List of Game of Thrones characters

The characters from the American medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones are based on their respective counterparts from author George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels. The series follows a civil war for the Iron Throne set in the fictional universe of Westeros, fought between the rival royal and noble families and their respective supporters.

Key

  House Arryn

  House Baratheon

  House Baratheon of Dragonstone

  House Greyjoy

  House Lannister

  House Stark

  House Targaryen

  House Tully

  House Tyrell

  Night's Watch

  People of Essos

  People of Westeros

  Royal court and officials

  Wildlings

Main characters

Characters are listed in credits order for Season Two with the characters who appeared as regulars in Season One listed at the end. "Starring season(s)" refers to the season in which an actor or actress received star billing for playing a character. "Recurring season(s)" identifies a season in which an actor or actress appeared, but received featured, guest star or special guest star billing.

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/actress	Starring seasons	Recurring seasons	Episode count
Tyrion Lannister	/ˈtɪrɪən ˈlænɪstər/	Peter Dinklage	1-2	–	19
Nicknamed "The Imp", Tyrion Lannister is the younger brother of Cersei and Jaime Lannister. He is a dwarf and his mother died during his birth, for which his father, Tywin Lannister, blames him. While not physically powerful, Tyrion has a cunning mind, and often uses to his advantage the fact that others constantly underestimate him. Initially, Tyrion bears the Starks no ill will, but after being wrongly captured and put on trial for the crime of murdering Jon Arryn and conspiring to kill Bran Stark, both of which he had no hand in or knowledge of, his ire toward Lady Catelyn prompts him to join his father's war against the Starks. At the end of the Lannister army's first loss against Robb Stark's army, after Jaime Lannister is captured, they learn that King Joffrey has killed Ned Stark against their wishes and Robert's brothers are challenging Joffrey's claim to the throne. To ensure someone trusted controls Joffrey while he deals with the war effort, Tywin sends Tyrion to rule in his stead as Hand of the King, finally taking notice of his "lesser" son's cunning intellect. He arrives in King's Landing and immediately enters a bitter power struggle with Cersei and Joffrey. With his small army of hill tribesmen and his mercenary friend Bronn leading the City Watch, he becomes one of the most powerful men in the city. Before Stannis' fleet arrives at King's Landing, Tyrion prepares the attack by stock filling large quantities of Wild Fire, putting them in a single ship and sending it towards Stannis' fleet. Bronn detonates the Wild Fire, causing a giant explosion and destroying half of Stannis' forces. When the city's defenders morale drops after Joffrey abandons them, Tyrion rallies the men and leads a surprise counter attack against the besiegers. During the battle, he is betrayed and nearly killed by a member of the Kingsguard under orders of Cersei, but is saved by his squire Podrick Payne. When he wakes up after the battle is over, Tyrion learns that his father Tywin has taken over as Hand of the King and stripped his son of all power and all allies he had gained. Furthermore, Tyrion's role in helping defend Kings's Landing is not acknowledged. Despite this setback and his lover Shae's telling him to leave Westeros, Tyrion still wants to stay since he has finally found something he both excels at and enjoys.
Cersei Lannister	/ˈsɜrsi ˈlænɪstər/	Lena Headey	1-2	–	19
Cersei Baratheon, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, is the wife of King Robert Baratheon. She and her brother Jaime have been involved in an incestuous love affair since childhood. Despite that, she claims to have loved Robert at the beginning of their marriage, and only after realizing he was still in love with Lyanna Stark, grew to hate him. She had one son with Robert, who died during infancy due to a strange illness. Her three current children are actually her offspring with Jaime, though they formally are attributed to Robert Baratheon. She is calculating and cares only for power and the advancement of her family. Throughout season 2, her brother Tyrion, serving as Hand of the King, curtails her policy and puts an end to her foolish decrees. Made bitter by her father's favoring Tyrion, Jaime's imprisonment by the Starks and her daughter's arranged marriage in Dorne, Cersei turns into a drunk who refuses to help Tyrion. During the Siege of King's Landing, she attempts to commit suicide with her son Tommen to prevent Stannis from capturing them until the timely arrival of Tywin's forces saves King's Landing.
Jaime Lannister	/ˈdʒeɪmi ˈlænɪstər/	Nikolaj Coster-Waldau	1-2	–	12
Ser Jaime Lannister is a member of the Kingsguard and an exceptionally skilled swordsman. He is the Queen's twin brother and has carried on an incestuous love affair with her all his life, fathering all three of her living children. He truly does love his sister and will do anything, no matter how rash, to stay close to her. He is nicknamed "Kingslayer" for killing the previous King, Aerys II, whom he was sworn to protect. He was allowed to keep his post in the current Kingsguard as he and his influential father helped Robert win the war, but no one feels he deserves this post, which frustrates Jaime. Despite Eddard Stark's animosity against him for forsaking his oath to protect the King during Robert's Rebellion, Jaime has great respect for Eddard, whom he considers a great warrior and his equal. Unlike his father and sister, Jaime cares deeply about his younger brother Tyrion. When Tyrion is arrested by Catelyn, Jaime confronts Eddard and duels him, much to Jaime's joy. But to his displeasure, one of his men interferes with the fight by spearing Eddard, whereupon Jaime punches the man and lets Eddard live. Jaime later joins his father's campaign in the Riverlands as a revenge for Catelyn's actions by leading an army. However, his army is ambushed by Robb's army and Jaime is made prisoner of the Starks. Despite his capture, Cersei names him Lord Commander of the Kingsguard after Barristan Selmy is dismissed. In Season 2, Catelyn releases and sends Jaime to King's Landing under Brienne of Tarth's watch in exchange for her daughter's return home.
Catelyn Stark	/ˈkætlɨn ˈstɑrk/	Michelle Fairley	1-2	–	17
Catelyn Stark, Lady of Winterfell, is the wife of Lord Eddard Stark. Born to the Lord and Lady of the Riverlands, she is the elder sister of Lysa Arryn, Lady of the Vale and Mistress of the Eyrie. After deducing that the Lannisters are responsible for the attempt on Bran Stark's life, she travels to King's Landing to warn Ned, and on her return trip has a chance encounter with Tyrion Lannister. Since Catelyn does not know about Tyrion's complete innocence, she divides to take him captive because she believes that he is behind the attempt on her son's life. She takes him to her sister, Lysa Arryn, so that he can be brought to justice but is not successful, as Tyrion is found innocent after a trial by combat. After her husband is arrested and her eldest son Robb goes to war for his release, she joins her son's war council. Upon learning that her husband was executed by orders of King Joffrey, she vows to her son Robb that the Lannister family will pay with their lives. Throughout Season 2, she aids her son Robb in the rebellion by advising him and attempting to broker alliances. While trying to form an alliance with Renly Baratheon, another claimant to the Iron Throne, she takes Brienne of Tarth into her service as an armswoman after Renly's assassination. She frees Jaime Lannister, a valuable hostage to the Starks, in an attempt to exchange him for her captive daughters. Robb, feeling betrayed by what his mother has done, puts her under house arrest.
Daenerys Targaryen	/dəˈnɛərɪs tɑrˈɡɛərɪən/	Emilia Clarke	1-2	–	17
Daenerys Targaryen is the exiled princess of the Targaryen dynasty. Also known as "The Stormborn", she and her brother Viserys were smuggled to Essos during the end of Robert's Rebellion. For seventeen years, she has been under Viserys' care whom she fears, as he is abusive to her whenever she displeases him. In exchange for an army, Viserys marries her to the powerful Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo, making her a Khaleesi, a queen of the Dothraki. Daenerys is at first afraid of her new husband but after learning the Dothraki language, and how to please him sexually, she manages to get past their barriers. She begins to understand him and genuinely falls in love with him after learning Drogo is a smart leader and a kind man. After embracing the Dothraki culture, she becomes stronger and rebels against her brother. She later becomes pregnant with Drogo's son who is prophesied by the Dothraki to be the "Stallion Who Mounts the World". After her brother's death and an assassination attempt by Robert Baratheon, Drogo vows to Daenerys that he will conquer the Seven Kingdoms for her and their unborn son. However, during their journey Drogo suffers from blood poisoning due to an infected wound incurred during a fight with a Dothraki tribesman. Daenerys is forced to seek the help of healer Mirri Maz Duur to save his life using blood magic. Mirri tricks Daenerys by using her unborn son's life as a sacrifice to heal Drogo, leaving him in a permanent catatonic state, and forcing Daenerys to end her husband's life. Losing both her husband and son, Daenerys punishes Mirri by having her burnt at the stake. She also lays the three dragon eggs she received as a wedding gift onto Khal Drogo's body and steps into the fire herself. At the end of the night, after the fire is burned down, only Khaleesi and three baby dragons remain. Taking them with her, Daenerys and what is left of her husband's tribe must find a way to gather new allies to protect themselves and reclaim the Iron Throne. She becomes the first female Dothraki leader. In Season 2, she is lost in the Red Waste, a stretch of barren land. She and her khalasar eventually make it to Qarth, where the nobles are more interested in her dragons than her conquest of Westeros. While in the city, her dragons are stolen by Pyat Pree, and she must visit the House of the Undying in order to get them back. She does so, killing Pyat Pree and releasing the dragons. In the 2nd Season's finale, she imprisons her host Xaro Xoan Daxos for his role in helping Pyat Pree and has her her horde loot as much as they can from Xaro's mansion in order to buy a ship.
