
August 21, 2011

Victor

is it possible that the mother of Jon Snow is Lysa Arryn (Kate Dickie)??
December 1, 2011

Leo

Topic:Emilia Clarke (only for example, i don’t have any general ressentments against her).
Is ist really fact, that Producers/Regisseurs favor to enhighth age of primer roles, just to increase the possibility to have (legal) sex with the actors? Otherwise I cannot understand, why the role of a 13 yo aged girl was transcribed into a 16yo one and at last given to a 24 yo actress (that’s nearly twice the age in the books!). Daenerys is described as fresh, young and innocent (and adequate minded for a girl in her age and position) and be forced by her ruthless brother to marry a wished ally. Emilia may be a good actress in some kind, but noone with working eyes and the slightest sense of human habits will buy the innocence (and trying to act like the innocent girl she shoud play comes a bit stupid and surely not convincing) part of this. She shows openly, that she only plays a role – not like an actor in a movie but instead like in an opera, where it doesn’t matter when teen Julia is sung by a 40+ primadonna. She is fairly much too mature for this role. This is not the first time, i recognize such acting – just remember the difference of age in Inkdeath.
March 24, 2016

Merry Rose

I have always loved the behind the scenes of a character. The amount of work that goes in to the creation of these amazing characters. The Face Off competitions series on Syfy has given attention to amazing artists. Way to Go! GOT for not skimping on your creatures, beheadings and death scenes they are amazing!