11 Unexpected Insights About Peter Dinklage

From the medieval realms of Game of Thrones to the quiet charm of The Station Agent, and even the whimsical world of Elf, Peter Dinklage stands out as a unique talent. With a blend of resilience, emotional depth, and a striking mane of hair, he has brought to life numerous unforgettable characters, each infused with his signature dry wit. Remarkably, he also navigated the perilous eight-season journey through Westeros unscathed.

1. Peter Dinklage discovered his passion for acting in fifth grade.

Born on June 11, 1969, in Morristown, New Jersey, Dinklage first stepped into the spotlight during a fifth-grade production of The Velveteen Rabbit. “That first solo bow is something special,” Dinklage shared with People. He also cited Sam Shepard’s True West, which he saw in 1984, as a pivotal moment that solidified his decision to pursue acting.

2. His childhood neighbor was Bruce Springsteen's manager.

Growing up in Brookside, New Jersey, Dinklage lived next door to The Boss’s manager, which meant Springsteen often played guitar just a stone's throw away. Dinklage’s parents even attended a wedding at a surfboard factory where Springsteen performed, though they later remarked that his music was “too loud.”

3. He stood firm against stereotypical roles, even during financial struggles.

During his early days in a rat-infested New York City apartment, Dinklage faced offers to portray elves and leprechauns. However, he rejected these roles on principle, despite the financial strain. His perseverance eventually led to groundbreaking roles like the one in Elf, which defied stereotypes. Even when Game of Thrones approached him, he was cautious, aware of how dwarves were typically depicted in fantasy. “[Tyrion Lannister] completely subverted those expectations,” he told The New York Times in 2012. “No beard, no pointy shoes—just a complex, romantic, and deeply human character."

4. He once played in a punk-funk-rap band.

What does a punk-funk-rap fusion sound like? It’s hard to describe, but Dinklage’s band, Whizzy, performed at CBGB, where he acquired the distinctive scar on his face. "I was leaping around onstage and accidentally got kneed in the temple," he told Playboy. "I felt like Sid Vicious, bleeding profusely on stage. Blood was everywhere. I grabbed a dirty bar napkin, pressed it to my head, and kept performing. Safety wasn’t exactly our top priority."

5. His mother predicted he’d lose the Golden Globe to Guy Pearce.

Before heading to the 2012 Golden Globes, where he was nominated for Game of Thrones, Dinklage chatted with his mom in New Jersey. She told him, “Enjoy yourself, but have you seen Mildred Pierce? Guy Pearce is incredible. He’s going to win.” Dinklage humorously reflected on how mothers have a way of keeping us grounded.

6. He’s a passionate advocate for vegetarianism.

Dinklage has embraced a vegetarian lifestyle since he was young and leverages his celebrity status to champion animal rights. He even urged Game of Thrones fans to avoid adopting Huskies after the breed’s popularity—and subsequent abandonment rates—skyrocketed due to the show’s depiction of dire wolves.

7. He had a unique approach to reading his Game of Thrones scripts.

He would read them in reverse. “When I receive the scripts, my first step is to flip to the final page of the last episode and work my way backward to see if my character makes it through,” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2017.

8. He appeared in the same film on two separate occasions.

In Death at a Funeral, Dinklage portrayed Peter, an American who shocks a family by appearing at their patriarch’s funeral and revealing he was the deceased’s lover. Directed by Frank Oz, the 2007 film boasted a talented ensemble of British actors and was so well-received that it inspired an American remake. Dinklage reprised his role in the remake, this time under Neil LaBute’s direction and alongside an entirely new cast.

9. The sword fights in Game of Thrones didn’t give Dinklage a sense of heroism.

While many actors might feel invincible wielding a sword on screen, Dinklage found the experience less than glamorous. “The fight scenes are all an illusion,” he told Playboy in 2013. “You’re mostly trying to avoid getting hit in the eye with a sword, wishing you were wearing a welding helmet.” He emphasized this by describing a scene where his character severed a knight’s leg, which involved swinging a blunt sword at a 70-year-old amputee.

10. Dinklage witnessed the death of a stranger.

While walking down Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles one morning, Dinklage locked eyes with a motorcyclist who pulled into traffic, was struck by a car, and died instantly. “It was early, so the streets were empty,” he told Esquire. “For a brief moment, it felt like I was the only person in the world who knew this man had just died."

11. He stands alone as the only Game of Thrones actor to win an Emmy for his performance.

From 2011 to 2019, Dinklage received eight Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones—one for every season. He won the award four times (in 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2019), making him the sole cast member to achieve this honor, despite frequent nominations for co-stars like Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey, Kit Harington, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Diana Rigg.