15+ Aspects of Peter Dinklage’s Life That Make Us Love Him Even More

Tyrion Lannister, one of the strongest and most iconic characters on Game of Thrones and one of the most beloved in the entertainment world, became a turning point in the career of Peter Dinklage, a New Jersey actor who knew how to give the youngest son of the House Lannister the right measure of drama, comedy, arrogance and sarcasm.

Today the awesome.club wants to talk about some aspects of Peter Dinklage’s life that prove that the character Tyrion Lannister is just a detail in the life of this charismatic actor.

George R. R. Martin, author of the book series on which the Game of Thrones series is based, said that from the beginning of the project the first and only actor choice to play Tyrion was Peter Dinklage; he just couldn’t imagine the role being played by someone else.

Peter had previously worked with Lena Headey on the film The Death of Pete Smalls and the two became good friends. When given the opportunity to work on Game of Thrones, he convinced the producers that Lena had what it took to play her sister in fiction, and that’s exactly what happened.

Peter does not eat meat and in an interview he made the following statement: “I like animals, all of them. I would be incapable of hurting a cat or a dog, a chicken or a cow, and I would not ask someone else to do it for me. That’s why I’m a vegetarian.” The actor has worked with some animal protection organizations. On a more personal note, it’s worth mentioning that he has a dog named Kevin with whom he occasionally walks through the streets of Manhattan, New York.

When Peter has to eat meat on camera, he usually uses a tofu-based product.

Amazingly, acting isn’t the only art form in Peter Dinklage’s life. During the 90’s he was the leader of a punk band called Whizzy. Once, while jumping on stage during a show, the actor had an accident that left a scar that runs from his neck to his eyebrow as a souvenir. But when it all happened, he just wiped the blood off and continued singing.

In an interview, the actor admitted that he likes Batman a lot: “He doesn’t have superpowers, he’s just a person, and he’s really dark.” Peter said that Christopher Nolan’s Batman movie trilogy is the best superhero movie ever and revealed that he would love to be part of a character-related project, especially if he could play the role of villain.

Peter never accepted roles that put his height as an element of humor, and so he turned down some elf and gnome roles, even those that promised would pay big money. He worked for a long time before playing Tyrion, the character that brought him more fame. However, even on this occasion he made a request: “No long beard and no pointy shoes”.

Peter has a very close circle of friends from film and theater in New York. They have known each other for some time and have worked together on several projects. Peter himself has said that artistic endeavors foster friendships that last forever, and that loyalty is a superior character trait.

Peter has a condition called “achondroplasia”, a form of dwarfism in which the body develops in a “normal” way, with the exception of the arms and legs. Interestingly, his parents and siblings do not have this condition, nor do his wife and children.

As Tyrion Lannister is one of the most iconic characters Peter has played to date, many people think he’s a huge fan of the story, but that’s not exactly true. In an interview with the David Letterman show, the actor said that the books are a little confusing and that to this day he hasn’t finished reading them all. “My character will probably be murdered on the show for saying that,” he joked shortly afterwards.

In an interview with the New York Times, Peter was asked if he intended to be the spokesperson for people with dwarfism, and he replied that that would be arrogant of him: “Everyone is different. Every person my size has a different life and deals with this situation in a different way. Just because apparently I’m comfortable with it, I can’t want to show others how they should live.”

Peter Dinklage worked hard to become an actor. He attended Bennington College in Vermont and moved to New York with a friend with whom he intended to start a theater company. The two lived in an apartment that vibrated every time the train passed over the bridge in the region. In order to pay the rent, they held parties.

Jonathan Dinklage, Peter’s brother, played the violin on film soundtracks and on albums by stars such as Rod Stewart and Amy Winehouse. Peter said that his brother is the real interpreter of the family, and that his passion for the violin was the only thing that stopped him from being an actor.

Peter always knew he would work as an actor and is now a respected stage actor. He has starred in original Broadway plays and has shared the stage with artists of the caliber of Meryl Streep. Furthermore, Peter is married to Erica Schmidt, a theater director with whom he has worked on a few projects.

Peter and his brother created puppet plays for their neighbors; they were, in fact, small musicals with “the loudest songs ever”. The two even made a version of Quadrophenia, a record by The Who, and built a small drum set out of tuna cans.

In 2007, Peter participated in the British comedy Death at Funeral playing the main antagonist (who was also called Peter). Interestingly, the film had an American remake in 2010 and Peter returned to play the same role, but this time he was named Frank.

Peter does his best to keep people from knowing too much about his private life, his wife and his children. In fact, he got married in secret in Las Vegas in 2005 before Game of Thrones fame. In addition, he keeps his two children out of the spotlight, which is why he decided to live with his family in a rural area outside New York.

Peter and his wife admire each other a lot, but respect their differences. While he prefers television as his acting space, she is passionate about theater. “She is very inspiring. She is definitely the artist in the family,” she commented. Peter also confessed that before meeting Erica, he sabotaged their relationships because, for him, his love was never returned. However, when he found the right person, he stopped behaving like before. “Anyone who has been lucky enough to experience a great love knows that it leaves you stuck. You don’t control how you feel, but you can choose what to do with that situation,” he commented.

Many people think that stature was an issue in their relationship, but that’s not true. “Peter is an incredibly handsome, charming and fun guy, and when he does photo shoots for a magazine he makes me say things like, ‘Isn’t it amazing that he’s only four feet tall?’ Well, this is Pete, and the world needs to get used to him,” his wife commented in an interview.

Peter’s eldest daughter was born in 2011, but to this day it has not been possible to find out her name or date of birth. The same is true of the actor’s son, who was supposedly born in 2017, but there is nothing that confirms this hypothesis. Even so, some media managed to extract a few words from the actor about paternity; the actor said that being a father is something “amazing, it really changes a person’s life”.

What aspects of Peter’s life caught your attention the most? And do you know other actors who, like him, like to stay out of the spotlight?