There are several actors who appear in both theGame of ThronesandLord of the Ringsfranchises, lending their talents to the two biggest titles in fantasy media. Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringsmoviespredate the popularity ofGame of Thronesby over a decade, and it made sense for HBO to target actors from recognizable fantasy and historical fiction titles when developing their series. For example, Lena Headey was best known for her role in300, Peter Dinklage appeared inThe Chronicles of Narnia, and Sean Bean famously played Boromir inLord of the Rings.
In the aftermath ofGame of Thronesand the originalLord of the Ringstrilogy, both franchises have expanded with prequel spinoffs.House of the DragonandThe Rings of Powerhave continued the trend of casting actors from the opposite franchise. After all, finding actors for period dramas is incredibly difficult, and these titles are known for doing an excellent job of finding the right talent to bring iconic book characters to life. Six actors appeared in titles from both franchises, including specifically named characters rather than extras.
5Sean Bean
Ned Stark & Boromir
The Actor:Sean Bean is an English actor primarily known for his supporting roles in various movies and TV shows. In the 1990s, he rose to prominence as the lead in the British seriesSharpe.
In Game Of Thrones:Sean Bean played Ned Stark, the lead role in the first season ofGame of Thrones. Though he only had a brief tenure in the series, he remains one of the most memorable and iconic characters in television history. Ned Stark’s death ultimately changed the landscape of what audiences could come to expect in the modern age of TV.
In Lord Of The Rings:InThe Fellowship of the Ring, Sean Bean played Boromir, the son of the Steward of Gondor. Though ultimately a hero who sacrifices himself to protect the hobbits, Boromir is a conflicted character who finds himself subject to the allure of the One Ring.
Jaime Lannister’s The Winds Of Winter Story Will Prove Game Of Thrones Right
Jaime Lannister’s ending is one of the most divisive aspects of Game of Thrones season 8, but The Winds of Winter will likely prove the show right.
4Joseph Mawle
Benjen Stark & Adar
The Actor:Joseph Mawle is an English character actor who’s appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows since the early 2000s. His most notable roles includeThe HallowandRipper Street.
In Game Of Thrones:Joseph Mawle played Benjen Stark mostly in season 1 ofGame of Thrones. He’s the First Ranger of the Night’s Watch who supports Jon Snow when he seeks to join the order. Benjen goes missing beyond the Wall early in season 1 and doesn’t return until much later, where he’s discovered to be partially undead but still sentient.
In Lord Of The Rings:InThe Rings of Powerseason 1, Joseph Mawle plays theoriginal character, Adar. He was an Elf who was corrupted by Morgoth, turning him into an Uruk. He becomes a leader of the Orcs in the Second Age, making him a direct rival to Sauron.
3Robert Aramayo
Young Ned Stark & Elrond
The Actor:Robert Aramayo is a young actor who’s been working for a little over a decade, appearing in tiles likeNocturnal Animals,The King’s Man, andAntebellum.
In Game Of Thrones:Aramayo plays a younger version of Ned Stark who’s seen in visions during seasons 6 and 7. When Bran Stark becomes the Three-Eyed Raven, he looks into the past and sees this version of Ned at the Tower of Joy. While only playing a minor role in the series, Aramayo is in one of the most memorable scenes of the series, which revealed Jon Snow’s parentage for the first time.
In Lord Of The Rings:In Prime Video’sThe Rings of Powercast, Aramayo plays Elrond. Hugo Weaving previously played the role in Peter Jackson’s movies, so Robert Aramayo plays a younger, more hopeful interpretation of the character. Elrond has been one of the show’s main characters in both seasons.
2Ciarán Hinds
Mance Rayder & The Dark Wizard
The Actor:Ciarán Hinds is an Irish actor who’s been contributing phenomenal performances to film and television for decades. Aside from his fantasy performances, he’s known for movies likeThere Will Be BloodandBelfast, as well as TV shows likeRomeandThe Terror.
In Game Of Thrones:Ciarán Hinds plays Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall, in a recurring role between seasons 3 and 5. He unites the largest force of Wildlings the North has ever seen and leads an assault on Castle Black before Stannis Baratheon intervenes.
In Lord Of The Rings:InThe Rings of Powerseason 2, Hinds joins the cast asthe mysterious Dark Wizard, an antagonist who leads a cult in the land of Rhûn. Season 2 set him up to be a villain working against Gandalf, and he’s likely one of the Istari.
Game Of Thrones: The Fates Of The Stark Direwolves Explained
The Stark direwolves were a memorable and underused part of Game of Thrones, but what happened to them? Here’s where every direwolf ended up in GoT.
1Graham McTavish
Harold Westerling & Dwalin
The Actor:Graham McTavish is a Scottish character actor who’s appeared in several prominent titles, includingCreed,Outlander, and AMC’sPreacher.
In Game Of Thrones:Graham McTavish appears in season 1 ofHouse of the Dragonas Harold Westerling, a knight of the Kingsguard and Rhaenyra Targaryen’s personal sentry. When the Greens usurp the Iron Throne in season 1, he storms off out of loyalty to Rhaenyra. However, he doesn’t return in season 2.
In Lord Of The Rings:In Peter Jackson’sThe Hobbittrilogy, Graham McTavish plays the dwarf Dwalin. Though he doesn’t have much specific characterization, he’s present in all three movies as a supporting protagonist.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