Petyr Baelish	/ˈpiːtər ˈbeɪlɨʃ/	Aidan Gillen	1-2	–	15
Lord Petyr Baelish, nicknamed "Littlefinger," is the Master of Coin in King Robert Baratheon's Small Council. He grew up with Catelyn Tully and fought Ned's brother Brandon for her hand. Petyr is a master manipulator who knows the ongoing affairs within the Seven Kingdom thanks to his spies. While Petyr at first is assumed to be an ally of Ned, he secretly resents him for marrying Catelyn and so he betrayed him when he tried to arrest Joffrey and Cersei. Despite that, Petyr aims to take the Iron Throne to punish the powerful nobles who used to look down on him. During season 2, he convinces Catelyn to release Jaime in exchange for her daughters and brokers an alliance between House Lannister and House Tyrell. He then returns to King's Landing with the Tyrell army in time to rescue the city. For his efforts, he is made Lord of Harrenhal.
Jorah Mormont	/ˈdʒɔrə ˈmɔrmənt/	Iain Glen	1-2	–	16
Ser Jorah Mormont is an exiled knight in the service of Daenerys Targaryen and the son of Jeor Mormont of the Night's Watch. To fund his wife's extravagant lifestyle, he sold poachers on his land to slave traders, which is illegal in the Seven Kingdoms. Rather than face punishment by Lord Stark, he fled to Essos and learned the lifestyle of the Dothraki who embrace him as one of their own and know him as "Jorah The Andal". Jorah serves as an adviser to the Targaryens on both political and cultural matters of both the Seven Kingdoms and Essos. Jorah is actually spying on the Targaryens for Lord Varys in exchange for a pardon on his crimes. But after learning more about Daenerys, Jorah falls in love with her and decides to protect and help her regain the Iron Throne. After she is widowed, he remains with her and becomes the first knight of her Queensguard. He serves Daenerys as an adviser throughout Season 2 and tries to help her claim her birthright as queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
Jon Snow	/ˈdʒɒn ˈsnoʊ/	Kit Harington	1-2	–	16
Jon Snow is the bastard son of Ned Stark who joins the Night's Watch. Jon is a talented fighter, but his sense of compassion and justice brings him into conflict with his harsh surroundings. Ned claims that Jon's mother was a wet nurse named Wylla. His direwolf is called Ghost due to his albinism and his quiet nature. Jon soon learns that the Watch is no longer a glorious order, but it is now composed mostly of society's rejects, including criminals and exiles. Initially, he has only contempt for his low-born brothers of the Watch, but he puts aside his prejudices and befriends his fellow recruits, especially Sam Tarly, after they unite against the cruel master-at-arms. He chooses to take his vows before the Old God of the North, and to his disappointment, he is made steward to Lord Commander Jeor Mormont rather than a ranger. He eventually realizes that he is being groomed for command. He saves Mormont's life by slaying a wight, a corpse resurrected by the White Walkers. In return, he receives Longclaw, the ancestral blade of House Mormont. When Eddard is arrested for treason, Jon is torn between his family and his vows. After Eddard's execution, he tries to join Robb's army but is convinced to come back by his friends. Shortly after, he joins the large force Mormont leads beyond the Wall. Jon is part of a small counting parties in Season 2. When the party is overtaken by wildlings, Jon is ordered to appear to defect and join the wildlings so he can discover their plans.
Tywin Lannister	/ˈtaɪwɨn ˈlænɨstər/	Charles Dance	2	1	11
Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport and Warden of the West, Tywin is a calculating, ruthless, and controlling man. He is also the former Hand of King Aerys II. He is the father of Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion. After Eddard Stark's arrest, Joffrey names him Hand of the King once more, but after Jaime is taken captive by the Starks, Eddard is unexpectedly executed by Joffrey, and Renly and Stannis Baratheon challenge Joffrey's claim to the throne; Tywin elects to remain in the field commanding his forces, until he wins his war and gives the position of Hand of the King to Tyrion. Tywin continues the war through Season 2 at Harrenhal where he criticizes his commanders for losing and underestimating the Stark army lead by King Robb Stark. While there, he forms an unlikely friendship with his cup bearer, unaware that she is actually Arya Stark. Originally, he was about to attack Robb's forces while they are distracted of the Greyjoys seizing Winterfell but changes his mind and helps the defenders of King's Landing drive Stannis Baratheon's forces away. He assumes his position of Hand of the King once again and arranges for Joffrey to marry Margaery Tyrell to secure an alliance between the Lannisters and Tyrells.
Davos Seaworth		Liam Cunningham	2	-	6
Ser Davos Seaworth, also known as "The Onion Knight", is a former smuggler and knight in the service of Stannis Baratheon, he serves as one of Stannis's most trusted advisers. In his smuggling days, he was said to handle a ship at night better than anyone. Before the events of the series, he earned his knighthood by smuggling fish and onions to the besieged Stannis Baratheon and his army during Robert Baratheon's rebellion. Before knighting him, Stannis removed the last joints from four fingers on his left hand as punishment for his years of smuggling, believing these joints bought his family a better future, Davos keeps them in a pouch around his neck for luck. In Season 2, he loyally supports Stannis' claim on the throne and his honesty and willingness to voice his unaltered opinion makes him Stannis' most trusted adviser, though Stannis often dislikes what he hears. An agnostic, he doesn't accept the priestess Melisandre and her god R'hllor but does not object to her because Stannis is also a follower of R'hllor. He fights in the Battle of the Blackwater, where his ships are caught in a giant explosion of wild fire, with his son Matthos killed and Davos current fate uncertain.
Bran Stark	/ˈbræn ˈstɑrk/	Isaac Hempstead-Wright	1-2	–	15
Bran Stark is the second son and fourth child of Eddard and Catelyn Stark. He was named after his deceased uncle, Brandon. His direwolf is called Summer. During the King's visit to Winterfell, he accidentally came across Cersei and Jaime Lannister engaging in sex, following which Bran is shoved from the window by Jaime, permanently crippling his legs. An assassin tries to kill Bran, but Summer, the direwolf companion, kills the assassin. Bran, when he awakens, finds that he is crippled from the waist down, forced to be carried everywhere by Hodor, and he cannot remember the events immediately before his fall. Slowly, he realizes that he has gained the ability to assume Summer's consciousness, making him a warg or a skinchanger. After his older brother, Robb, is crowned King in the North, Bran becomes Robb's heir and the Lord of Winterfell. After Theon Greyjoy captures Winterfell, Bran goes into hiding. To cement his claim on Winterfell, Theon kills an orphan boy and tells the people of Winterfell that Bran is dead. After Theon's men betray him and Winterfell sacked, Bran, Rickon, Hodor, Osha and their direwolves head north to find his older brother Jon Snow for safety.
Robb Stark	/ˈrɒb ˈstɑrk/	Richard Madden	1-2	–	14
Robb Stark is the eldest son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark and the heir to Winterfell. His direwolf is called Grey Wind. Robb becomes involved in the war against the Lannisters after his father, Ned Stark, is arrested for treason. Robb summons his bannermen for war against House Lannister and marches to the Riverlands. Eventually, crossing the river at the Twins becomes strategically necessary. To win permission to cross, Robb agrees to marry a daughter of Walder Frey, Lord of the Twins. Robb leads the war effort against the Lannisters and successfully captures Jaime. After Ned is executed, the North and the Riverlands declare their independence from the Seven Kingdoms and proclaim Robb as their new King, "The King in The North". He wins a succession of battles in Season 2, earning him the nickname the Young Wolf. However, he feels that he botches the political aspects of war. He sends Theon to the Iron Islands hoping that he can broker an alliance with Balon Greyjoy, Theon's father. In exchange for Greyjoy support, Robb as King in the North will recognize the Iron Islands' independence. He also sends his mother Catelyn to deal with Stannis Baratheon and Renly Baratheon, both of whom are fighting to be the rightful king. Theon and Catelyn fail in their missions, and Balon launches an invasion of the North. Robb falls in love with Talisa Maegyr, a healer from Volantis due to her kindness and spirit. Despite his mother's protest, Robb breaks his engagement with the Freys and marries Talisa in the 2nd season finale.
