10 Surprising Game of Thrones Cameos You May Have Missed

The hit TV show “Game of Thrones” was a worldwide phenomenon, captivating audiences everywhere. Everyone wanted to be part of its magic, and it didn’t disappoint with a few surprising celebrity appearances early on as hidden references, known as Easter eggs. As the series progressed, some more prominent celebrity guest spots became noticeable, sparking debates among fans about their relevance. Some even criticized these appearances, joking that they were too eager to visit Westeros. Now, these celebrities have left an indelible mark on this blockbuster series, ensuring they’ll be there for every re-watch in the future. Here are 10 standout celebrity cameos from “Game of Thrones,” including a few you might have forgotten about.

From 2011 until 2019, the TV series “Game of Thrones” captivated viewers on HBO, surpassing the network’s expectations and reaching an unprecedented level of popularity. The show has been recognized as the era’s top ratings juggernaut, and its influence on the fantasy genre is still felt today. Countless streaming platforms and production studios are striving to replicate its success. Reflecting on its impact, it’s challenging to quantify just how far its reach extended; however, the number of celebrity cameos offers a telling indication. These appearances ranged from musicians, athletes, politicians, and other influential figures who sought a brief spotlight on the show’s set.

Currently, you can watch “Game of Thrones” and its prequel series “House of the Dragon” on Max. Another prequel titled “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is set to debut later this year. Here’s a list of 10 notable celebrity appearances in the original series.

Former President George W. Bush

In the Season 1 finale of the series, one of the earliest and debatable appearances occurred, with Ned Stark’s decapitated head displayed on a spike outside King’s Landing. If you look closely, the head on the left was initially designed to resemble former President George W. Bush. This detail might have gone unnoticed by many viewers as it wasn’t widely publicized when the episode first aired. However, the showrunners, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, mentioned this in the DVD commentary track.

Following that incident, HBO, Benioff, and Weiss issued an apology in public. They explained that their portrayal wasn’t driven by any political agenda but rather because of the ease of obtaining affordable prosthetics for filming purposes. The scene has been omitted from re-runs, streaming platforms, and future print versions, making it hard to find.

Will Champion

In contrast to the memorable “Red Wedding” event in Season 3, Episode 9 of Game of Thrones, which is often recalled, you may not remember it for the brief appearance of Coldplay’s drummer, Will Champion. During the feast at House Frey’s great hall, Champion played percussion as part of the minstrel band, and he even had a close-up when they started playing “The Rains of Castamere.

Sigur Rós & Of Monsters and Men

Initially, musicians were frequently given opportunities to appear on “Game of Thrones”, since the show often required bards and minstrels in significant scenes. The Icelandic indie band Sigur Rós were the first to receive this recognition in Season 4, Episode 2, as they performed at the wedding of Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell – an event famously known as “The Purple Wedding.

In a different scene, the indie band from Iceland known as Of Monsters and Men made an appearance as a separate troupe of musicians, appearing twice within the series. Their first performance was in Season 6, Episode 5, titled “The Door”, set in Braavos. They were portrayed as the musicians accompanying the actors that Arya observes during their performance depicting the power struggles in Westeros. They reappeared in the following episode, allowing Arya to develop a closer relationship with the actors.

Royd Tolkien

For passionate fantasy enthusiasts, perhaps the most noteworthy guest appearance might have been that of J.R.R. Tolkien’s great-grandson, who appeared in Season 5, Episode 8, “Hardhome.” He portrayed one of the Wildlings residing in the impending village, but due to his absence afterward, it remains uncertain if his character survived.

Mastodon

Mastodon, the heavy metal group, made not one but two appearances on “Game of Thrones”, however, these appearances were spaced out this season. The showrunner, David Benioff, who is a fan of theirs, extended the invitation. Their debut was as wights in the episode “Hardhome”. They reappeared in the Season 7 finale, which aligns with the plot since the White Walkers can resurrect the same dead soldiers multiple times.

Steve Love

comedian Steve Love from Canada was receiving considerable viewership on YouTube for his impersonations of Game of Thrones characters. Eventually, HBO noticed him and invited him to appear in Season 6, Episode 8 as a member of the Brotherhood Without Banners. Not only that, but Love also got to do a media tour, sharing his experiences on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and other platforms.

Ed Sheeran

Among all cameos, perhaps none has sparked as much debate as Ed Sheeran’s role in the Season 7 premiere. The famous singer-songwriter portrayed a Lannister soldier who interacted extensively with Arya Stark and even performed a lengthy campfire song. This prolonged scene, complete with music, was a point of contention for some viewers, who believed that it consumed valuable screen time that could have been allocated to the main plot. Given the reduced running time in these final two seasons, this issue becomes more pronounced.

Rob McElhenney and Martin Starr

In the debut of its final season, actors Rob McElhenney from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Martin Starr from Silicon Valley appeared as guests on Game of Thrones. They portrayed two Ironborn guards protecting Yara Greyjoy, but their performance was less than stellar. Unfortunately for them, they met a grisly end when Theon and his troops arrived to save Yara; both characters were brutally killed.

Although these scenes seemed prominent initially, many viewers failed to spot McElhenney and Starr when the episode premiered for the first time. It was only after they highlighted their cameos on social media that people began to notice them, leading to widespread complaints about the poor lighting in the show. This trend of overlooked appearances in high-end TV productions is still prevalent today.

CIA Deputy Director David S. Cohen

It might come as a shock that David S. Cohen, a former high-ranking official at the CIA, made an appearance in a cameo role. In the series, he was portrayed as one of the civilians in Winterfell, busy preparing for the impending attack by the White Walkers. The specifics of how this partnership emerged remain unclear – perhaps it involves some secret operations – but both Cohen and the CIA have shared news of this collaboration on their social media platforms.

Aaron Rodgers

Ultimately, NFL star Aaron Rodgers made an appearance in the second-to-last episode of the series, specifically as a soldier within the Golden Company – a hired mercenary force serving under Queen Cersei to shield her from Daenerys. This was prior to Rodgers gaining notoriety for his political and social comments, although some viewers deemed this guest role unnecessary. Interestingly, author George R.R. Martin, known for his strong opinions about American football, chose not to voice his thoughts on Rodgers’ cameo.

As a passionate fan, I’m thrilled to share that you can currently stream the epic saga of “Game of Thrones” on Max, not forgetting its spin-off series, “House of the Dragon.” Excitingly, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is set to premiere later this year exclusively on HBO and Max. George R.R. Martin’s captivating novels are readily available in print, digital, or audiobook formats, ensuring everyone can immerse themselves in this extraordinary world!

2025-02-06 06:10