10 Cool Facts About Peter Dinklage You Need to Know

Three years after Game Of Thrones first aired on HBO, it is hard to find a person who doesn’t know of Tyrion Lannister, played brilliantly by Peter Dinklage. Fans may also recall his breakout role in The Station Agent (2003). No longer just a novelty character actor, he is now a respected actor and bona fide star. Want to delve deeper into the person and actor who portrays the charismatic Lannister? Check out these 10 cool facts about Peter Dinklage and get in the know.

1. Dinklage Was The Author’s First And Only Choice

Nobody knows Tyrion Lannister better than the man who created him, Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin. When Martin saw Dinklage, he cast him instantly, not even bothering to try out any other actors. Not surprisingly, his choice proved to be a perfect fit. In fact, Dinklage went on to win both the Emmy and the Golden Globe for Supporting Actor in 2011.

2. Peter Loves Animals

Peter is extremely fond of animals. He has been a strict vegetarian since the age of 16. He is a supporter of Farm Sanctuary, an animal rights group, and has been their Walk for Farm Animals spokesperson in the past. He was also the voice behind a film promoting his vegan diet on ethical grounds called Face Your Food.

3. Dinklage Is a Theater Star Too

While making a name for himself in both the British and American film industries, Dinklage starred in a number of Off-Broadway productions like Richard III. Over the years, his list of fellow cast members has come to include a number of distinguished stars including Meryl Streep.

4. He Is Married To a Theatre Director

Peter married theater director Erica Schmidt in 2005. The couple had their first child, Zelig, in 2011, and the family currently resides in New York City.

5. He Has A Pretty Complex Ancestry

Dinklage’s heritage comes from Ireland, Germany and Britain. His surname derives from “von Dinclage”, the title of a German noble family hailing from the region of Westphalia. Perhaps the British side of his roots lent him the versatility required to master the accent of Tyrion Lannister.

6. He Has Been Honored By The New York Times

The impact of Tyrion Lannister in the Game Of Thrones TV adaptation inspired the New York Times to name Dinklage one of the 8 actors “who turn(ed) television into art”. That’s high praise. The icing on the cake? The honor came in the very year that the show was first aired.

7. He Suffers From Achondroplasia

It is pretty apparent that Dinklage suffers from dwarfism. However, few outside the medical community know that the actual form of dwarfism the actor has had since birth is called achodroplasia. The cause of achondroplasia is a gene mutation which causes improper growth of cartilage, which leads to the stunted growth.

8. He Refused Roles That Caricatured Short People

Even when he was struggling to make it in the TV industry and work was hard to come by, Dinklage refused a number of roles that he felt were demeaning to himself or to those suffering from dwarfism. His early work in Living In Oblivion (1995) showed him as a frustrated actor who disliked playing clichéd roles regarding his height.

9. He’s Collaborating With Sacha Gervasi On A Script

Dinklage has been working with screenwriter Sacha Gervasi on a script that focuses on the last days of fellow diminutive actor, Herve Villechaize. You may recall him as Tattoo in Fantasy Island. Called My Dinner With Herve, this collaborative effort has been in the making for some time now. We hope it gets the light soon.

10. Dinklage Acted In Death At A Funeral – Twice!

Dinklage portrayed the role of Peter in the 2007 British comedy film Death At A Funeral. Three years later, he also starred in the American remake of the film, this time as Frank.