Sansa Stark	/ˈsɑːnsə ˈstɑrk/	Sophie Turner	1-2	–	16
Sansa Stark is the first daughter and second child of Eddard and Catelyn Stark. She is also the future bride of Prince Joffrey. Her direwolf is called Lady, she is the smallest of the pack. Sansa is naive and wants to live the life of a fairy tale princess and is unwilling to see the harsh realities of the kingdom's politics and rivalries. Her fantasy begins to shatter when Lady is killed, and the situation continues to worsen when her father is arrested for treason. She becomes a hostage to the Lannisters in order for them to have a legitimate claim for the North. Her naivete is finally shattered when King Joffrey executes her father despite promising her that he would spare him. Sansa is forced to put up an act or endure Joffrey's cruelty. Throughout Season 2, she suffers under Joffrey's abuse until Tyrion puts a stop to it. By the Season 2 finale, Joffrey breaks his engagement with Sansa to marry Margaery Tyrell. However, she is still a hostage; but Petyr Baelish promises to help her return to Winterfell.
Arya Stark	/ˈɑrɪə ˈstɑrk/	Maisie Williams	1-2	–	18
Arya Stark is the younger daughter and third child of Lord Eddard and Catelyn Stark of Winterfell. Ever the tomboy, Arya would rather be training to use weapons than sewing with a needle. Her direwolf is called Nymeria. When Ned is arrested for treason, with the help of her "dancing master" Syrio Forel, she manages to escape the Lannisters, and is later disguised as an orphan boy by a Night's Watch recruiter, Yoren, in hopes of getting her back to Winterfell. From then on, she takes the name Arry. During Season 2, Yoren convoy is attacked by the Lannisters who are under orders by King Joffrey to find and kill Robert's bastard children. Before she is captured, she releases the prisoner Jaqen H'ghar and two others, saving their lives. She and the rest of the captured recruits are sent to Harrenhal under Gregor Clegane who cruelly tortures and kills prisoners everyday. At the same time, she follows the advice of the late Yoren and makes a list of those she wants dead like a prayer. When Tywin Lannister arrives at Harrenhal, he orders the killing of prisoners stopped and makes Arya his cup bearer after figuring it out she is a girl. Tywin forms an unlikely friendship with Arya due to her intelligence while remaining unaware of her true identity. Arya reunites with Jaqen who offers to kill three lives in exchange for the three lives she saved. The first two she picks, the Tickler, Harrenhal's torturer and Ser Amory Lorch, after he catches Arya reading one of Tywin's war plans and tries to inform Tywin. After she fails to find Jaqen to kill Tywin after he heads out to face Robb's forces, she forces Jaqen to help her, Gendry and Hot Pie escape Harrenhal after choosing Jaqen as her third name which she promises to "unname" him if he helps them. After successfully escaping, Jaqen gives her an iron coin and tells her to give it to any Braavosi and say "Valar morghulis" if she wants to call him.
Joffrey Baratheon	/ˈdʒɒfrɪ bəˈræθɪɒn/	Jack Gleeson	1-2	–	16
Joffrey Baratheon is the Crown Prince of the Seven Kingdoms. He is the eldest of Cersei Lannister's children and heir to the Iron Throne. Vicious and cruel, he has a short temper and believes he can do anything he wants as the Crown Prince. However, he is also a coward when confronted by those who aren't afraid of him. Joffrey is also unaware that King Robert is not his real father - who, in reality, is Jaime Lannister. After Robert's death, the Lannisters make Joffrey the King against his father's will, and Joffrey becomes a cruel ruler and a Puppet King used by his mother. Joffrey makes a mistake when he, against Cersei's and Sansa's wishes, refuses to honor his promise of sparing Ned; instead, has him executed. His act worsens the situation with the Lannisters' war effort as Jaime is captured by the Starks and his uncles Renly and Stannis have challenged his claim to the Iron Throne. He frequently orders his Kingsguard to beat Sansa. His cruelty and ignorance of the commoners suffering makes him unpopular after he orders the City Watch to kill all of his father's bastard children in King's Landing which would later lead to a riot where he is almost killed. When Stannis attacks King's Landing, Joffrey serves only as a figurehead and avoids the heavy fighting. But when the battle eventually turns in Stannis' favor, Cersei calls her son into the safety of the castle, damaging the morale of his army. The battle is only won by his grandfather Tywin and the forces of House Tyrell. To cement the alliance between their families, Joffrey engagement to Sansa is annulled so he can marry Margaery Tyrell.
Samwell Tarly	/ˈsæmwəl ˈtɑrli/	John Bradley	2	1	11
Samwell Tarly, the eldest son and former heir of Lord Randyll Tarly, is a new recruit to the Night's Watch. He was sent to the Wall by his father, who disowned him for his cowardice. He becomes Jon's best friend after Jon conspires with the others in their trainee class to go easy on him. While not a warrior, he is very smart and insightful. He is inducted into the Stewards and assigned to Maester Aemon. He travels beyond the Wall in place of Aemon and fall in love with Gilly, one of Craster's daughters-wives. Later in Season 2 he finds Obsidian "Dragon glass". And at the end of the season he become a witness to the numerous army of White Walkers and Wights marching to the Fist of the First Men.
Sandor Clegane	/ˈsændɔr klɨˈɡeɪn/	Rory McCann	1-2	–	13
Sandor Clegane, nicknamed "The Hound," is the younger brother of Ser Gregor Clegane and a retainer to House Lannister, he is also Joffrey Baratheon's personal bodyguard. The right side of his face is hideously burned due to his brother's temper in the past. He is taciturn and brutal but not without compassion. He is protective towards Sansa after she is captured by the Lannisters. After Joffrey becomes King, Sandor is made a member of the Kingsguard. Although he is still faithful to Joffrey, he frequently defends Sansa from Joffrey's attempts to shame and physically abuse her. During the siege on King's Landing, Sandor subdues to his fear of fire after wildfire is used that he abandons the fight and leaves Joffrey. Before fleeing the city, he seeks out Sansa and offers to take her along. She refuses but she recognizes that he had been afraid in the battle.
Margaery Tyrell		Natalie Dormer	2	-	4
Margaery is the only daughter of Lord Mace Tyrell, and has recently married the late King Robert’s brother, Renly Baratheon, as part of House Tyrell’s support for his bid to seize the Iron Throne from King Joffrey. Somewhere in her mid to late twenties, she is surprisingly canny and cunning. She aware of her husband's sexual orientation but doesn't care about it as supports him and is willingly to help him get her pregnant to secure the alliance between their families. When Renly is killed, the Tyrells ally with House Lannister and she is planned to marry to King Joffrey.
Stannis Baratheon	/ˈstænɨs bəˈræθɪɒn/	Stephen Dillane	2	-	7
Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone, is the elder of Robert Baratheon's younger brothers. A brooding, humorless man known for a hard and unyielding sense of justice, he is obsessed with slights real and imagined. With Robert dying, Ned sends him a letter appointing him as the legitimate heir and becomes another challenger for the Iron Throne after his nephew Joffrey becomes King. By Season 2, he has fallen under the influence of Melisandre, a priestess of R'hllor. After Robert's death, Stannis claims himself the true heir to the Iron Throne as Cersei's children are illegitimate and names himself King of the Seven Kingdoms. However, most of the Baratheon bannermen support the claim of the more charismatic Renly. When Renly is mysteriously slain, many of Renly's bannermen immediately swear allegiance to Stannis. He then attacks King's Landing by sailing up the Blackwater Bay. However, due to Tyrion's plan using wild fire and reinforcements by the Lannisters and Tyrell Cavalry, he loses the Battle of Blackwater. Despite this setback, he is convinced to continue fighting by Melisandre.
Melisandre	/ˈmɛlɨsaʊndreɪ/	Carice van Houten	2	-	4
A priestess of R'hllor in service to Stannis Baratheon. Melisandre has prophetic powers that give her partial knowledge of future events. Unlike many other people in Westeros with access to prophecy, Melisandre has absolute faith in her own interpretation. Melisandre believes Stannis is the chosen one who will convert the people of Westeros into followers of R'hllor. She convinces Stannis of this by using various methods, including seduction. Many, most notably Stannis' trusted adviser Davos Seaworth, believe she is leading their king astray. She has magical powers which she survives Maester Cressen attempts to kill her using poison and the ability to give birth to a shadow demon which was sent to kill Renly Baratheon.
