Liam Cunningham Biography

Fast Facts

• Performed across the United States with a traveling Irish stage group before landing prominent roles of other American films such as "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" and "Clash of the Titans․"
• Gained major American prominence after joining HBO's "Game of Thrones" in season two
• Never having an interest in acting as a child, he dropped out of school at age 15 to pursue a career as an electrician
• Quote: "[Regarding "Game of Thrones"] "To do the show justice, it had to have the violence, sexiness and intrigue․ It wouldn't have worked on cable or on film․ The story is very intricate․ It needs at least 10 episodes a year․""
• Quote: "[On fans' reaction to his casting on "Game of Thrones"] The fans judged me before they saw me․ There's a real sense of ownership about the series which the writers are very aware of․ So they're very careful about who they are [casting]․"
• After appearing in several small stage productions, he gained more fame for his supporting role in 1996's "Jude" starring Kate Winslet and Christopher Eccleston
• Dissatisfied with the monotony of electrical work, he considered acting as a profession after seeing an advertisement for acting school in his hometown
• Admits being cast in "Game of Thrones" was intimidating at first because he has always been a huge fan of the novel series
• His character for "Game of Thrones" originally lost a finger on his left hand in the novels, but this was changed to his right hand because he is naturally left-handed
• Spent three years in Zimbabwe in the 1980s working as an electrician at an African safari park