Game Of Thrones: How Old Each Character Is Supposed To Be

Summary

• The ages of the
  Game of Thrones
  characters often differed from their book counterparts, leading to confusion and inconsistency in how old each character was meant to be.
• Many of the actors on the show were significantly older than their characters, with some being in their mid-30s while portraying characters in their early 20s.
• The aging of the characters, although noticeable, did not greatly impact the overall story and development of the show.

The Game of Thrones characters’ ages have been a big question since the beginning of the series as they differ significantly from George R.R. Martin’s books. As with most shows, the Game of Thrones actors age faster than the characters with many eventually being quite a lot older than their characters by the series finale, and this was especially obvious in the case of the teenage actors. While far from the biggest problem Game of Thrones‘ later seasons faced, this phenomenon did create some confusion and inconsistency with regard to how old each character was supposed to be.

Matters surrounding the Game of Thrones characters’ ages were complicated further by certain fan favorites varying considerably in age compared to their original book counterparts. Despite being a fantasy story, the Game of Thrones world heavily draws from 15th-century history, and this was a time when people married, fought, reproduced, and died at a much younger age than they do now. By the end of Game of Thrones, it was hard to determine how old each of the main characters was meant to be and how their age compared to their book counterparts.

Jon Snow – 16 Years Old

Book Age: 14

Beginning his quest into manhood by joining the Night’s Watch, Jon Snow is 16 when Game of Thrones begins. Around seven years pass over the course of the TV series, which means Jon would be in his mid-20s by the time of the Game of Thrones finale, while Kit Harington was 33 years old by the time the show ended. With Harington’s age and the many experiences Jon Snow faced over the course of the series, including dying and being resurrected, his character seemed older.

Jon actually has one of the smaller age differences compared to the books, as he is 14 at the beginning of the story. However, even that small difference helps to explain Jon’s petulant attitude in the early seasons. Though he rose to become one of the most beloved heroes of the series, there were many fans who were not as fond of Jon Snow in the early episodes of Game of Thrones. While still a teenager, his constant complaining about the unfair circumstances he found himself in was understandable for a 14-year-old.

Daenerys Targaryen – 16 Years Old

Book Age: 13

Daenerys Targaryen’s age closely mirrors Jon Snow’s. Although she is 13 in the novels when she is married off to Khal Drogo, the show rightfully saw the problematic nature of depicting such a young character in those situations in the early seasons. She was aged up to be 16 in the series which didn’t take away from the impact of her journey. Daenerys would then be 23 when she was killed by Jon Snow in the Game of Thrones finale and her body was carried away by Drogon.

However, the younger age might have made her eventual dark turn more tragic. Daenerys was still growing up when she became one of the most powerful figures in the world, thanks to her dragons and her growing army. Her young age in the book made it more harrowing to see everything she went through, but it also made her mistakes easier to forgive. While she has yet to burn King’s Landing in the books, it would likely take on a new tone with her being a confused young child at the helm of immense power.

Like her costar Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke was 25 when Game of Thrones debuted and was 33 years old when the show ended.

Tyrion Lannister – 32 Years Old

Book Age: 24

Tyrion’s age is one of the more confounding among the Game of Thrones character ages because he is confirmed to be the youngest of the Lannister children, but Peter Dinklage is older than both Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. In the show, he is depicted as being 32 years old at the start of Game of Thrones and nearing 40 when the show ended.

On the other hand, Peter Dinklage was 42 years old when the series began and 50 by the time it was over. To further complicate Tyrion’s age, his book counterpart is 24 at the beginning of the story, making for one of the more substantial age differences. However, Dinklage’s older age gives Tyrion a sense of experience and wisdom.

It is much easier to accept Tyrion as the younger sibling in the book, with Cersei treating him like a nuisance that needs to be done away with and Jaime having a protective outlook on him. In the show, they are seen more as contemporaries, which changes the dynamic somewhat and gives Tyrion the feeling that he is less of an underdog among them. However, the towering presence of Charles Dance’s Tywin Lannister helps to highlight Tyrion’s lowly place in the Lannister family.

