Peter Dinklage

Peter Hayden Dinklage, born on June 11, 1969, is an American actor renowned for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister in the HBO television series Game of Thrones from 2011 to 2019. His remarkable performance earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series four times, setting a record.


Additionally, he received a Golden Globe Award in 2011 and a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2020 for his role as Tyrion Lannister. Dinklage, who stands 4 feet 5 inches tall, has achondroplasia, a common form of dwarfism. He has utilized his fame to advocate for awareness and understanding of dwarfism.


Dinklage pursued acting at Bennington College, participating in numerous amateur stage productions. His film debut occurred in the black comedy film Living in Oblivion (1995), but he gained widespread recognition with a leading role in the 2003 comedy-drama The Station Agent.


His filmography includes Elf , Lassie , Find Me Guilty , Penelope , Death at a Funeral , The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian , Death at a Funeral , X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri , and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.


In 2018, he portrayed Eitri in the Marvel film Avengers: Infinity War and Hervé Villechaize in the biopic film My Dinner with Hervé. Dinklage also provided voice acting for the video game Destiny, and in 2023, he voiced Scourge in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.


Dinklage has a notable presence in theater, featuring in roles such as the title character in Richard III at the Public Theatre, Rakitin in A Month in the Country (2015) at Classic Stage Company, and Cyrano de Bergerac in Cyrano at the Daryl Roth Theatre in 2019.


Peter Hayden Dinklage was born on June 11, 1969, either in the Jersey Shore region of New Jersey or in Morristown, New Jersey. His parents are John Carl Dinklage, an insurance salesman, and Diane Dinklage, an elementary school music teacher, both of German and Irish descent.


Dinklage grew up in the historic Brookside section of Mendham Township with his parents and older brother Jonathan. He is the only member of his family with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism. Dinklage was raised in the Catholic faith.


During his childhood, Dinklage and his brother performed puppet musicals for their neighbors. Although Dinklage initially considered his brother Jonathan the true performer in the family due to his passion for the violin, he eventually found his own love for acting. His first theatrical success came in a fifth-grade production of The Velveteen Rabbit, where he played the lead and enjoyed the audience's positive response.


Dinklage attended Delbarton School, a Catholic preparatory school for boys, where he honed his acting skills. In 1984, after watching a production of Sam Shepard's play True West, he became inspired to pursue a career in acting. He later attended Bennington College, studying for a drama degree and participating in numerous productions before graduating in 1991.


After college, Dinklage moved to New York City with his friend Ian Bell to establish a theater company. However, facing financial challenges, they had to move out of their apartment. Dinklage lived in New York City for 20 years, residing in Williamsburg and the West Village. Before committing to a full-time acting career, he worked for six years at a data-processing company.

Early career (1995–2002)

Peter Dinklage faced challenges in the early stages of his acting career as he resisted taking on stereotypical roles typically offered to actors with his condition, such as elves or leprechauns. Despite this, he made his credited film debut in the low-budget independent comedy-drama Living in Oblivion , where he starred alongside Steve Buscemi. The film revolves around the filming of a low-budget independent film in New York City, and Dinklage's role was that of a frustrated actor with dwarfism who criticizes his clichéd roles.


In the following year, Dinklage appeared as a building manager in the crime drama Bullet, which starred rapper Tupac Shakur. Despite the positive reception of his performance in Living in Oblivion, Dinklage struggled to find someone willing to be his agent. It was Steve Buscemi's recommendation to director Alexandre Rockwell that eventually led to Dinklage being cast in the comedy 13 Moons.


In an interview for a theater website, when asked about his ideal role, Dinklage expressed a desire for the romantic lead who gets the girl, showcasing his ambition to break away from stereotypical roles.

Breakthrough (2003–2010)

Peter Dinklage's breakthrough came with his role as Finbar McBride in the 2003 film The Station Agent, directed by Tom McCarthy. The film, co-starring Bobby Cannavale, took three years to make and was not initially written with Dinklage in mind. McCarthy set out to tell a story about a train enthusiast who chose to isolate himself, but when he started writing the screenplay, he decided to tailor the role for Dinklage.


The character, Finbar McBride, stood out as it defied stereotypical roles for individuals with dwarfism, allowing for a nuanced portrayal with romantic feelings, anger, and flaws. Dinklage's performance earned him Independent Spirit Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.


Dinklage also appeared in the direct-to-DVD film Tiptoes alongside Gary Oldman and Matthew McConaughey. The film received negative reviews, particularly for Oldman's role as a person with dwarfism. Dinklage commented on the controversy, expressing his satisfaction to work with Gary Oldman, even though some criticized the decision.


In 2006, Dinklage co-starred with Vin Diesel in Sidney Lumet's courtroom drama Find Me Guilty, playing the lead defense attorney Ben Klandis. While the critical response was positive, the film faced commercial challenges. Dinklage continued to showcase his versatility with appearances in various productions, including the CBS science fiction series Threshold and the British romantic comedy Penelope , where he played the character Lemon, a tabloid reporter.


Dinklage's career during this period encompassed a mix of film, television, and theater, reflecting his commitment to diverse roles and storytelling.

References

1.  Maron, Marc (January 24, 2022). "Episode 1299 - Peter Dinklage". WTF with Marc Maron Podcast. Retrieved January 25, 2022. Time stamp 18:31: 'I was born at the [ Jersey Shore ] and the school system in the 60's wasn't very good back then. My mom moved us north.'
2. a b Guthmann, Edward (October 12, 2003). "'Station' actor draws big attention / Peter Dinklage a Sundance hit in first-ever lead role for a dwarf". SF Gate. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
3. a b Dawson, Tom (October 28, 2014). "BBC - Films - Peter Dinklage". BBC. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
4. ^ Turchiano, Danielle (September 23, 2019). "Emmys: Peter Dinklage Sets Record With Supporting Actor Win for 'Game of Thrones'". Variety. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
5. ^ Britannica 2017 Book of the Year, p. 21. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2017.ISBN 9781625135308. Accessed February 3, 2023. "Dinklage, Peter (b. June 11, 1969, Morristown, N.J.)"
6. ^ Doyle, Bill. "‘Game of Thrones’ actor Peter Dinklage is a Jersey guy", WKXW, June 11, 2019. Accessed February 2, 2023. "Peter Dinklage, who played Tyrion Lannister, was born June 11th, 1969 in Morristown."
7. ^ "The Garden State at Sundance", The Record, January 18, 2018. Accessed February 2, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Peter Dinklage of Game of Thrones, was born in Morristown and grew up in Brookside."
8. ^ Biese, Alex. "'‘Game of Thrones'’ returns – and Jersey is ready", Asbury Park Press, April 14, 2019. Accessed February 2, 2023. "That vibe is particularly felt in the fan-favorite character of Tyrion Lannister played by Emmy-winner Peter Dinklage, who was born in Morristown and grew up in Mendham."