Jeor Mormont	/ˈdʒɪər ˈmɔrmənt/	James Cosmo	2	1	8
Jeor Mormont, the 997th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, is the estranged father of Ser Jorah. He gave up his lands to serve the Night's Watch. His son's shaming of their house weighs heavily on him. He personally requests that Jon Snow be made his personal steward, and gives him the Hand-and-a-Half sword (also known as a bastard sword) of their house, Longclaw. He has the pommel reshaped into a wolf's head. To investigate the return of wights, the disappearance of several Rangers, and rumors of a wildling army, Jeor leads an expeditionary force beyond the Wall in Season 2.
Shae		Sibel Kekilli	2	1	10
Shae is a young camp follower in whom Tyrion Lannister takes particular interest. She is from Lorath, one of the Free Cities across the Narrow Sea. Tyrion falls in love with her and in order to hide her from his father, Tyrion has appoints Shae to be Sansa's handmaiden. As her handmaiden, Shae is the only person Sansa trusts and confides to her about her problems and what she really thinks about the Lannisters.
Bronn		Jerome Flynn	2	1	13
Bronn is a sell-sword with a sardonic sense of humor, and a retainer to Tyrion Lannister. After their arrival in King's Landing, Bronn's service to Tyrion earns him a position as Commander of the City Watch. When Stannis Baratheon attacks the city by sailing up the Blackwater Bay, he shoots a fire arrow to a ship containing wild fire which destroys half of Stannis' fleet. However, Bronn is stripped of his position after Tywin Lannister takes over as Hand of The King.
Varys	/ˈvɛərɪs/	Conleth Hill	2	1	13
Lord Varys, known as "The Spider", a eunuch and the Master of Whisperers, is the royal spymaster and a member of King Robert's Small Council. He was a mummer for Aerys II before becoming his advisor. Nothing happens in Westeros without his knowledge. His true loyalties remain a mystery as he supports the current King, but he also secretly supports the return of the Targaryens with Illyrio Mopatis. Varys' skill in spying and gathering information earned him the position of Master of Whisperers on King Aerys II Targaryen's council. From then on, he claims to work for the good of the realm. Throughout the series, he works to create a period of weakness in the Seven Kingdoms so that it is easy for the Targaryens to invade and claim the throne. However, his plans become more complicated as other characters do not do as he asks or expects.
Theon Greyjoy	/ˈθiːən ˈɡreɪdʒɔɪ/	Alfie Allen	1-2	–	17
Theon Greyjoy is the youngest son of Lord Balon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands. He is the hostage and ward of Lord Eddard Stark, stemming from the failed Greyjoy Rebellion. Despite his position, he remains loyal to Eddard and is good friends with his sons Robb and Jon. While he has never questioned his position, he soon begins to have doubts after Tyrion tells him he is nothing more than a servant to the Starks and not everyone respects him. Nevertheless, Theon initially remains loyal to Robb after he goes to war with the Lannisters and supports his decision to have the North secede from the Seven Kingdoms and form their own kingdom. He is sent to the Iron Islands in Season 2 to seek a Stark alliance with the Greyjoys. However, his father criticize Theon for accepting the northern lifestyle and reject Robb's proposal. Wishing to prove to his father that he is a true Ironborn, he joins his family's invasion of the North. To gain the respect of his men, he ignores his orders to raid the shores and captures Winterfell. But things becomes worse for Theon when he is forced to kill his old mentor Ser Rodrik Cassel and fakes the deaths of Bran and Rickon Stark to the people of Winterfell after they escape by killing two orphans. Regretting for the things he has done and with no help coming from his family, Theon decides to die fighting with his men defending Winterfell from a Stark force lead by Roose Bolton's bastard son. However, his is betrayed by his men due to Robb's offer of clemency and safe return to the Iron Islands if they give up Theon.
Eddard Stark	/ˈɛdərd ˈstɑrk/	Sean Bean	1	–	10
Eddard "Ned" Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, becomes the Hand of the King after Lord Jon Arryn's death. He is known for his sense of honor and justice. He took part in Robert's Rebellion after his sister Lyanna was kidnapped by Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. When Ned's father and brother went south to reclaim her, the "Mad King" Aerys Targaryen burned both of them alive. Ned and Robert Baratheon led the rebellion to unseat him from the throne. As the show opens, Ned has been content to remain in the north, but after the death of Lord Jon Arryn, he is convinced that it is his duty to accept the position of Hand of the King. Ned is not interested in politics, and prefers to rule with honor and following the law. While investigating the reason for the death of Jon Arryn, he discovers that all three of Robert's children with Queen Cersei's were fathered by Cersei's twin brother Jaime. When Ned confronts Cersei about this, expecting her to run for her life, she instead has him imprisoned for treason after he publicly denounces Joffrey. Ned is convinced by Varys that if he goes to his death honorably, as he is prepared to do, his daughters will suffer for it. To protect them, he sacrifices his honor and publicly declares that he was plotting to steal the throne and that Joffrey is the true king. Despite Cersei's promise that Ned would be allowed to join the Night's Watch in exile, Joffrey orders Ned's execution.
Robert Baratheon	/ˈrɒbərt bəˈræθɪɒn/	Mark Addy	1	–	7
Robert Baratheon became king of the Seven Kingdoms after leading a rebellion against Aerys II Targaryen. Formerly a fierce warrior, Robert was betrothed to Ned's sister Lyanna and loved her deeply. When she was kidnapped by Rhaegar Targaryen, and Ned's father and brother killed when they went to King's Landing to reclaim her, he and Ned began what became known as Robert's Rebellion, whereupon the Targaryens were all slaughtered or routed from the Kingdoms. Since Robert's family had closer ties to the former Royal family, this put Robert on the Iron Throne. Now, Robert has grown fat and miserable; he has no more wars to fight, is surrounded by plotters and sycophants, and trapped in a political marriage to the scheming Cersei Lannister, who he has never loved. He is unaware that none of his three children are his, but instead Jaime Lannister's. Under his reign, the realm has been bankrupted, and Robert is deeply in debt to his wife's family. Killed while hunting, he unknowingly leaves no rightful heir behind.
Viserys Targaryen	/vɪˈsɛərɨs tɑrˈɡɛərɪən/	Harry Lloyd	1	–	5
Viserys Targaryen is the exiled prince and heir of the Targaryen dynasty. Known as "The Beggar King" for his search for an army to recapture his throne. A narcissist, he is arrogant and self-centered, caring only about himself and looking down on others especially to his sister Daenerys. In exchange for an army to help regain the Iron Throne, Viserys marries off his sister to the powerful Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo and follows his horde's journey to the Dothraki capital to ensure Drogo will keep his end of the bargain. But as they journey, it becomes evident that Viserys does not have leadership skills to reclaim the throne as his arrogance and disrespect for the Dothraki does not win him any hearts. Furthermore, Daenerys, who he has always threatened throughout his life, starts to stand up to him. Realizing that Daenerys is loved by the Dothraki and her and Drogo's unborn son is prophesized to unite the world, Viserys realizes that it is not he but Daenerys who will reclaim the Iron Throne. In a fit of drunken rage, he threatens Drogo to give him his army now or he will kill his unborn son. Having enough of his behavior, Drogo kills Viserys by giving him a "Golden Crown"; melted gold poured over his head.
Khal Drogo	[ˈxal ˈdroɡo]	Jason Momoa	1	2	10
Khal Drogo is a warlord of the Dothraki people. He is to marry Daenerys Targaryen, as arranged by her brother Viserys. He is undefeated in battle. Viserys Targaryen conspired with Magister Illyrio to marry Daenerys to Drogo in order to get his support in an invasion of Westeros. Though Daenerys was initially unhappy with the arrangement, Drogo proved to be a sensitive husband and lover despite his fearsome behavior with his men. After a failed poisoning attempt on Daenerys' life, he promised to invade Westeros to reclaim the Seven Kingdoms for the Targaryens, but Viserys's impertinence ultimately caused Drogo to kill him. Drogo maintained his promise for the benefit of his wife, but was wounded by an enemy khal before he could begin the invasion. The wound festered and Drogo lost the ability to ride his horse. Most of his khalasar of Dothraki abandoned him, but Daenerys unwittingly sacrificed their unborn child for a spell to revive him. The spell worked, but left him a brain-dead husk of his former self. Daenerys smothered him out of pity, and the flames of his funeral pyre ultimately hatched her dragon eggs. She named her favorite dragon after him—the powerful, black Drogon.