Robb Stark – 16 Years Old

Book Age: 14

The younger ages of the Stark children are perhaps best felt with the character of Robb Stark. While all the Starks are forced to grow up quickly following the death of their father, Robb is meant to only be 16 years old in Game of Thrones when he leads the Northern armies and cements himself as a brilliant battle commander. More shockingly, Robb is only 14 in the books. At 25 when the show began, Richard Madden was more convincing as a military leader.

However, thinking how young Robb was when he died at the Red Wedding makes it even more heartbreaking. The book highlights this with Robb’s final moments feeling more like that of a scared young boy who is trying to come to grips with what is happening. Likewise, the mistakes Robb makes along the way, including mimicking his father’s misguided sense of honor, feel more like the actions of a foolish child rather than a seasoned warrior like he is depicted in the show.

The Stark Children – 13, 11 & 10 Years Old

Book Age: 11, 9, & 7

The ages of the Stark children in Game of Thrones made for some of the most noticeable age differences in the series. As is often the case with TV shows with young child casts, like Stranger Things, the young actors soon appear far too old to be playing their supposedly youthful characters. However, though hard to overlook, the aging didn’t impact the younger Stark children too badly.

Sansa is 13 when the series beginsand 20 when it ends, while Sophie Turner went from age 15 to age 23 over the course of the production. Arya Stark is 11 at the start of the show and 18 by the finale, with Maisie Williams going from 14 to 22. Bran is one year younger than Arya, meaning he becomes King at age 17 while Isaac Hempstead Wright was the youngest of the three actors, only 12 years old at the start of the series and 20 by its final season.

These ages all differ from their book counterparts, as Sansa was 11, Arya was 9, and Bran was 7 when the story began. While those younger ages give the characters a greater sense of innocence that is gradually shattered, given what each of the younger Stark siblings goes through over the course of the series, the fact that they seem so much older by the end seems fitting.

Sansa’s actions in the first season of Game of Thrones were unpopular with fans as she was dubbed “whiny” and “naive”. However, those are likely not complaints they would make about an 11-year-old. Indeed, Arya and Bran may be even younger in the books, but the show does a good job of capturing the necessary youth of the characters which makes their exposure to the brutalities of the world all the more harrowing.

Theon Greyjoy – 16 Years Old

Book Age: 18

When he’s first introduced as an adoptive son of the Stark family, he is around the same age as Jon and Robb, making Theon Greyjoy 16 or 17 years old. Theon is 24 years old when he dies in the Battle of Winterfell. Actor Alfie Allen was nearly a decade older when he started on the show at the age of 25.

In George R.R. Martin’s books, Theon Greyjoy is actually older than his on-screen counterpart as he starts A Song of Ice and Fire at around 18 or 19 years old. This rare age difference is actually beneficial in the show, as Theon’s younger age in the early seasons feeds into his misguided attempts to prove himself as a man and a warrior. Allen plays him as a young man trying to prove himself as something he is not and his youthfulness helps sell that.

Having Theon as an older character in the book makes his actions even more pathetic. His attempts to impress people come off as more annoying. However, that is the point with the character in the early book and it is all the more impressive that Martin is able to make him so unlikable yet later have the audience feel sorry for him.

Jaime & Cersei Lannister – 36 Years Old

Book Age: 31

As the Lannister twins, Jaime and Cersei are both 36 when Game of Thrones kicks off, reaching 43 by the final season when they die together under the Red Keep. Jaime and Cersei’s ages are some of the least problematic, with Lena Headey being only two years older than her character, while Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was 41 when the series began and 49 in its final season. The book counterparts of the Lannister twins were several years younger at the age of 31 when the story began.

Interestingly, the book plays more into their older age than the show. Cersei is later shown to be growing obsessive over her fading beauty, especially with the arrival of her new rival, Margaery Tyrell, in King’s Landing. Likewise, Jaime becomes more concerned with his own legacy as a knight, realizing he is nearer to the end of his career than the beginning. It offers an interesting vulnerability for both characters.

