The resolute knight sealed the show’s ruthless reputation by not only executing the incompetent king Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy), but also killing the show’s original lead, Ned Stark (Sean Bean).
As with George R.R. Martin’s original books, Payne was originally intended to have a much more prominent role as the series went on.
Unfortunately, HBO were forced to phase out the character following Johnson’s declining health.
The musician announced he had been diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer in 2013, and season two, episode nine, ‘Blackwater’, marked his last appearance in the series.
