Many actors gave iconic performances on Game of Thrones, but today we’re celebrating the cameos and smaller parts you’ve probably forgotten about.
Game of Thrones had a lot of characters, which meant a lot of chances for actors to leave their mark on the series. To this day, there’s probably no way you can look at Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington and Maisie Williams without thinking about Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow and Arya Star.
But there were also a lot of smaller roles that you’ve forgotten about, some of them played by actors who went on to have well-known movie or TV roles (and some of already had them). We’re highlighting 25 of those actors right here.
We’ll start with some roles that are fairly important but still overlooked, and then work our way down to the cameos, both those honestly come by and those occupied by fans of the show who wanted a chance to visit Westeros for a day.
Which actors did you forget appeared in Game of Thrones? Let’s see.
25. Tobias Menzies
Number of episodes: 9
Character name: Edmure Tully
It seems weird that you’d forget a Tully, right? It seems odd that you’d forget about this Tully. However, it’s not the character you’re forgetting, just the actor who played him. And part of that is because Tobias Menzies is such a chameleon when it comes to acting. He becomes his characters.
To Outlander fans, Tobias Menzies is Black Jack Randall and Frank Randall. To The Crown fans, he’s Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. You can also see him in The Terror season 1, King Lear, and Catastrophe.
Those are just some of his biggest roles. This is an actor who is a master of both stage and screen. And if you do get a chance to see him on the stage, you need to!
But what about Game of Thrones? You know Edmure is the brother of Catelyn Stark. He ends up forced into marrying one of the Frey daughters after Robb marries someone else despite his initial promise: Edmure is the guy who actually got married at the Red Wedding.
He pops back in season 6 for a brief period as a prisoner of the Freys and a pawn of the Lannisters. Then he’s not seen for a while before making a surprise return in the series finale at the council that elects Bran as the new king.
24. Tom Hopper
Number of episodes: 4
Character name: Dickon Tarly
This is another one of those cases where you probably remember the character, but not the actor, even though you may be watching him on Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, where he plays Luther/Number One. Where do you recognize him from? Game of Thrones.
In all fairness, Hopper has been in many shows and movies, and not just guest roles on Doctor Who and Casualty. He played Sir Percival on Merlin and Billy Bones on Black Sails. He’s also in the upcoming movie SAS: Red Notice, which will also star Outlander’s Sam Heughan and Batwoman’s Ruby Rose.
But let’s get back to his role on Game of Thrones. Dickon Tarly is mostly known for his name; you may remember Bronn laughing about the name. Most fans chuckled, right? Yes, we are all 12 years old at times!
Dickon Tarly was Samwell Tarly’s brother, the son that their father wanted. He was there by his father’s side when Dany’s forces slaughtered the Lannisters, and was executed with dragonfire after the battle.
23. Joel Fry
Number of episodes: 8
Character name: Hizdahr zo Loraq
During the fourth and fifth seasons of Game of Thrones, British actor Joel Fry appeared in eight episodes. His character Hizdahr zo Loraq appeared in the Meereen storyline opposite Emilia Clarke.
Hizdahr was one of the sons of the Grand Masters in Meereen. In other words, he was a slave trader. At first, it looked like he’s someone who can help usher in a new age for the city by helping Dany ween it off slavery. He and Dany were even married briefly.
In the books, Hizdahr is still alive, and there’s a lot of suspicion that he’s behind the attacks of the Sons of the Harpy. On the show, he’s killed by those same people, so it doesn’t look likely. Dany has bigger problems to deal with at the time, so she moves on pretty quickly.
Fry is well-known for a number of roles including Dave in You, Me, and the Apocalypse and Karl Marx in W1A. You’ll be able to see him next in the upcoming live-action Cruella movie as Jasper.
22. Richard E. Grant
Number of episodes: 3
Character name: Izembaro
Prolific actor Richard E. Grant has a very familiar face, but you may have forgotten that it turned up on the sixth season of Game of Thrones, where he played the leader of a theatrical troop in Bravos named Izembara. He and his actors are putting on a (highly inaccurate) play about the events in Westeros over the last several seasons, with Izembaro playing both King Robert Baratheon and Tywin Lannister.
The theater troupe gets mixed up with Arya’s adventures in Braavos and loses two members, but we don’t get to see what happens to Izembaro specifically. Presumably, he’s still touring the Free Cities and plying his trade.
You’ll know Grant best for his many other roles in movies and TV. He’s been on Doctor Who, Jekyll and Hyde, and Dispatches from Elsewhere. He also played General Pryde in Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker.
