Peter Dinklage is an American actor, producer and musician who has come to global fame for his Emmy Award-winning portrayal of the witty and brilliant Tyrion Lannister in the incredibly popular HBO series Game of Thrones. Having started in a diverse array of theatre, film, and television roles since the mid-90s, Dinklage has since become one of the most recognizable and acclaimed actors of our age. Let’s explore more about this actor and his amazing performances.
Early Life
Peter Dinklage was born in Morristown, New Jersey in 1969, to a retired music teacher mother and an insurance salesman father. At a young age, he was diagnosed with a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia. He attended Delbarton School and Bennington College, majoring in drama, and emphasizing painting with professors Anna Lok and Lawrence Dooley. After graduating, Dinklage moved to New York City to pursue acting.
Theatre Career and Early Acting Roles
Throughout the mid-90s, when he was still an unknown actor, Dinklage starred in a successful series of Off-Off-Broadway plays, primarily at the Manhattan-based spunky theatre company, the Chotto Oide theatre collective. He also tried his hand in the big-budget 1994 film Living in Oblivion, co-starring Steve Buscemi and Catherine Keener.
Soon, Dinklage secured parts in popular television shows such as the Law &Order franchise, Seinfeld, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and even an uncredited role in the Steve Buscemi directed film, Trees Lounge. His road to fame came when he played the recurring role of Trumpkin in the 2003 film version of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Landing the Role of Tyrion Lannister
It was in 2007 that Dinklage was cast as the powerful, but often-underrated, Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones for HBO. From the start, Dinklage was attracted to the part, especially because he “[saw] a lot of himself in the character.” It was the complexity and strong character of Lannister that increasingly attracted him. In voicing the hopes of many Game of Thrones fans, he stated “the more powerful Tyrion gets, the better.”
Significant Impact of Playing Tyrion Lannister
From the start of the series, Tyrion Lannister emerged as a fan-favorite character. His witty one-liners combined with a deep understanding of his character’s plight made him a truly remarkable on-screen presence. His lines in the iconic trial scene, “The things I do for love” and “I will not give my life for Joffrey’s murder… and I know I’ll get no justice here” remains around today as pop culture references.
Dinklage was awarded three Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Lannister and was also eyed by the role of Wolverine in Marvel’s X-Men franchise because of his portrayal as Lannister. By playing Tyrion Lannister, Dinklage’s performance also helped bring dwarfism representation to a wider audience. He found it gratifying that young people with dwarfism wrote to him, saying how much it meant to them to have a “hero” like him.
Characteristics of Dinklage’s Acting
As a talented character actor, Peter Dinklage has displayed remarkable scenery-chewing power. In Game of Thrones, he encapsulated Tyrion with a warm, expressive and dry witted performance. His natural charisma and ability to play characters in difficult situations are some of the many qualities that have made him so successful.
Throughout his long career, Dinklage has been noted for taking unique, often risky, roles in low and middle budget films, successfully blending powerful, emotive acting with a comedic touch. His performance as the hapless Marty in the 2003 independent romantic comedy The Station Agent is a prime example of such a delicate blend. In other films, he has portrayed characters from a veteran soldier in the road movie Low and Behold to a struggling writer in the surreal comedy Death at a Funeral.
More Recent Projects
After the end of Game of Thrones, Dinklage’s profile has only increased. He co-starred with Kit Harrington in the revenge Western film The Eternals and he also lent his voice to the role of Mewtwo in the 22-minute anime epic Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution. His latest highly anticipated release is Netflix’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, in which he voices the Character Deet.
Beyond acting, Dinklage displays interest in music, as he has occasionally scored a few small films, as well as running as a small production company, Estuary filmmaking that he created with his wife. Dinklage is also involved in charity, being a Patron of the Little People of America organization and an ambassador for Save the Children.
Peter Dinklage: An International Icon
It has been more than two decades since Peter Dinklage has entered our lives as an actor and today, he is considered to be one of the most celebrated and successful actors of this era. His dedication, talent and acting skills were rewarded with two Golden Globe awards and four Emmy awards. He stands as a role model, not just for dwarfism representation and diversity in films, but also as an example of how to make it in the acting business. It’s no wonder that his legacy in Hollywood as Tyrion Lannister and other film roles will be remembered for many years to come.
From humble beginnings to becoming a global superstar, Peter Dinklage is one of the most recognizable and well-respected figures in Hollywood today. Aside from his five-time Emmy award winning performance as Tyrion Lannister in HBO’s Game of Thrones, Dinklage has also made major strides into the music and film industry with numerous award-winning films and voice roles. In addition, he has acted as a role model for dwarfism representation and opened doors for many diverse actors to follow in his footsteps. In conclusion, it is safe to say that the road of success which Peter Dinklage has traveled is well deserved.