'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' has been making headlines since it was announced. However, a giant has now caught everyone's attention.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a fantasy drama TV series created by Ira Parker and George Martin. The show is a prequel to Game of Thrones and will be released on January 18, 2026 (ET). However, while fans are already excited about the show's release, one character has caught everyone's eye: 'Dunk', essayed by former rugby pro, Peter Claffey.
Peter Claffey is an Irish actor playing 'Ser Duncan the Tall', a giant knight in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The actor caught everyone's attention when he made his horse appear comparatively small compared to his magnificent physique. Which further intrigued fans about the actor's height and personal life. As GoT fans enjoy the prequel to the much-loved series, let us take a look at who Peter is and how tall he really is.
Former pro-rugby player, Peter Claffey, might be new to Hollywood, but he indeed had a big leg up landing the role of 'Ser Duncan the Tall' in Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. While the casting process can often be a tricky part, finding someone who closely resembles the character, not just performance-wise, but physically as well. And Peter's selection as the giant knight was as close as one could realistically hope for 'Dunk', but how tall is Peter really? Well, according to reports, the actor is 6-foot-5.
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While 6-foot-5 in itself makes a tall man, it falls short of the original height of the author, George R.R. Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas from which the HBO series is adapted. Yes! While Peter Claffey successfully made his horse look dwarfed in the show, he is not as tall as what George had written 'Dunk' to be.
However, while the makers could not find anyone as tall as the 'Dunk' in the books, Peter's frame and athletic ability helped get him in the door. His gruff but gentle demeanour nailed the deal. Talking about the search for 'Dunk', Ira Parker reflected on the book character's actual height and revealed that he is a 6-foot-11 giant. She was quoted as saying:
"We were looking for as tall as possible in that age range. The book character is 6-foot-11. After meeting Peter, it really couldn't have been anyone else. We were so lucky that he exists in this world."
The 'Dunk' character in Season 1 is all about an untested man stepping into the role of a Knight. While he's unsure about whether he can play the part or even survive in a deadly tournament, 'Dunk' will be challenged not just physically but mentally as well. Peter, who has starred in TV series like Apple+'s Bad Sisters and Cillian Murphy's Small Things Like These, channelled that pressure, stepping into the Thrones arena. He talked about getting the role and said:
"I was a huge 'Game of Thrones' fan, so I understand the fan passion. It's daunting and terrifying to step into this as the main protagonist. So that definitely contributed to my anxiety."
Peter Claffey has been paired with Dexter Sol Ansell, playing the role of the cheeky, 'Egg'. The actor stands 4 feet 8 inches tall. However, that was not the only glaring difference. Ira Parker, in an interview, revealed that Peter even towered over his horse, whom she revealed, "it's a big horse too". The actor also reflected on the difference and revealed that while there were bigger horses, his steed needed to pull off some tricks in the early episodes, which required a well-trained horse. Peter shared that he even attended a two-month training camp before shooting began.
The Irishman was a Lord of the Rings fan who grew into sports, particularly rugby. He played on the Ireland national under-20 rugby union team, and it soon became his identity. However, the game never prepared him for the role he was now playing, he shared, "My head was glued between two (teammates') arses, being rammed forward by three other (teammates). There wasn't much room for punching opponents in a scrum." However, on a contrasting note, Ira Parker believes that rugby skills have helped Peter's character and stated:
"The only things Dunk has is size and his ability to just keep getting up after being knocked down. If that's not part of being a rugby player, I don't know what is."
Peter Claffey's switch from rugby to acting was not something his fans had expected. The former sports star played through injury when representing Ireland in the 2016 Six Nations tournament. However, while some believed that it was the injury that led him to quit, the actor confirmed that it wasn't the injury but rather that his "heart was falling out of it." Peter shared that he was thinking about acting and didn't leave because of an injury; he felt he wasn't "good enough" for the sport. He further shared:
"It was hard to figure out a new identity. I took a chance. I couldn't have made it without my parents' help. Thankfully, it's paid off."
What are your thoughts on Peter Claffey as 'Dunk' in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? Let us know.
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