You’ll be able to see Grant in the upcoming Loki series on Disney+.
21. Jim Broadbent
Number of episodes: 4
Character name: Archmaester Ebrose
Jim Broadbent is one of those English actors who has been in almost everything. It shouldn’t be surprising that he was in Game of Thrones. So why don’t you remember him?
Part of it is due to him being in just four episodes of the series. He played Archmaester Ebrose, Sam’s mentor at the Citadel in season 7. He discouraged Sam from trying to help Ser Jorah Mormont, who was suffering from greyscale, but at least didn’t punish Sam when he went ahead and did it anyway.
Ebrose was the only archmaester who really gave Sam any time, although he still didn’t pay Sam’s opinions and suggestions much mind. It was hard to like the guy but also hard to completely hate him, another reason why the character doesn’t stand out all that much.
Ebrose is mentioned at the very end of the series, although you may not have caught it. He wrote A Song of Ice and Fire: Archmaester Ebrose’s history of the wars following the death of King Robert, a book that Tyrion Lannister is completely left out of.
20. Wilko Johnson
Number of episodes: 4
Character name: Ilyn Payne
This is one of those characters you should remember based on the name, but you may have forgotten who played him.
Musician and actor Wilco Johnson has one of those faces that you remember once you see it. He was perfect for the role of Ilyn Payne, the royal executioner who beheaded Ned Stark. He looked appropriately menacingly in every scene where he appeared. He also had no lines to learn for the series since Ilyn was a mute (thanks to the Mad King tearing out his tongue).
Since he killed Ned Stark, Arya put him on her list, but she never got to make good on that promise. That’s in part because Johnson couldn’t appear on the show any longer after being diagnosed with cancer, which he eventually beat. Supposedly, Ilyn is still alive by the final season, although he may well have died during the Battle of King’s Landing.
Johnson hasn’t been in anything since leaving Game of Thrones back in 2012. But acting was never his main gig. He’s been the guitarist for the band Dr. Feelgood since the 1970s, in addition to appearing in other bands.
19. Max von Sydow
Number of episodes: 3
Character name: Three-Eyed Raven
You know the character, so how did you possibly forget that the legendary Swedish actor Max von Sydow played the role? Well, part of the reason is that he wasn’t the only actor to play the Three-Eyed Raven. Van Sydow only stepped in come season 6. Struan Rodger play the part at the end of season 4.
The Three-Eyed Raven is an essential character for Bran’s character growth. After being pushed out of the tower by Jaime, Bran is never able to walk again. However, he wakes with strange abilities, and the Three-Eyed Raven tells him he will fly.
Von Sydow’s Raven helps Bran control his abilities. It’s during this season that we find out how Hodor became the man he is and finally get confirmation that Jon Snow was actually the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen.
The Three-Eyed Raven is eventually killed by the Night King as Bran and Meera flee his hideout, with Hodor holding the door.
Max von Sydow has along career. He was Lor San Tekka in the Star Wars movies, Sir Walter Loxley in Robin Hood, and Dr. Naehring in Shutter Island. He was nominated for Oscars for his work in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Pelle the Conquerer. He appeared in David Lynch’s Dune, Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report, Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, and may be best known for playing the title role in The Exorcist.
18. Duncan Lacroix
Number of episodes: 1
Character name: Karstark soldier
Calling all Outlander fans again (there’s another coming up, too): one of the most forgotten actors from Game of Thrones is definitely Duncan Lacroix.
Lacroix’s Game of Thrones character doesn’t even get a name! He played a Karstark Soldier and appeared in one lonely episode during the second season. It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it moment. He appears at the Stark camp, where the Karstarks have joined with Robb in his struggle against the Lannisters.
Lacroix has been in a number of TV shows, although he’s best known for starring in Outlander as Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser, Jamie’s godfather and later the love interest for Jocasta MacKenzie Cameron. He puts on a Scottish accent there, another reason you’re forgiven for forgetting about him on Game of Thrones.
Lacroix has also been in shows like Reign and Vikings, although only in one or two episodes apiece. Outlander has been his biggest work to date, although I’m expecting big things from him after the epic series.
17. Clive Russell
Number of episodes: 7
Character name: Bryndon “the Blackfish” Tully
Clive Russell pops up everywhere. Honestly, he’s an actor that you shouldn’t have forgotten about being on Game of Thrones, but with so many characters running around, it’s possible for even him to slip through the cracks.
Russell initially appeared in the third season and then returned in the sixth, where he met his end. The Blackfish commanded the forces at Riverrun after the Red Wedding, when his nephew Edmure was taken captive. The Lannisters eventually used Edmure to turn his own men against him, spelling his doom.