Supporting characters

House Arryn, retainers and bannermen

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Lysa Tully	/ˈlaɪsə ˈɛərɪn ˈtʌlɪ/	Kate Dickie	1	3
Lysa Arryn, currently Mistress of the Eyrie, is the wife of the late Lord Jon Arryn. Born to the Lord and Lady of the Riverlands, she is the younger sister of Catelyn Stark, Lady of Winterfell. She has grown mentally unstable since the death of her husband, and is convinced that as long as she stays boarded up in the Eyrie she will be safe. Justice for her husband rarely crosses her mind, unless exacting it doesn't mean bestirring herself or her guards from her castle. She is also overly protective of her son, Robin Arryn, which has made him a weak and spoiled child.
Robin Arryn		Lino Facioli	1	3
Robin Arryn, Lord of the Eyrie and Defender of the Vale, is the only child of Jon and Lysa Arryn and a sickly boy doted on by his mother. He is still breastfed despite being well into pre-adolescence, and is mentally and socially maladjusted. He enjoys seeing people executed by defenestration, whether they are guilty or not.

House Baratheon, retainers and bannermen

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Renly Baratheon	/ˈrɛnli bəˈræθɪɒn/	Gethin Anthony	1-2	8
Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, is the youngest brother of King Robert and Master of Laws in the Small Council. He is popular with the people because he is handsome, jovial and throws extravagant balls and masquerades. While considered a master jouster, he is not fond of fighting or bloodshed, and would rather make friends than kill enemies. He is secretly the lover of Ser Loras Tyrell, the Knight of the Flowers, who convinces him that those qualities make him better ruling material than either of his older brothers. While Robert lies dying, Renly attempts to convince Ned of this, and that the two of them should kidnap Joffrey and rule the realm themselves. However, Ned refuses, so Renly, Loras and their followers flee south. Once Joffrey becomes King and had Ned executed, Renly challenges his nephew's claim to the throne.
Brienne of Tarth		Gwendoline Christie	2	7
A member of Renly Baratheon's Kingsguard. Brienne is a skilled female warrior and longs to be a knight.
Salladhor Saan		Lucian Msamati	2	1
The Prince of the Narrow Sea, Salladhor is a notorious pirate, trader and smuggler from Lys. An old friend of Davos, he now sails for Stannis Baratheon on his ship, the Valyrian and his fleet of thirty ships.
Matthos Seaworth		Kerr Logan	2	4
Davos' son and second-in-command on his father's ship, Black Betha. Matthos is a devout follower of the Lord of Light religion.
Selyse Florent			3	-
Selyse Florent is the wife of Stannis Baratheon. She became his queen after Stannis claimed the Iron Throne. Selyse is a fervent worshiper of R'hllor and a supporter of Melisandre.
Shireen Baratheon		Kerry Ingram	3	-
Shireen is the young daughter of Stannis Baratheon and Selyse Florent.

House Greyjoy, retainers and bannermen

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Balon Greyjoy		Patrick Malahide	2	2
Lord of the Iron Islands and the father of Theon and Yara. Balon wished to continue the conquering ways of his people which led him to rebel against the Iron Throne 9 years prior to the start of the series. He lost, and Theon was taken as a ward at Winterfell as a way to keep him from attempting another rebellion.
Asha Greyjoy		Gemma Whelan	2	4
The daughter of Balon Greyjoy and his wife Alannys, and elder sister of Theon. She is fierce and proud, and defies traditional ironborn gender roles by commanding her own ship, the Black Wind.
Dagmer		Ralph Ineson	2	5
Dagmer is an ironborn raider and Theon Greyjoy's first mate on the Sea Bitch.
Lorren		Forbes KB	2	4
An infamous ironborn raider better known as Black Lorren. He is considered among the fiercest ironborn warriors.

House Lannister, retainers and bannermen

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Kevan Lannister		Ian Gelder	1-2	4
Lord Tywin's younger brother, Captain of his Guard, Ser Kevan Lannister is a skilled warrior but overshadowed by his brother Tywin. It is said that he never had a thought Tywin had not had first.
Lancel Lannister		Eugene Simon	1-2	8
Lancel Lannister is the eldest son of Kevan Lannister and cousin of Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion Lannister. He served as King Robert's squire.
Gregor Clegane	/ɡrəˈɡɔr klɨˈɡeɪn/	Conan Stevens (Season One) Ian Whyte (Season Two)	1-2	5
Ser Gregor Clegane is a huge knight and the elder brother of Sandor Clegane. Called "The Mountain That Rides", he is known for his incredibly cruel nature and uncontrollable temper.
Podrick Payne		Daniel Portman	2	4
Podrick is a young squire assigned to Tyrion Lannister.
Polliver		Andy Kellegher	2	2
A Lannister man-at-arms who comes into possession of Arya's sword; Needle.
Alton Lannister		Karl Davies	2	3
A cousin of Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion Lannister, and a captive of Robb Stark. In the books there is no character by this name. Here the character Cleos Frey, also a cousin to the Lannisters, has the role of being a captive of House Stark and delivering terms to House Lannister.
Amory Lorch		Fintan McKeown	2	4
Ser Amory Lorch is a knight and loyal but brutal bannerman of House Lannister.
Shagga		Mark Lewis Jones	1	2
A wild, fierce Mountain Clansman, Shagga, son of Dolf is the leader of the Stone Crows clan from the Mountains of the Moon. He is also a retainer to Tyrion Lannister.

House Stark, retainers and bannermen

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Rickon Stark	/ˈrɪkən ˈstɑrk/	Art Parkinson	1-2	8
Rickon Stark is Lord Eddard & Lady Catelyn's youngest child, naturally aggressive and strong-willed. His black direwolf, Shaggydog, shares these qualities also.
Maester Luwin	/ˈmeɪstər ˈluːwɨn/	Donald Sumpter	1-2	14
Luwin, Maester of Winterfell, is a chief advisor to Lord Stark. He is one of the few Maesters to have studied magic and the occult.
Rodrik Cassel	/ˈrɒdrɨk kəˈsɛl/	Ron Donachie	1-2	12
Ser Rodrik Cassel is the Master-at-Arms at Winterfell.
Roose Bolton		Michael McElhatton	2	4
A Bannerman of the North and Lord of the Dreadfort. The Bolton family have a nasty history of keeping to very old, and barbaric ways, including flaying their enemies alive, and Roose is no exception. His cunning makes him a valuable ally, but his unpredictable nature makes him a dangerous one.
Hodor	/ˈhoʊdər/	Kristian Nairn	1-2	12
Hodor is a huge, physically strong but mentally handicapped stablehand at Winterfell who can only say the word Hodor. His real name is Walder.
Rickard Karstark		Steven Blount (Season 1) John Stahl (Season 2)	1-2	3
A Bannerman of the North, Lord of Karhold and he is a chief member of Robb Stark's war council. The Karstarks are distant cousins of the Starks of Winterfell.
Jon Umber		Clive Mantle	1	3
Called "the Greatjon", Lord Umber is the Lord of Last Hearth and a Bannerman of the North.
Jory Cassel	/ˈdʒɔri kəˈsɛl/	Jamie Sives	1	5
Jory Cassel was Captain of the Guard at Winterfell and the nephew of Ser Rodrik. Killed by Jaime Lannister during a fight between Jaime's men and Eddard Stark over Tyrion Lannister's abduction by Eddard's wife.
Old Nan		Margaret John	1	2
Old Nan was an old serving woman at Winterfell who tells the Stark children stories from beyond the Wall. She is the great-grandmother of Hodor. Margaret John passed away before the filming of Season 2 and the writers decided that Old Nan died between seasons instead of recasting the role.
Septa Mordane	/ˈsɛptə mɔrˈdeɪn/	Susan Brown	1	8
Septa Mordane was a priestess of the Faith of the Seven Gods (of which Catelyn Stark is an observer) and governess to the young ladies of Winterfell. Killed by the Lannisters after Eddard Starks failed attempt to arrest King Joffrey and Queen Regent Cersei.
Jojen Reed			3	-
A boy with special insights and son of Lord Howland Reed, Eddard Stark's old friend from Robert's Rebellion.
Meera Reed			3	-
Jojen's elder sister and daughter of Lord Howland Reed.