Tommen Baratheon – 8 Years Old

Book Age: 6

Tommen Baratheon is a Baratheon in name only, as he’s technically the illegitimate son of Jaime and Cersei Lannister. Tommen has one of the saddest arcs on Game of Thrones, becoming the king at a very young age and then taking his own life after his wife Margaery Tyrell is killed by his mother. In the books, he is only 8 years old when he becomes king and is married off to Margaery.

In the series, he starts off as 8 years old, and then Tommen kills himself when he is 14. Dean-Charles Chapman’s age was not that far off from his character’s while on GoT, as he was 16 during filming. Tommen is 6 years old in the books and his young age is referenced repeatedly when he becomes king. Though Tommen in the show was naive and controlled by others, his counterpart in the book makes it even more apparent how silly Westeros’ line of succession is.

At 6 years old, Tommen clearly doesn’t fully grasp the fact that he is king, being described as crying while sitting on the Iron Throne. While he is still alive in the books, his death does seem inevitable which suggests it will be even more tragic than it was in the show.

Ned & Catelyn Stark – 41 & 40 Years Old

Book Age: 34 & 33

Even with Ned & Catelyn Stark aged up from their original Game of Thrones character ages, producers still hired slightly older characters, perhaps to amplify the duo’s defining parental qualities. Ned Stark is 34 in the books, but Sean Bean was over 50 when playing the character in Game of Thrones season 1. As a way of explaining this, Ned Stark is made to be 41 in the show.

Catelyn’s age is known to be close to Ned’s, as she is 33 in the first book. The TV series follows suit in matching her age to Ned’s, as Catelyn Stark is 40 in the Game of Thrones show. Since Michelle Fairley is younger than Bean, her age more accurately represents her character, as she was 48 at the beginning of the series. This is likely the most effective instance of characters being aged up in the series.

While Ned and Catelyn are strong and stoic characters in the books, it is hard to imagine the characters coming off as impactful as Bean and Fairley did if they were younger. Both of the Stark parents make foolish decisions in the story, but that never really feels like a choice made out of ignorant youth, but rather the Stark’s naive outlook on the world and assumption that justice will be served.

Joffrey Baratheon – 16 Years Old

Book Age: 11

Arguably one of the best villains in Game of Thrones, Joffrey is surprisingly young for such a devious troublemaker in Martin’s books — a mere 12 years old. On-screen, Joffrey is a bit older, beginning Game of Thrones season 1 at 16 and dying around age 20. Like the other young actors, Jack Gleeson was a few years older than Joffrey when portraying the young Lannister king.

Unlike the Stark children and the Arya Stark age conundrum, however, Joffrey’s spoiled personality and immaturity may lead viewers to believe the character is actually younger than intended. The younger age in the book makes Joffrey’s sadistic behavior more disturbing while also giving him more sympathy when he dies at such a young age. However, Gleeson’s performance also helps to make the character seem younger while never losing his sense of brutality. Gleeson is never afraid to make Joffrey a whiny and immature child even as he is murdering people and threatening other unspeakable acts.

Jorah Mormont – 44 Years Old

Book Age: 44

Jorah Mormont is another one of the rare cases in which the ages of the Game of Thrones characters in the show and in the book align. When Jorah joins Daenerys’ services in the first season of the show, as well as at the beginning of the books, he is a seasoned warrior at the age of 44. Given the time he lived in Westeros and his years as a sellsword in Essos, his age suggests a long life already lived, while also making his love for Daenerys more uncomfortable.

Actor Iain Glen was 50 years old at the beginning of the show, adding to the more grizzled feel of Jorah while being able to convincingly play a slightly younger man. While the character is the same age in the two versions of the story, the books play up the age difference between him and Daenerys in disturbing ways.

