Top 10 most perfectly cast actors on Game of Thrones

5. Mark Addy (Robert Baratheon)

Since his character died before the end of season 1, it’s easy to forget about Mark Addy. His time as Robert Baratheon was memorable, but he’s overshadowed by the likes of Cersei Lannister or even Ned Stark.

Still, the incredible work he did on the show cannot be ignored. Addy knew Robert. He understood his complex motivations and let them color his character, even when Robert was putting on a show or laughing off something truly terrible. Physically, he was a perfect fit for the towering king, and we believed every minute of his portrayal.

Looking at his resume, we would not have originally guessed that Addy would be the man to snap up this important role, give or take his part in A Knight’s Tale. While he has certainly had a long and varied career, he wasn’t always working on the same high-calibre projects as some of his Game of Thrones castmates. American audiences may know him best for his turn as Fred Flinstone in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, or as Bill Miller in the sitcom Still Standing. Perhaps it was those kinds of blue collar roles that helped him the role of the brash King Robert?

When it comes to casting, sometimes you just know. That was the case with Addy, whom Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss named as the easiest actor to cast. Addy didn’t have a ton of screentime compared to some of the other players, but he left his mark.