House Targaryen, retainers and bannermen

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Doreah		Roxanne McKee	1-2	11
Doreah is a slave, bought in order to school Daenerys in the art of love. She was sold to a brothel when she was nine, by her mother.
Irri		Amrita Acharia	1-2	13
Irri is a slave, bought in order to school Daenerys in Dothraki riding.
Kovarro		Steven Cole	2	8
Kovarro is a Dothraki bloodrider sworn to Daenerys Targaryen.
Rakharo		Elyes Gabel	1-2	7
Rakharo is a young bloodrider, favored by, and sworn to Daenerys Targaryen.

House Tully, retainers and bannermen

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Ser Edmure Tully			3	-
Catelyn and Lysa's younger brother and the heir to Riverrun. A brash but good-hearted young man.
Ser Brynden Tully		Clive Russell	3	-
Commonly known as "The Blackfish", Ser Brynden is the uncle of Catelyn, Lysa and Edmure and a seasoned war veteran.
Walder Frey	/ˈwɔːldər ˈfreɪ/	David Bradley	1	1
Lord Walder Frey, nicknamed the "Late Lord Frey", is the head of House Frey, Lord of the Crossing and bannerman to House Tully. He is known for outliving his many wives (now on his 8th) and siring over 100 children (both bastard and trueborn).

House Tyrell, retainers and bannermen

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Loras Tyrell	/ˈlɔərəs ˈtɪrəl/	Finn Jones	1-2	7
Ser Loras Tyrell, known as the "Knight of Flowers," is a highly skilled knight and jouster. Known across Westeros for his beauty, he is Renly Baratheon's former squire and secretly his lover.
Olenna Redwyne			3	-
Lady Olenna, better known as "The Queen of Thorns", is the sharp-witted grandmother of Loras & Margaery.

Night's Watch

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Yoren	/ˈjɔrɨn/	Francis Magee	1-2	7
Yoren is a recruiter for the Night's Watch. He travels to King's Landing, where he witnesses Eddard Stark's execution. Discovering Arya Stark in the crowd, Yoren protects her from seeing her father's beheading, and later cuts her hair, giving her a false identity of Arry the orphan boy, and mixes her in with the others he is recruiting for the Wall in order to protect her from the Queen and take her home.
Qhorin		Simon Armstrong	2	4
Known as Qhorin Halfhand, he is an experienced ranger of the Night's Watch and second-in-command at the Shadow Tower. He is called Halfhand because he lost all the fingers on his right hand except his thumb and forefinger to a wildling axe. Because of this, he was forced to train himself how to fight left-handed and became just as proficient with his left hand as he had been with his right.
Grenn		Mark Stanley	1-2	11
Grenn is a brave, but not very bright, brother of the Night's Watch. He was abandoned by his father when he was a child and had to steal to survive, ending up on the Night's Watch as a result.
Eddison Tollett		Ben Crompton	2	5
A steward of the Night's Watch, known to all as "Dolorous Edd" for his dour face and outlook. Despite his continual gloom and doom he is well-liked by the other Brothers in Black, and is one of few Night's Watchmen to have few if any enemies among his brothers.
Alliser Thorne	/ˈælɨsər ˈθɔrn/	Owen Teale	1	4
Ser Alliser Thorne is a drill instructor at Castle Black. He fought for Aerys II during Robert's Rebellion and was sent to the Wall as punishment. He is a bitter, cruel and hardened man, but knows firsthand what it is like to serve in the Night's Watch during the winter. The previous winter he was caught north of the Wall on a ranging and he and the other members of his party were forced to eat the rangers who died in order to survive.
Benjen Stark	/ˈbɛndʒɨn ˈstɑrk/	Joseph Mawle	1	3
Benjen Stark, First Ranger of the Night's Watch, is the younger brother of Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell. Early in the series, he leads a group of Rangers beyond the wall due to word of increased Wildling activity. He has not returned.
Maester Aemon		Peter Vaughan	1	3
Aemon Targaryen is the old and blind Maester of the Night's Watch, and grand-uncle to Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen. By the time of Robert's Rebellion, he was too old to travel alone and already blind, and was forced to stay at the Wall while all the members of his family, even his great grand-nephews and nieces, were slaughtered by Lannister Bannermen. He carries the anger of that incident with him even now.
Pypar		Josef Altin	1	6
Pypar is a brother of the Night's Watch, informally called "Pyp." A former mummer, he was condemned to the Wall after refusing the sexual advances of his former lord. Initially he said that his crime was stealing a wheel of cheese to feed his starving sister, but confessed to Jon and Sam after becoming friends with them that the Lord accused him of stealing, and that he was too ashamed to admit to the others that a man tried to molest him.
Rast		Luke McEwan	1	6
Rast is a trainee with a particularly mean spirit. He was arrested for rape, and chose the Wall as his punishment.
Bowen Marsh		Brian Fortune	1	2
Bowen Marsh is First Steward for the Night's Watch.

People of Essos

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Xaro Xhoan Daxos		Nonso Anozie	2	5
A rich merchant "prince" of Qarth who wishes to acquaint himself with the Mother of Dragons. He offers his hand in marriage, but Daenerys refuses. Although vouching and caring for her during her stay at Qarth, he ultimately betrays her and crowns himself "King of Qarth". He conspires with Pyat Pree to capture Daenerys and steal her dragons, but after she successfully retrieves them, she takes her revenge and locks him alive in a vault.
Pyat Pree		Ian Hanmore	2	4
Pyat Pree is a warlock from the city of Qarth. He tries to lure Daenerys in The House of the Undying, the warlocks' lair, by stealing her dragons. However, his magic proves less powerful comparing to that of Daenerys and with the help of her dragons she burns him alive.
Quaithe		Laura Pradelska	2	2
Quaithe of the Shadow is an enigmatic priestess of Asshai.
The Spice King		Nicholas Blane	2	3
He is the leader of the Ancient Guild of Spicers, one of the merchant groups vying for control of the city of Qarth. In the Song of Ice and Fire novels there is no character specifically called 'the Spice King'. However, there is an 'Ancient Guild of Spicers' in the city of Qarth. This guild is a powerful faction and power-broker in Qarth.
Illyrio Mopatis	/ɪˈlɪərɪoʊ/	Roger Allam	1	2
Illyrio Mopatis is a wealthy magister of the free city of Pentos. He arranged Daenerys' marriage to Khal Drogo.
Mirri Maz Duur		Mia Soteriou	1	3
Mirri Maz Duur was a "Maegi", or witch-woman, held captive by Daenerys. Before her capture she was a godswife in the Temple of the Great Shepherd.
Qotho	/ˈqɔθo/	Dar Salim	1	6
Qotho was the most fierce and hot-tempered of Khal Drogo's Blood Riders.
Daario Naharis			3	-
A confident and seductive warrior.

