Every Harry Potter Actor In Game Of Thrones | Screen Rant
Harry Potter and Game of Thrones shared a lot in common, including their casts. Here's every actor that appeared in both popular franchises.
The Harry Potter films held many similarities with Game of Thrones., including a number of actors who appeared in both. The two are live-action series based on popular book series, but they both also focused on a fantasy world that gained a loyal following. Largely filmed in the U.K, both have casts that represent a who's who of British talent.
The Harry Potter movie franchise was based on the popular YA books by author J.K. Rowling. Warner Bros. transformed the magical tale into an eight-film series with the first being 2001's Harry Potter and the Philosoopher's Stone. The live-action adaptations didn't come to an end until a decade later in 2011. That same year, HBO launched Game of Thrones, an epic fantasy series based on the books by George R.R. Martin. After becoming one of the most popular shows in recent memory, Game of Thrones came to an end in 2019 after season 8.
To keep cashing in on the popularity of the Harry Potter franchise, a spinoff prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them went into development. The series is gearing up to debut its third installment in 2021. Similarly, Game of Thrones has a prequel on the way titled House of the Dragon, which could include many more Wizarding World veterans. Here are all of the other actors that Game of Thrones shared in common with the Harry Potter movies.
Harry Potter fans would recognize Natalia Tena for portraying Nymphadora Tonks. The character was introduced in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and appeared in the next three installments in the film adaptations. Tonks was a half-blood witch and a Metamorphmagus who worked undercover at the Ministry of Magic while a member of the Order of the Phoenix. She and her husband, Remus Lupin, died during the Battle of Hogwarts. Just before the premiere of the final Harry Potter movie, Tena was seen in Game of Thrones. She joined the series to play Osha, a Free Folk woman who served House Stark. When Ramsay Bolton launched a siege in Winterfell during season 2, Osha helped Bran and Rickon Stark evade capture. She was eventually killed by Ramsay in the show's sixth season.
Jim Broadbent appeared in two Harry Potter movies as Professor Horace Slughorn. The character was a Potions Master and the former Head of Slytherin who went into hiding when Lord Voldemort resurfaced. Slughorn felt guilty about mentoring a young Tom Riddle, especially when it came to the topic of Horcruxes. The professor later returned to Hogwarts and fought for the institution during the Battle of Hogwarts. In Game of Thrones, Broadbent portrayed Archmaester Ebrose, a character introduced in season 7. He primarily interacted with Samwell Tarly at the Citadel and helped treat Jorah Mormont's Greyscale.
Michelle Fairley only had a minor role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 but it was heavily connected to one of the core characters. The actress played Mrs. Granger, the Muggle mother of Hermione. To protect both of her parents from Death Eaters, Hermione wiped their memories until she knew it was safe to reunite with family. Fairley played a much more prominent role in Game of Thrones, portraying Catelyn Stark, the former member of House Tully and the matriarch of House Stark. Catelyn tried to keep her children safe after the death of her husband, Ned Stark, and even acted as an advisor to her eldest son, Robb, when he took over as King of the North. In the end, their enemies got the upper hand and she was killed during the infamous Red Wedding.
David Bradley appeared in every Harry Potter film except for Deathly Hallows – Part 1. The actor played the role of Argus Filch, the Squib caretaker of Hogwarts. The unpleasant man wandered the halls with his cat, Mrs. Norris, and tried to catch students breaking the rules. During the Battle of Hogwarts, Filch helped many students escape to safety. Before the Harry Potter series came to an end, Bradley joined Game of Thrones to play Walder Frey. The head of House Frey memorably backstabbed the Starks with his assistance in helping to orchestrate the Red Wedding. In season 6, Walder and his sons met their deaths when Arya Stark avenged the murder of her mother and brother.
Harry Potter fans might not recognize Julian Glover's face but he was involved with a memorable character in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The legendary actor lent his voice for Aragog, the Acromantula owned by Hagrid. The giant magical spider had the ability to talk which was how he told Harry the truth about the basilisk. Following his time working on Harry Potter, Glover joined Game of Thrones as Grand Maester Pycelle. The character appeared in 31 total episodes over the course of the first six seasons. Pycelle, who served multiple kings, was loyal to House Lannister until he was stabbed to death by Qyburn's little birds before Cersei Lannister's trial.
As the case with Julian Glover, even diehard Harry Potter fans probably wouldn't recognize Ian Whyte's role in the franchise. Technically, the actor's face wasn't shown in the films but his 7-foot-1 body was used as the body shots for Madame Olympe Maxime, the headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic introduced in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Frances de la Tour also portrayed the character in the film series. Whyte went on to join Game of Thrones where he played multiple characters. Throughout the show's eight seasons, the actor played a White Walker, Gregor Glegane, Dongo the Giant, Wun Wun, and another giant.
Freddie Stroma first joined the Harry Potter franchise in 2009's Half-Blood Prince. He played Cormac McLaggen, an arrogant member of Gryffindor who played on the house's Quidditch team. He was also a member of the Slug Club and remained at Hogwarts to fight for his school in the big battle. Stroma was later cast as Dickon Tarly for Game of Thrones season 6. Though he was younger then his brother Sam, Dickon was the heir of House Tarly. Due to scheduling conflicts, the role of Dickon was recast with Tom Hopper ahead of season 7.
Ciarán Hinds played Aberforth Dumbledore, the younger brother of Albus, for both parts of Death Hallows after Jim McManus played the character in Order of the Phoenix. Aberforth was the owner of Hog's Head Inn and wound up helping Harry, Ron, and Hermione during their Horcrux hunt. Hinds later joined Game of Thrones for three seasons as Mance Rayder, a former member of the Night's Watch who turned into an enemy after becoming the leader of the Free Folk. The "King-Beyond-the-Wall" later formed an allegiance with Jon Snow but was taken prisoner when Stannis Baratheon arrived at Castle Black. Before he could be burned alive in season 5, Jon shot Rayder with an arrow through the heart to end his suffering.
Nicholas Blane: The actor played Bob, the bearded wizard, and co-worker of Arthur Weasley in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In Game of Thrones, Blane portrayed the Spice King, a member of the Thirteen in season 2 that was killed by Pyat Pree in Qarth.
Ralph Ineson: In multiple Harry Potter installments, Ralph Ineson played Dark wizard Amycus Carrow, a Death Eater who served as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for a brief time. The actor then played Dagmer Cleftjaw, a raider loyal to House Greyjoy in Game of Thrones season 2.
Bronson Webb: After playing Pike, a friend of Draco Malfoy and fellow member of Slytherin, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Bronson Webb portrayed Will, the member of the Night's Watch who deserted his post in the Game of Thrones pilot before being executed by Ned Stark.
Sally Mortemore: The actress portrayed Irma Pince, the short-tempered librarian at Hogwarts Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. She then played a Braavosi woman in the Game of Thrones season 6 episode titled "The Door."
Edward Tudor-Pole: After playing Mr. Borgin, the co-owner of Borgin and Burkes, as seen in a deleted scene from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Edward Tudor-Pole portrayed a protestor in the Game of Thrones season 2 episode titled "The Ghost of Harrenhal."
Daniel Tuite: The actor was credited for playing the "Skinny Ministry Wizard" in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. He managed to score a bigger role in Game of Thrones season 6 by taking on the part of Lothar Frey who was previously played by Tom Brooke.