It is true that Jorah harbors love for his queen in the show, even being jealous about every new lover she takes. However, he is more respectful in his love for her, becoming embarrassed whenever it is noticed. In contrast, Jorah in the books is more aggressive about it, even forcing a kiss on Daenerys at one point. This is made even worse by how young Daenerys is in the books.

The Brothers Clegane – 35 & 40 Years Old

Book Age: 28 & 35

Thanks to his ragged appearance and facial scarring, Game of Thrones fans might be surprised to know that Sandor Clegane, aka the Hound, is only 35 or so when the series begins, aging to around 42 over the course of the story. Gregor Clegane, aka the Mountain, is 5 years older than his brother, starting out the series at 40 or so.

In the books, the Hound is supposed to be around 27 or 28, whereas the Mountain is 35. Funnily enough, Rory McCann, who plays Sandor, is around 20 years older than Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, who played Gregor from season 4 onward, when he’s supposed to be his younger brother. Thankfully, Björnsson’s imposing physique sells the age dynamic well enough. Of course, the Mountain was recast on Game of Thrones twice, with former actors Conan Stevens and Ian Whyte being only one year and three years younger than McCann, respectively.

Though Björnsson does effectively sell the intimidating power of the Mountain, the books do a better job of depicting him as a seasoned man of war. It is not just the strength he has but the brutality he has honed over years of battle that make him one of Westeros’ most terrifying figures.

Margaery Tyrell – 18 Years Old

Book Age: 14

Margaery Tyrell is introduced in season 2 of Game of Thrones, but it is season 3 when she begins to establish herself as an intelligent player of the “game” and a formidable opponent for Cersei Lannister. Margaery is depicted as being 18 in the show when she is introduced, adding to the threat Cersei feels from the younger would-be queen. Actor Natalie Dormer was more than a decade older than the age of her Game of Thrones character when she took the role at the age of 29.

Margaery’s book counterpart is only 14 when she is introduced. However, the books are also not quite as effective at depicting her as a true political mastermind and, therefore, the older age in the show fits better with this depiction. Though Margaery is involved in the big storylines of the book, her character isn’t really seen behind the curtain, so there is less of a sense of what she is like when she is not playing her role.

Littlefinger – 36 Years Old

Book Age: 29

The whole point of Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish as a character is that no one can ever quite tell when the man is telling the truth, and this extends to his own age. Littlefinger references his childhood on Game of Thrones, but it’s hard to tell whether he’s just spinning a yarn to court favor with others. Baelish is 29 in the novels, but Littlefinger is 36 in the show, still younger than Catelyn Stark, the woman he always loved.

Actor Aiden Gillen was 43 when he stepped into the role. The age increase adds both to Littlefinger’s sinister nature and the creepiness of his relationship with Sansa. The history that Littlefinger shares with Catelyn makes her see him as a harmless little brother before he shows his true colors and betrays Ned Stark. However, that age dynamic between the characters is key to his story, even after Catelyn’s death, there is a sense that Littlefinger is trying to impress the girl who did not want him.

Davos Seaworth – 49 Years Old

Book Age: 37

Davos Seaworth, or “the Onion Knight,” is one of the most age-accurate of the Game of Thrones characters ages in terms of the actor playing them. A rare combination of wise and moral, Ser Davos is 49 when first serving as Stannis Baratheon’s right-hand man and 56 when serving as Master of Ships to King Bran.

The Onion Knight’s age closely mirrors the age of the actor, Liam Cunningham, who was 51 when he joined Game of Thrones in the second season. However, when it comes to the book age, Davis is actually one of the least accurate characters. Davos is 37 in the novels, but Cunningham’s age brings a world-weary yet experienced aspect to the character, and these qualities especially work when Davos becomes Jon’s closest advisor.

Davos is a likable character in the books, serving as the conscience to Stannis Baratheon on his path to the Iron Throne. However, the character is not the same warm and caring person that he is in Game of Thrones. Cunningham especially brings a paternal quality to Davos’ interactions with some of the younger female characters on the series, including Lyanna Mormont and Shireen Baratheon.

