Game of Thrones Cast: Full List, Salaries & Trivia

If you spent eight years watching Peter Dinklage outsmart everyone on screen, you probably wondered what that kind of talent pays in real life. The Game of Thrones cast wasn’t just famous—it was staggeringly well-compensated, with some actors earning more per episode than most people earn in a year. Beyond the salaries, there are casting secrets, real-life romances, and behind-the-scenes drama that even hardcore fans might not know.

Main Stars: Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington ·
Key Roles: Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister, Jon Snow ·
Seasons: 8 ·
Notable Sites: IMDB, Wikipedia

Who is the highest paid actor in Game of Thrones?

The crown for highest-paid Game of Thrones actor goes to the select few who commanded $1.07 million per episode during the final season. According to 2018 legal documents, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) earned this figure for at least six episodes of season 8 (Business Insider). The Hollywood Reporter reported that some main actors earned as much as $1.2 million per episode in the final series.

Highest salaries per episode

The salary trajectory tells a fascinating story. Before 2017, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau each made $300,000 per episode in 2014 (Business Insider). By 2017, the same core cast was earning $500,000 per episode—roughly $1.67 million per season at the standard 10-episode pace. Select actors then received an additional $200,000 raise, bringing some to $700,000 per episode before the final-season explosion.

Richest stars ranked

The “Tier A” stars—Clarke, Harington, Headey, Dinklage, and Coster-Waldau—commanded the highest salaries. Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark), and Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark) each earned $175,000 per episode as of 2019 (Business Insider). Cast members renegotiated their deals together halfway through season 7, following the Friends cast’s playbook for collective bargaining.

Who turned down the role of Daenerys?

Tamzin Merchant originally played Daenerys Targaryen in the unaired pilot before HBO ordered a reshoot with a new lead. Merchant, who had been cast in the initial pilot, was replaced by Emilia Clarke when the network decided to go in a different direction. This casting switch is one of the most notable role changes in the series’ history.

Tamzin Merchant’s original role

The original pilot, shot in 2009, featured Tamzin Merchant as the Mother of Dragons before David Benioff and D.B. Weiss made the call to recast. The reasons for the change were never fully disclosed, but the decision paved the way for Clarke’s iconic portrayal. Merchant later went on to star in shows like Carnivàle and The Magicians.

Who was the youngest actor in GoT?

Art Parkinson, who played Rickon Stark, holds the distinction of being the youngest main cast member. Born in 2001, he was approximately 10 years old when he began filming and around 13 by the time his character met its end in season 6. His brief but memorable appearances made him a fan favorite despite his limited screen time.

Art Parkinson details

Art Parkinson’s portrayal of the youngest Stark child gave viewers glimpses of the wolf-blood that defined his siblings. Though Rickon’s storyline was tragically short—ending abruptly in “The Winds of Winter”—Parkinson’s performance left an impression. He’s continued acting in projects like “Kubo and the Two Strings” voice work and the film “The Last Summer.”

Who from Game of Thrones married in real life?

Rose Leslie, who played Ygritte alongside Kit Harington’s Jon Snow, married the actor in real life in 2018. The couple met on the Game of Thrones set, where their characters’ passionate romance became one of the series’ most beloved storylines. Their wedding took place at a private estate in Scotland.

Rose Leslie connection

Rose Leslie’s relationship with Kit Harington began during filming of season 2, where their characters’ chemistry was palpable on screen. The actors maintained a relatively private relationship before announcing their engagement in 2017 and marrying the following year. Both have continued successful acting careers, with Leslie starring in “The Good Doctor” and Harington returning to television in “Eternals” and “The Eternal.”

Game of Thrones cast by season

The Game of Thrones cast evolved significantly across eight seasons, with some characters recast and others introduced as the story expanded. Tommen Baratheon, for instance, was played by two different actors: Callum Wharry in seasons 1-2 and Dean-Charles Chapman in seasons 4-6 (Screen Rant). Dean-Charles Chapman had previously appeared as Martyn Lannister in two episodes of season 3 before being cast as Tommen.

Season 1 cast

The inaugural season introduced audiences to the Stark family, the Lannisters, and the beginnings of Daenerys’ journey. Emilia Clarke debuted as Daenerys Targaryen, while Sean Bean commanded screens as Ned Stark. Peter Dinklage established Tyrion as a fan favorite, and Lena Headey began her legendary run as Cersei Lannister.

Season 2 cast

Season 2 brought the War of the Five Kings into full swing, introducing new cast members like Kit Harington as Jon Snow and Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister. Notably, Charles Dance was actually skinning a real deer during his first scene as Tywin—a detail that showcased the show’s commitment to gritty authenticity.

Season 6 cast

By season 6, the cast had grown to include dozens of recurring characters. Gwendoline Christie, standing 6’3″ tall, portrayed Brienne of Tarth, training with swords 3-4 days a week for two months to build stamina for her demanding fight scenes (Mix 97.1). Her opponent, Rory McCann (The Hound), is 6’6″ tall—giving their battles a genuinely towering presence.

Lannister actors

The Lannister family featured some of the show’s most memorable performances. Lena Headey as Cersei earned widespread acclaim, with audiences and fellow cast members claiming she delivered the best performance on the show (Giant Freakin Robot). Cersei was voted the most hated character by fans, and Headey faced online harassment and name-calling at conventions as a result.

Main characters table

The table below summarizes the core cast members who anchored the eight-season epic, with Peter Dinklage appearing in more episodes than anyone else.

Peter Dinklage’s four Emmy wins across seasons 1, 5, 7, and 8 cement his status as the series’ most decorated performer.

Casting secrets and trivia

The casting process behind Game of Thrones involved surprising decisions and close calls. Rory Jeor Rheon and Kit Harington were tied for the role of Jon Snow by the end of casting, but showrunners ultimately chose Harington (Bored Panda). Meanwhile, George R.R. Martin wrote Jack Gleeson a letter when the show started airing, congratulating him on his performance as Joffrey and noting, “Everyone hates you.”

What the cast said about the ending

Reflecting on the series finale, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau acknowledged the polarizing reaction while standing by his work. The actor who portrayed Jaime Lannister has been vocal about understanding fan disappointment while also expressing pride in the journey his character took.

— Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Peter Dinklage’s eight Emmy nominations and four wins cemented his legacy as one of television’s greatest performers. His ability to bring humanity to every scene made Tyrion resonate across cultures and demographics.

— Peter Dinklage

Summary

The Game of Thrones cast wasn’t just a collection of talented actors—they became a financial phenomenon that reshaped television salaries. Peter Dinklage’s 61 episodes and four Emmy wins established him as the series’ most decorated performer, while Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s $1.07 million per episode in the final season represented the apex of the cast’s earning power. For Kit Harington, the journey from $300,000 per episode in 2014 to $500,000 by 2017 reflects how starring in a global phenomenon transforms an actor’s market value overnight.

Related reading: Cast of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness · What We Do in the Shadows – Complete Guide to Cast and Seasons

Beyond salaries and trivia, the cast evolution across seasons reveals how Game of Thrones’ ensemble transformed from fresh faces into television legends over eight riveting seasons.

Frequently asked questions