Russell is another Outlander veteran, although was only in one episode of that. You’ll also remember him from Ripper Street, Casualty and Netflix’s Cursed.
Keep an eye out for British productions, especially fantasy and period dramas. He tends to show up in many of them, even if it’s just for an episode or two.
16. Alice Hewkin
Number of episodes: 1
Character name: Wight
Alice Hewkin has gone on to some bigger roles since appearing on Game of Thrones. Considering how small her part was, that’s not surprising. You’ve probably forgotten who she played, or more likely never realized she was there in the first place.
Hewkin appeared in the season 4 finale, “The Children.” The episode sees Bran, Meera, Jojen and Hodor finally reach their destination beyond the Wall only to get attacked by a band of wights. Hewkin plays one of the Children of the Forest, the sprite-like creatures who originally occupied Westeros before men came along. She’s covered in makeup, has no lines, and is never seen again, so you’d be forgiven for forgetting her.
Since Game of Thrones, Hewkin has gone on to land numerous other guest star roles, including in Sex Education and Emily in Paris. Her biggest role to date is Miju Lee in The Athena.
Look out for more from this young actress, but don’t expect any more creepy children roles for her now that she’s all grown up.
15. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Number of episodes: 2
Character name: Malko
Adewale Akinnoye-Agbaje is best known for playing Mr. Eco on LOST and Adebisi on Oz, which gives him a connection to HBO. More recently, he’s been onThe Fix, Ten Days in the Valley and American Odyssey. He’s one of those actors who stands out no matter where he shows up.
He appears on Game of Thrones in two episodes of the fifth season. He plays Malko, the captain of a slaving ship that captures Jorah Mormont and Tyrion Lannister while they’re trying to reach Meereen. Malko even orders that Tyrion’s be killed since he doesn’t seem to have much use as a potential slave, but Tyrion has a way with words and talks him out of it by convincing him — and stay with me here — that if he hopes to cut off Tyrion’s penis and sell it to a “cock merchant” (dwarf’s penises being known to have magical properties), he needs to keep Tyrion alive long enough for the merchant to see him and verify that the penis indeed came from a dwarf.
It is a relatively small role, but memorable. If it weren’t for Malko, Jorah and Tyrion may never have made it to Dany and been with her in Westeros in the final seasons.
14. Rebecca Benson
Number of episodes: 1
Character name: Talla Tarly
In Game of Thrones season 6, Samwell heads to the ancestral Tarly home of Home Hill, which he would have inherited had his father not railroaded him into becoming a member of the Night’s Watch. We get to meet more of his family, including his sister Talla Tarly, played by Rebecca Benson.
During season 7, we find out what happened to Talla. With the deaths of her father and brother Dickon, and Sam still a member of the Night’s Watch, Talla ends up inheriting the family home. However, we don’t get to see her in charge, which is a shame. It’s also a shame that we don’t get to see Talla and Gilly interact more, since they were clearly friendly with each other.
If you’re looking to see Benson in other roles, you’ll want to check out Flack on Amazon Prime Video. Benson plays Melody, the young intern who gets a sharp awakening to the world of celebrities and working in PR.
For those who love period dramas, Benson also played Margaret Plantagenet on The White Princess opposite Jodie Comer. The series is on STARZ. She has certainly made a big name for herself in a short space of time.
13. Saxon the Dog
Number of episodes: Unknown
Character name: Nymeria
There were many direwolves on Game of Thrones, some of which we grew deeply attached to. Others, like Arya’s direwolf Nymeria, played by Saxon the Dog, weren’t around long enough for us to really get to know them.
Arya Stark’s direwolf naturally protected her best friend. The direwolves would do anything for the Stark children, but sometimes it meant a death sentence. When Nymeria attacked Joffrey, it was clear that she would pay even though Joffrey was in the wrong. To save her life, Arya sent her away.
In the end, Sansa’s direwolf Lady paid the price for Nymeria’s actions. This drove a wedge between Arya and Sansa that wouldn’t be removed for a long time.
We got to see Nymeria one more time after Arya returns to Westeros from Braavos. Both of them had grown up by that point, and grown apart. It’s not clear if Saxon the Dog played the role again or not, but it would be nice to think that. All that mattered was that we got to see Nymeria had survived and now had her own pack.
Saxon the Dog has also appeared in Solo: A Star Wars Story. It’s natural to overlook the animal actors, but Saxon makes an impression.