Samwell Tarly – 17 Years Old

Book Age: 14

Despite how Jon Snow often looks after him like a younger brother, Samwell Tarly is actually older than Jon. Sam begins Game of Thrones on the cusp of adulthood at 17 and winds up around 25 years old by the final episode. John Bradley, the actor behind Samwell, is 5 years older than his character in Westeros, but the difference is barely noticeable. The books make Jon and Sam the same age at 14 when the story begins, but the show is still able to maintain that feeling that they are peers.

Just as in the show, Sam is a timid young man who lacks confidence. His older age is also key to his family dynamic as he is mature enough to embrace his future as head of House Tarly, but his perceived weakness has caused him to be passed over in favor of his younger brother, Dickon. Bradley does a great job of selling Sam’s shy, child-like qualities.

Varys – Unknown Age

Book Age: Unknown

The ages of most Game of Thrones characters can at least be guessed at and approximated, and the rest tend to be magical beings with inhuman life spans. Varys, in terms of Game of Thrones character ages, is an oddity on both accounts — and it’s almost impossible to pin down how old the mysterious eunuch is. The only clue to Varys’ age is that of actor Conleth Hill, who was 47 years old when he started his run as the character.

Given how enigmatic and secretive Varys is, it is fitting that the character likes to keep people guessing whether he is a wise older man, or a swifter younger one. The show also offers one more hunt, with Varys telling the story of when he was mutilated by a sorcerer when he was a boy, only to reveal he has found his tormentor and brought him to Westeros for revenge. The man is shown to be quite old, hinting that many years have passed, but it is still a vague detail that doesn’t narrow things down.

Brienne of Tarth – 32 Years Old

Book Age: 17

Brienne of Tarth represents one of the biggest age jumps from book to TV show, with the original version of the Game of Thrones character’s age being 17 years old at the start of A Song of Ice & Fire. This means that, despite being one of Westeros’ greatest fighters, Brienne isn’t even at her physical peak in Martin’s narrative. In HBO’s Game of Thrones, Brienne’s age is brought closer to Gwendoline Christie, who was 34 when she joined Game of Thrones season 2.

Brienne is 32 during her first appearance and 39 at the Battle of Winterfell. Though the younger age in the book makes her a truly impressive warrior, the older and more capable Brienne works well for the show. However, the show plays into her youth more with the tragic elements of Brienne’s story. She is a young woman who has never really fit in, using her strength to prove her critics wrong while still being hurt by the way the world treats her.

While Brienne is similarly mistreated in the show, her older age gives her a greater sense of confidence that she can brush off those feelings more than her younger book counterpart.

Melisandre – Unknown Age

Book Age: Unknown

Most onlookers would probably put Melisandre at around 40, that is until she takes her jewelry off. In terms of Game of Thrones character ages, like Varys, Melisandre’s age is left deliberately vague in order to maintain the aura of mystery surrounding the character, but actress Carice van Houten has confirmed that the Red Witch is over 100 years old. Benioff and Weiss went even further by claiming she’s been around for “several centuries.”

More specific details about Melisandre’s anti-aging regime are yet to be unearthed, but she’s most likely the oldest character in the show except for the Night King. While Game of Thrones‘ shocking Melisandre reveal was a memorable twist, it is something that has only been hinted at in the books and not confirmed.

The Night King – Unknown Age

Book Age: Unknown

The Night King serves as Game of Thrones‘ ultimate antagonist and Big Bad of the whole series. Created by the Children of the Forest during the Wars of the First Men, the Night King was said to be one of the first Lord Commanders of the Night’s Watch before being turned. Since he was born during the Age of Heroes, the Night King is the oldest of the Game of Thrones characters at around 10,000 years old, and was probably immortal.

Interestingly, while he is one of the most important villains in the series, the books have yet to introduce him or even confirm that he exists. The Night King went through a recast in Game of Thrones between seasons 5 and 6, with actor Vladimír Furdík taking on the role for the final seasons.