People of Westeros

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Jaqen H'ghar		Tom Wlaschiha	2	6
Sly, enigmatic, and a dangerous criminal, Jaqen is part of Yoren’s group of recruits taken from King’s Landing to join the Night’s Watch. A foreigner from the Free Cities, he speaks in third person, referring to himself as "A man".
Gendry	/ˈɡɛndri/	Joe Dempsie	1-2	9
Gendry is an apprentice blacksmith in King's Landing and an unacknowledged bastard of King Robert.
Talisa Maegyr		Oona Chaplin	2	5
Talisa is a healer working on the battlefields of the War of the Five Kings. She claims to be from the Free City of Volantis. No character named Talisa appears in the books. Oona Chaplin was originally announced to play a character called Jeyne, which many thought to mean she would play Jeyne Westerling, a character from the books.
Ros		Esmé Bianco	1-2	10
Ros is an oft spoken of, red-haired prostitute. She initially lives in a brothel outside the gates of Winterfell, and is a favorite of Theon Greyjoy. Later in the season, Ros moves to King's Landing and is given employment in a brothel owned by Littlefinger. At the start of season 2, Ros has been promoted, managing the brothel and interviewing new employees. She is later abused by King Joffrey and is savagely beaten by Cersei's men, who suspect her of being Tyrion's lover. She later enters an alliance with Varys. A recurring character in the series, she doesn't appear in the books; her primary function in season 1 appeared to be one of sexposition, as the backstories and motives of Theon, Littlefinger and Pycelle are all revealed during sexual encounters involving her.
Hot Pie		Ben Hawkey	1-2	8
Hot Pie is a boy from King's Landing recruited by Yoren to join the Watch.
Rorge		Andy Beckwith	2	3
A violent criminal from the "Black Cells" in King's Landing, Rorge is involuntarily recruited by Yoren to join the Night's Watch. He, along with fellow Black Cells prisoners Jaqen H'Ghar and Biter, is kept caged in a cart for their journey north in order to keep from harming his fellow recruits.
Biter		Gerard Jordan	2	3
A violent criminal from the "Black Cells" in King's Landing, Biter is a frightening man who never speaks but only hisses. His teeth have been filed to points and it is possible he engages in cannabalism. Like Jaqen H'Ghar and Rorge, Biter is a part of Yoren's group of Night's Watch recruits.
Lommy Greenhands		Eros Vlahos	1-2	4
Lommy was a dyer's apprentice before he was caught stealing and sent with Yoren to join the watch.
Beric Dondarrion		David Michael Scott	1,3	1
Lord of Blackhaven, nicknamed "The Lightning Lord". He is sent to capture Gregor Clegane after Clegane starts terrorizing the Riverlands. He becomes the leader of the outlaw group Brotherhood Without Banners.
Armeca		Sahara Knite	1-2	4
Aremca is a prostitute working in a brothel in King's Landing owned by Lord Petyr Baelish. The character doesn't appear in the books.
Daisy		Maisie Dee	2	3
Daisy is a new prostitute working in a brothel in King's Landing owned by Lord Petyr Baelish. King Joffrey forces Ros to beat her severely when the two prostitutes are presented to him as a gift from Tyrion. The character doesn't appear in the books.
Marillion		Emun Elliott	1	4
Marillion is a minstrel who entertains travelers with his music. He traveled to the Eyrie when Tyrion was taken there for trial by Catelyn, hoping to get a song out of it. Sometime after Tyrion's trial at the Eyrie, Marillion traveled to King's Landing, where he ended up composing a song about King Robert's death. The song also implicated Queen Cersei as "murderous" and that she had already emasculated the king by the time of his death. After being brought before King Joffrey for treason, he was given the choice to have either his fingers or tongue removed. He inadvertently chose his tongue.
Syrio Forel	/ˈsɪərɪoʊ fɔˈrɛl/	Miltos Yerolemou	1	3
Syrio Forel, the former First Sword of the Sealord of Braavos, is hired by Lord Eddard to train Arya Stark at "Water Dancing", the Braavosi style of swordfighting.
Thoros of Myr			3	-
A red priest who follows the same religion as Melisandre.

Royal court and officials

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Myrcella Baratheon	/mərˈsɛlə bəˈræθɪɒn/	Aimee Richardson	1-2	8
The Royal Princess, Myrcella is the younger sister of Prince Joffrey and only daughter of Cersei Lannister. She, like her brothers, is also the child of her mother's brother, Jaime, though she remains unaware of this. Unlike her older brother Joffrey, Myrcella is a kind and good person and enjoys being with her uncle Tyrion who in turn dotes on his niece. As part of an alliance proposition, Myrcella was shipped away to Dorne to marry the Prince's son.
Tommen Baratheon	/ˈtɒmɨn bəˈræθɪɒn/	Callum Wharry	1-2	8
Tommen is the younger brother of Prince Joffrey, and second in line for the throne. He, like his brother and sister, is also the child of his mother's brother, Jaime, though he remains unaware of this. Like his older sister Myrcella, Tommen is a kind and good person and enjoys being with his uncle Tyrion who in turn dotes on him.
Grand Maester Pycelle	/ˈmeɪstər paɪˈsɛl/	Julian Glover	1-2	13
Pycelle, Grand Maester of the Seven Kingdoms, is an advisor and Small Council member. He served the previous three kings as Grand Maester before Robert's reign. In public, he presents himself as a frail, possibly senile old man. However, in private, he is significantly more sound in mind and body than he pretends. Pycelle is later revealed to be a spy for the Lannisters especially Cersei as it was him who inform her about Jon Arryn investigating her affair with Jaime which led to his death. To ensure what happened to Ned Stark never happens to him, Tyrion has Pycelle arrested, shaved and sent to the dungeons.
Barristan Selmy	/ˈbærɪstən ˈsɛlmi/	Ian McElhinney	1	6
Ser Barristan Selmy is the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and a member of the Small Council. Known as "Barristan the Bold," he is considered one of the most famous knights of the Seven Kingdoms. Ned has a tremendous respect for Barristan as he remained loyal to protect the Mad King, Aerys II. He sustained injuries at the Trident which prevented Selmy from taking place in the final battles of the war which ultimately lead to his survival and pardon. When Ned attempts to arrest Cersei and Joffrey, he informs Ser Barristan of Robert's will and tells his men not to harm him. After Joffrey becomes King and has Ned arrested, Cersei and Joffrey force Ser Barristan into retirement despite the Kingsguard being meant to serve for life, and much to his anger, his position of Commander is to be given to Jaime. His honor insulted, Ser Barristan refuses their offer and leaves King's Landing.
Janos Slynt	/ˈdʒænəs ˈslɪnt/	Dominic Carter	1-2	5
Janos Slynt, Commander of the City Watch, is in charge of protecting the streets of King's Landing. He was bought off by Littlefinger to trick Eddard Stark into believing the City Watch was his, in order to arrest him when he made his statements against Cersei and Joffrey. He later follows Joffrey's orders to murder all of Robert's bastard children. Due to his untrustworthiness and what he did to Robert's bastard children, Tyrion has Janos exiled to the Night's Watch.
Hallyne		Roy Dotrice	2	2
The chief "Wisdom" of the Order of Pyromancers in King's Landing. Pyromancers, whose magical skill is questionable at best, are primarily used as a source of "Wildfire", a very dangerous, highly combustible chemical weapon.
Dontos Hollard		Tony Way	2	3
Ser Dontos Hollard is a knight serving at the court of King's Landing. He is made court fool by King Joffrey after attending a tourney drunk.
Meryn Trant		Ian Beattie	1-2	5
Ser Meryn Trant is an obedient member of the Kingsguard. He seems perfectly willing to do whatever Joffrey commands, no matter how vile the order.
Ilyn Payne	/ˈɪlɪn ˈpeɪn/	Wilko Johnson	1-2	4
Ser Ilyn, also called "The King's Justice," is the mute royal executioner. He lost his tongue for speaking ill of Aerys II during the "Mad King's" reign. It is he who carries out Joffrey's order to execute Eddard Stark.

Wildlings

Name	Pronunciation	Actor/Actress	Season(s)	Episode count
Mance Rayder			3	-
A former ranger of the Night’s Watch who became the “King-Beyond-the-Wall” and the new leader of the Wildlings.
Osha		Natalia Tena	1-2	10
Osha is a Wildling woman captured by Robb and held captive at Winterfell.
Ygritte		Rose Leslie	2	4
A wildling girl with red hair (said to be "kissed by fire" which is considered lucky by the wildlings) who is a follower of Mance Rayder; King-Beyond-The-Wall.
Craster		Robert Pugh	2	3
A wildling who has an uneasy "friendship" with the Night's Watch. He is an incestual polygamist who takes all his daughters to wife. He appears to have no sons because he sacrifices all of his boys to the mysterious White Walkers
Gilly		Hannah Murray	2	3
A young wildling girl who lives north of the Wall, Gilly is one of many daughters of Craster, a wildling who takes all his daughters to wife once they grow into women. She is pregnant with Craster's son.
The Lord of Bones		Edward Dogliani	2	2
More often than not referred to as "Rattleshirt", a ruthless wildling leader who uses a giant's skull as a helmet and bones of his victims for armour.
Tormund			3	-
A wildling raider known for his many titles, "Giantsbane" being foremost. Loud and gregarious, he is one of Mance's top generals.

Minor characters

The following characters who appear in the novels are also present in the TV series.

• Addam Marbrand (played by B.J. Hogg) is the heir of House Marbrand and a bannerman of House Lannister. He appears in one episode.

• Aggar is an ironborn raider and part of the Sea Bitch crew. He appears in four episodes.

• Aggo is a Dothraki warrior sworn to Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen. He is one of her bloodriders. He appears in one episode.