12. Roy Dotrice
Number of episodes: 2
Character name: Hallyne
Game of Thrones is one of those shows where great actors get small roles. Roy Dotrice’s last role before he died in 2017 was on the fantastical series.
Hallyne the Pyromancer is the head of the Alchemists’ Guild at King’s Landing, in charge of the wildfire stocks. Oh yes, you’ll start to remember the character now. He helps Tyrion concoct a plan to use wildfire on Stannis Baratheon’s fleet when the would-be king tries to invade King’s Landing. Without Hallyne, the Lannisters wouldn’t have been able to win the Battle of the Blackwater.
That being said, Dotrice isn’t best known for Game of Thrones. It was his last role, but there are many others that he is better known for. Angel fans will remember him as Wesley’s father Roger. He played Seamus Madigan on Madigan Men, Zeus in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Father in the 1980s Beauty and the Beast show, and Father Gary Barrett on the ’90s drama Picket Fences.
And he has another special connection to the Game of Thrones universe: Dotrice narrated the Song of Ice and Fire audiobooks all the way through A Dance with Dragons in 2011.
11. Martin Starr
Number of episodes: 1
Character name: Ironborn 2
With a character name like “Ironborn 2,” it’s easy to see how you could overlook Martin Starr’s appearance on Game of Thrones. He plays one of Euron Greyjoy’s soldiers killed when Theon storms Euron’s ship to save his sister Yara. He’s killed by an arrow to the forehead, and that was all she wrote.
You’ll know Martin Starr for many of his other roles. Before the series, he played Roman DeBeers on Party Down and Monk Pyle in three episodes of the original Roswell series.
Since his Game of Thrones appearance, Starr has appeared as an actor on Drunk History, playing roles like Abraham Lincoln and Alexander Graham Bell. He was also Bertram Gilfoyle on Silicon Valley.
Starr is a strong comedic actor, so hopefully it was fun for him to have a quick bloody role on Game of Thrones in its final season.
10. Ross Mullan
Number of episodes: 3
Character name: White Walker
Everyone knows the White Walkers, but almost no one knows who played them. Ross Mullan played various White Walker on three episodes on the series between seasons 2 and 4. Under all that makeup, there was little chance of recognizing him.
Obviously, the White Walkers were important to the story. They didn’t say anything and they barely showed up on the screen until closer to the end, but they were always a threat. Let’s not talk about what became of them in that final season.
Mullan is one of those actors who plays a lot of these mysterious creatures on sci-fi and fantasy shows. One that you might know best is Silent on Doctor Who. Mullan played that role in the episode “The Time of the Doctor.” He would then show up as two other characters on the series, because when you have a lot of makeup, you get away with playing multiple roles without anybody realizing.
9. Royd Tolkien
Number of episodes: 1
Character name: Wildling
Sometimes big names can turn up on Game of Thrones for an episode or two. While Royd Tolkien isn’t big in the world of acting, he is well-known for his familial connections: he’s the great-grandson of The Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien. Considering George R.R. Martin’s love of for Tolkien, it only seems fitting that the man’s great-grandson would get a role on Game of Thrones.
Tolkien played a very small role. His character was simply called “Wilding,” which tells you a lot. That character did turn up in one of the biggest episodes of the entire series, “Hardhome.” I’m sure you can guess what happened to him during the episode.
Royd Tolkien hasn’t been involved in anything as a producer or an actor since Game of Thrones. What will his next cameo be? Maybe he could show up in Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series.
8. Neil Fingleton
Number of episodes: 3
Character name: Mag Mar Tun Doh Weg
One of the tallest men in the world — 7’7” — appeared in a few episodes of Game of Thrones. Neil Fingleton popped up in the season 4 episode “Watchers on the Wall,” which was (in my opinion) the best episode of Game of Thrones ever. Yes, I preferred this one over “Hardhome” and “Battle of the Bastards,” although those two do come in close second and third.
Back to Fingleton’s role. He plays a giant named Mag the Mighty. Mag was an important giant. Mance Radar later said that he was a king, and was descended from a bloodline that stretched back a time before the First Men.
Before he died, Mag tried to bust his way through the tunnel in the Wall and through to Castle Black, and was killed by Grenn and other Night’s Watchmen, who also all died. Eventually, Jon would befriend the wildings and even another giant, but at this point they were still at odds.
Fingleton returned to play a giant wight in season 7. Sadly, Fingleton died of heart failure shortly after filming that appearance. Game of Thrones became his last role.
7. Steve Love
Number of episodes: 1
Character name: Steve
Sometimes, fans of Game of Thrones got a chance to appear in an episode or two. These small cameos are a fun way to honor the fans, especially celebrity fans. Steve Love was one of them, and he’s gone on to land more roles since the series ended.