Shireen Baratheon – 9 Years Old

Book Age: 11

Stannis Baratheon’s only child, Shireen Baratheon, faced a horrendous early death, and it’s probably the most tragic one out of all the Game of Thrones characters. First introduced in Game of Thrones season 3, Shireen dies when she’s just nine years old. Shireen’s shocking season 5 death saw Melisandre asking for a sacrifice to the Lord of Light. Drunk with ambition, Stannis offers his own daughter to be burned at the stake. It’s a cruel end for one of the youngest Game of Thrones characters.

Shireen is actually older in the books at the age of 11, but that likely won’t lessen in impact of her death once it is covered in the later books. She has been featured less in the books than she has been in the show, but seeing as the latest novel featured Stannis currently engaging in his siege of Winterfell, it seems that her death will soon be at hand.

Stannis Baratheon – 40 Years Old

Book Age: 33

Though Stannis Baratheon was a rigid and effective leader, murdering his daughter Shireen instantly made him one of the most despised characters on the show. It is interesting to consider how the perception of him might change based on his intended age. Stannis is depicted as being 40 when he is introduced in the second season of the show while actor Stephen Dillane was considerably older at 55. Given that he is killed by Brienne in season 5, he could be anywhere between 43-45 at the time.

However, he is a younger man in the series at the age of 33, but it is another instance of an older take on the character being the more effective route for the show to take. In the books as well as the show, Stannis is shown as a man who sees the world in black-and-white with a no-nonsense approach to everything. It is much more effective to have a character like this seen as a grizzled older man that rather than a man in his 30s.

Khal Drogo – 30 Years Old

Book Age: 30

Khal Drogo is another Game of Thrones character whose age wasn’t changed from the books to the show. The leader of the Dothraki fleet Khal Drogo is supposed to be around 30 years old in A Song of Ice and Fire and was depicted as such in Game of Thrones. In the novels, Daenerys is supposed to be 14 when they wed. Since Drogo died in season 1, he never made it past 30. Jason Momoa played the Dothraki leader and was roughly the same age as his character, being 32 when the show premiered.

What is most notable about the age is how it relates to Daenerys. There are a lot of problematic aspects of Daenerys and Drogo’s relationship with her expressing love for him while also later acknowledging that he did abuse her when they were first married. The age difference between them in the show is made slightly smaller, but that does not fix the more disturbing issues.

Daario Naharis – 37 Years Old

Book Age: 30

Daario Naharis is a sellsword who aligns himself with Daenerys, becoming her advisor, enforcer, and at one point, her lover. Naharis was supposed to be 30 in the books but was aged up to about 37 for Game of Thrones season 3 when he first appears. By the time he is left behind as ruler of Mereen in Daenerys’ name in GoT season 7, he is roughly 41 years old.

The age difference between the two versions of the character is barely noticeable as they both allow Daario to come off as a swashbuckling warrior who has experienced a lot in his short life. However, the book versions of Daario are a lot less playful and charismatic than the show’s take. Interestingly, although the age difference between him and Daenerys is greater on the show, they feel more like contemporaries.

Ed Skrein, who played Naharis in season 3, was 30 years old when he embodied the character. In turn, Michiel Huisman, who took over as Naharis from season 4 onward, was 33 when season 4 came out.

Daenerys’ Dragons – Unknown Age

Book Age: Unknown

The dragons on Game of Thrones are the easier ages to determine as the audience sees them being born and watches them age across the 8 seasons. In Game of Thrones, Daenerys has three dragons: Viserion, Rhaegal, and Drogon. Viserion was the first dragon casualty of the series when he is killed by an ice spear courtesy of the Night King in season 7.

At the time of his death, Viserion would’ve been around six years old. Rhaegal was the next to go after the Battle of Winterfell in season 8, being about seven years old at the time of his death. Drogon, on the other hand, outlived Daenerys, last seen in the Game of Thrones finale carrying her body to an unknown location. Dragons are capable of living hundreds of years in the Game of Thrones universe, and Drogon was still a baby when the series ended, around 7 years old.