• Boros Blount is a member of King Joffrey's kingsguard. He appears in three episodes.

• Captain's Daughter (played by Amy Dawson) Theon Greyjoy is sleeping with the captain's daughter during his journey to the Iron Islands. She appears in one episode.

• Catspaw Assassin (played by Lalor Roddy) is an unnamed character who attempts to kill Bran Stark while the boy is in a coma. He appears in one episode.

• Chella is the leader of the Black Ears clan, one of the hill tribes menacing the road to the Vale of Arryn. She appears in two episodes.

• Drennan (played by David Coakley) is an ironborn raider and part of the crew of the Sea Bitch. He appears in two episodes.

• Ser Emmon Cuy is a member of Renly's Kingsguard. He appears in one episode.

• Eon Hunter (played by Barrington Cullen) is the head of House Hunter, a vassal family to House Arryn of the Eyrie. He appears in one episode.

• Farlen (played by Peter Ballance) is the kennelmaster at Winterfell. He appears in two episodes.

• Galbart Glover (played by Mark Conley) is the Master of Deepwood Motte and one of the Stark's sworn bannermen. He appears in two episodes.

• Gared (played by Dermot Keaney) is a ranger for the Night's Watch. He has spent over 40 years serving the realm on the Wall. He appears only in the first episode of the series where he is killed by White Walkers while on a ranging north of the Wall.

• Gelmarr is an ironborn raider and part of the Sea Bitch crew. He appears in four episodes.

• Jaremy Rykker (played by Jeffrey O'Brien) is an officer in the rangers of the Night's Watch. He appears in one episode.

• High Septon (played by Simon Fisher-Becker) is the head of the Faith of the Seven. He is grossly fat and seen by many as corrupt. He appears in one episode.

• Hugh (played by Jefferson Hall) is the recently knighted, former squire of Jon Arryn. He appears in two episodes.

• Imry Florent (played by Gordon Mahn) is a member of House Florent and brother of Stannis's wife Selyse. Ser Imry accompanies Stannis aboard the King's flagship, the Fury during the Battle of Blackwater. He appears in one episode.

• Jacks (played by Paul Caddell) is a House Stark guardsman fighting for Robb Stark in the War of the Five Kings. He appears in two episodes.

• Jafer Flowers is a ranger of the Night's Watch who is killed while beyond the Wall. He appears in one episode.

• Jhiqui (played by Sarita Piotrowski) is a slave, bought in order to school Daenerys in the Dothraki language. She appears in one episode.

• Jon Arryn (played by John Standing) is the Hand of the King who mysteriously died just before the start of the series. He was a father figure to both Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon as they both served as his wards. He was also Lord of the Eyrie, Defender of the Vale and Warden of the East. He appears in one episode.

• Jonos Bracken (played by Gerry O'Brien) is the Lord of Stone Hedge in the Riverlands. He appears in one episode.

• Joyeuse Erenford (played by Kelly Long) is the eight wife of Lord Walder Frey. She appears in one episode.

• Kurleket (played by Kevin Keenan) is a Man-at-Arms of House Bracken, a vassal house of House Tully. He is among the men escorting Catelyn Stark to the Vale of Arryn. He appears in two episodes.

• Leo Lefford (played by Vinnie McCabe) is the head of House Lefford and Lord of Golden Tooth. He is fighting for his liege lord Tywin Lannister. He appears in two episodes.

• Lothor Brune is a freerider in the service of Lord Petyr Baelish who participates in the tourney of King Joffrey Baratheon's sixteenth nameday. He appears in one episodes.

• Maege Mormont is the Lady of Bear Island and sworn to House Stark. She is also the sister of the Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. She appears in two episodes.

• Maester Cressen (played by Oliver Ford-Davies) is the Maester of Dragonstone, he is very skeptical of Melisandre's predictions. He dies from a poisoned wine that he and Melisandre drank which didn't effect her. He appears in one episode.

• Mago (played by Ivailo Dimitrov) is a rider in Khal Drogo's khalasar. He objects to Daenerys intervening and refusing to allow the Dothraki to take their share of the Lhazareen women as spoils of war. He appears in two episodes.

• Mandon Moore (played by James Doran) is a member of King Joffrey's kingsguard. He appears in four episodes.

• Masha Heddle (played by Susie Kelly) is the innkeeper of the Crossroads Inn in the Riverlands. She appears in one episode.

• Mhaegen (played by Antonia Christophers) is a prostitute in King's Landing and the mother of King Robert's bastard daughter, Barra Waters. She appears in the novels but is not named. She appears in two episodes.

• Mikken (played by Boyd Rankin) is the blacksmith at Winterfell. He forged the sword Needle for Arya. He appears in two episodes.

• Mord (played by Ciaran Bermingham) is the ruthless gaoler at the Eyrie in the Vale. He appears in two episodes.

• Mycah (played by Rhodri Hosking) is the son of a butcher who befriends Arya Stark. He appears in one episode.

• Othell Yarwyck (played by Dennis McKeever) is First Builder of the Night's Watch. He appears in five episodes.

• Othor is a ranger of the Night's Watch who is killed while beyond the Wall. He appears in one episode.

• Robar Royce is a member of Renly's Kingsguard. He appears in one episode.

• Stableboy (played by Hugo Culverhouse) is an unnammed character who is killed as he tries to stop Arya Stark when she is about to flee from the Red Keep. He appears in one episode.

• Stevron Frey (played by Colin Carnegie) is the first son and heir of Lord Walder Frey. He appears in one episode.

• Stiv (played by Stephen Don) is a Night's Watch deserter who joined the Wildlings beyond the wall. He was the leader of a small group fleeing south. He appears in one episode.

• Stonesnake is a ranger of the Night's Watch serving under Qhorin Halfhand. He appears in two episodes.

• Stygg is an ironborn raider and part of the Sea Bitch crew. He appears in four episodes.

• The Tickler (played by Anthony Morris) is a torturer who works for Gregor Clegane. He appears in two episodes.

• Timett, son of Timmett (played by Tobias Winter) is the leader of the Burned Men, one of the hill tribes menacing the road to the Vale of Arryn. He appears in four episodes.

• Tomard (played by Phil Dixon) is a guard sworn to House Stark. He appears in one episode.

• Tobho Mott (played by Andrew Wilde) is a master armorer in King's Landing. He claims to be the only armorer in Westeros who can tint armor without paint. He also claims to be able to work Valyrian steel. Gendry is his apprentice blacksmith. He appears in two episodes.

• Torrhen Karstark (played by Duncan Lacroix) is the son of Rickard Karstark fighting alongside his father for Robb Stark in the War of the Five Kings. He appears in one episode.

• Urzen is an ironborn raider and part of the Sea Bitch crew. He appears in four episodes.

• Vardis Egen (played by Brendan McCormack) is the Captain of the Guards at the Eyrie. He appears in two episodes.

• Varly (played by Graham Charles) is a guard sworn to House Stark. He appears in one episode.

• Vayon Poole (played by Matthew Scurfield) serves House Stark as the Steward of Winterfell. He appears in one episode.

• Walder Rivers (played by Bryan McCaugherty) is a bastard son of Lord Walder Frey. He appears in one episode.

• Wallen (played by Barry O'Connor) is a Night's Watch deserter who joined the Wildlings beyond the wall. He was part of a small group fleeing south. He appears in one episode.

• Waymar Royce (played by Rob Ostlere) is the third son of Lord Yohn Royce who became a ranger in the Night's Watch. He appears only in the first episode of the series where he is killed by White Walkers while leading a ranging north of the Wall.

• Weasel (played by Paul Kealyn) is a servant at the castle of Harrenhal. He assists the Tickler in the torture of prisoners. He appears in one episode.

• Wex is an ironborn raider and part of the Sea Bitch crew. He appears in four episodes.

• Will (played by Bronson Webb) is a former poacher who was sent to the Night's Watch and was assigned to the rangers. He deserts from the Night's Watch after White Walkers kills his companions north of the Wall. He appears in one episode.

• Willis Wode (played by Ryan McKenna) is a knight in the service of House Whent. He is among the men escorting Catelyn Stark to the Vale of Arryn. He appears in two episodes.

• The Wineseller (played by Simon Lowe) is an unnamed character who attempts to poison Daenerys Targaryen in the markets outside Vaes Dothrak. He appears in one episode.

See also

• Game of Thrones (TV series)
• Characters in A Song of Ice and Fire
• List of Game of Thrones episodes

External links

• Official website