“Game of Thrones” is filled with well-known actors and has seen a ton of cameos from musicians throughout its run. But a few also have other jobs, and some are pretty well-known for their non-Westeros roles. Here are 10 “Game of Thrones” actors who aren’t just actors.
“Ser Ilyn Payne”: Wilko Johnson, guitarist
Ser Ilyn, the tongueless executioner known as the King’s Justice, was played by guitarist and songwriter Wilko Johnson. He’s best known for playing in punk band Dr Feelgood in the 1970s, and had a big influence on the punk movement and on music in general.
“Grey Worm”: Jacob Anderson, singer
When he’s not leading Daenerys’ army of Unsullied troops, Jacob Anderson is pursuing a music career as a singer and songwriter. He performs under the name Raleigh Ritchie, and his debut album, “You’re a Man Now, Boy,” was released in 2016. It got good reviews too.
“The Mountain”: Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, strongman
The third and current actor to play the Mountain That Rides, Gregor Clegane, is a real-life professional strongman from Iceland. He’s taken part in the World’s Strongest Man competition several times, most recently in 2016. He (just barely) came in second. Oh and before that, he was a professional basketball player in Iceland.
“Bronn”: Jerome Flynn, one half of pop group Robson & Jerome
Jerome Flynn has had a prolific acting career, but he also briefly burned up the UK charts in the 1990s and had three No. 1 hits as half of pop duo Robson & Jerome. Along with actor Robson Green, the pair performed the song “Unchained Melody” on their show “Soldier Soldier,” and parlayed the boost to stardom into two No. 1 studio albums.
“The Hound”: Rory McCann, carpenter
Actor Rory McCann is a versatile guy. Although prolific before his role as Sandor “The Hound” Clegane, he wasn’t quite a superstar before the show. So after shooting a Viking drama in Iceland, he found acting roles a bit sparse — and turned to carpentry while living in the country in the meantime. The Hound’s Season 6 turn helping build a sept wasn’t too big a stretch, as it happens.
“The Red Woman”: Carice van Houten, musician
Stannis Baratheon’s questionable counselor is an award-winning Dutch actress, but Carice van Houten also works as a singer. She provided vocals for four songs in the Dutch film “Black Book” in which she starred. (She won a Golden Calf Award for Best Actress from the Netherlands Film Festival for her role.) She also produced a couple of albums in the Netherlands as a singer and songwriter.
“Mag the Mighty”: Ian Whyte, basketball player
Part of being a 7-foot-1 actor means you always have a role on “Game of Thrones,” and Ian Whyte has played White Walkers, giants, and even The Mountain before Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson took over. Before he was an actor and stuntman taking all the tallest roles, Whyte was a pro basketball player for a British team, the Newcastle Eagles.
“Hodor”: Kristian Nairn, DJ
Although he’s well-known now as the stable boy at Winterfell and Bran Stark’s protector, “Game of Thrones” was actually Kristian Nairn’s first acting credit. His usual day job (or night job) is as a progressive house DJ, and he’s pretty prolific. With “Game of Thrones” fame at his back, he went on a tour in 2014 through the U.S. and Australia, titled, “Rave of Thrones.”
“Daario Naharis”: Michiel Huisman, singer and guitarist
As Dutch actor Michiel Huisman’s acting career was getting going in the early 2000s, he was also part of the band Fontane, serving as singer and guitarist. The band had a few singles in its three or four years of existence, before it broke up and Huisman continued as a solo act through mid-2000s.
“Khal Drogo”: Jason Momoa, model
This one seems kind of obvious. Before he was Khal Drogo and on his way to becoming Aquaman, Jason Momoa was a model in his native Hawaii. In fact, he won Hawaii’s Model of the Year award in 1999.
“Hot Pie”: Ben Hawkey, actual baker
Arya Stark made a friend in her former King’s Landing bully, a kid everyone called Hot Pie, early in the show. Eventually, Hot Pie left Arya and pal Gendry when he landed a spot working in the kitchens at the Inn at the Crossroads, pursuing his real calling: baking. Hawkey’s doing the same thing in real life. He opened a bakery called “You Know Nothing, John Dough,” where he serves direwolf-shaped bread — just like in the show.
Need more “Game of Thrones?” Take a guess at where the series is going with our Fan Theories gallery.
Or get grossed out all over again with the Best Remixes of Samwell Tarley’s “Soup and Poop” montage.