Love was a YouTube personality who did impersonations of the Game of Thrones characters before he appeared in the sixth season of the series. He played a character named Steve in the episode “No One.” Steve was a member of the rebel sect of the Brotherhood Without Banners, killed pretty brutally by the Hound, who was on a mission of vengeance after the these same Brotherhood members slaughtered the community where he’d been staying.
The character was completely made up for the sake of the show. It’s a fun cameo to honor what the fans have done for the series.
6. Rob McElhenney
Number of episodes: 1
Character name: Ironborn #1
We have another celebrity cameo. In fact, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney made his appearance alongside Martin Starr, playing “Ironborn 1” to Starr’s “Ironborn 2.” McElhenney’s character, like Starr’s, was killed Theon Greyjoy and his men.
It was a very quick role, like a lot of other cameos. This was more about having fun than anything else. When it came to the bonus features and the goodbye special, McElhenney appeared still in all his makeup with the arrow-shot eye to share what happened. He clearly loved it all.
It’s not like McElhenney needed Game of Thrones for his career. Before this, we has (and still is) Mac in Always Sunny. He also plays Ian in Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet. He’s a writer and executive producer on both of these shows.
5. Mackenzie Crook
Number of episodes: 6
Character name: Orell
Even in the earlier days of the series, there were celebrity cameos. In Game of Thrones season 3, Mackenzie Crook played Orell, the wildling who could warg into an eagle.
Although Ygritte and Tormund grew fond of Jon while Jon was with their band, Orell didn’t. He continued to view Jon as a “Crow,” making it clear that they could never be friends even as Jon tried to win the wildlings over.
In the end, Orell didn’t make it. However, his death was pretty interesting. Jon stabs Orell in the chest, killing him. However, before Orell can die, he wargs into his eagle and then attacks Jon. In season 4, Jojen Reed says that those who warg into animals for too long forget what it was like to be human. Orell will likely forget what he was like as a human and learn to enjoy his new diet of live rabbits and such.
Outside of Game of Thrones, Crook often plays a villain, but not always a villain you want to hate. One of his biggest roles is Ragetti on Pirates of the Caribbean. He’s also been in Detectorists, Britannia, and much more.
4. Essie Davis
Number of episodes: 3
Character name: Lady Crane
During Game of Thrones season 6, Arya Stark came across a theatre company while in Braavos. That company was putting on a play about Ned Stark’s death, although it was highly inaccurate. Sounds like a lot of historical fiction!
Davis was one of the members of the theatrical company. She played Lady Crane, the actress who played Cersei Lannister in the play.
Arya is given the task of killing Davis during her training to become No One. In the end, Arya couldn’t quite go through with killing Crane. She’d become fond of the woman. When The Waif attacked Arya, Crane helped nurse her back to health. However, that would lead to Crane’s downfall.
It was a relatively small role, but it was also an important one for Arya. After all, it was after this that Arya decided to no longer take part in the Faceless Man training and return to Westeros.
You’ll know Davis for many other roles, especially in Australian productions. She is Phyrne Fisher in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and she played Amelia Vanek in The Babadook. She also landed the role of Dowager Queen Elizabeth on The White Princess after her role on Game of Thrones.
3. Kevin Eldon
Number of episodes: 4
Character name: Camello/Gold Cloak #2
Kevin Eldon got the chance to play two roles on Game of Thrones, and you’ve completely forgotten about both of them. Well, you’ve definitely forgotten about the second one, at least.
During season 6, Eldon played Camello in three episodes. Arya Stark came across the character as she was training in Braavos. He was another member of the theater company, and took on the role of Ned Stark in the production. Naturally, Arya hated him for his portrayal of her father. He plays Ned as crude and dim-witted, which Ned definitely wasn’t.
He then appeared in one episode in season 7 as a Gold Cloak. It was a small role, and it ended bloody. He was one of the Gold Cloaks who came across Ser Davos and Gendry while they were sneaking into King’s Landing. Davos managed to pay off the Gold Cloaks at first, only for them to grow suspicious when Tyrion Lannister turned up. Gendry had no choice but to kill all the Gold Cloaks, including Eldon’s character.
Eldon is well known for his comedic roles, including Sergeant Tony Fisher in Hot Fuzz and Jack in Truth Seekers. He’s also played a number of serious and period roles, appearing in Sandition and The Last Kingdom. You’ll be able to see him in an episode of Shadow and Bone on Netflix in April.
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