Yellowstone fans may notice that some of the actors in 1883 look familiar – and not just because it’s a prequel series. Beyond the A-list stars like Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, many viewers have been trying to place Marc Rissman, who plays the German immigrant Josef on the series. If that’s you, you may be recognizing Rissman from Game of Thrones Season 8.
Rissman came into Game of Thrones late in the series, but his role was pretty significant to the plot. He played Ser Harry Strickland, the commander of the Golden Company – an army of mercenaries consisting mostly of banished knights and lords of Westeros. In the final season of the fantasy epic, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) hired the Golden Company to fight off other rulers and hold onto control of the capital city, King’s Landing. That means Rissman had some big scenes with Headey and a few others on the battlefield.
Rissman was featured heavily in trailers and promo images leading up to Game of Thrones Season 8, and fans even theorized about how his character would factor into the endgame. He did not do much speaking, but he did cut an intimidating silhouette in his golden armor. Ultimately, he died an unceremonious death when Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) led her forces in a deadly attack on the capital.
This was one of the many deaths that left fans disappointed in the final season. In the books, A Song of Ice and Fire, Harry Strickland is a much more fleshed-out character, while the Golden Company plays a much bigger role in the conflicts of Westeros. In the most recent book, A Dance with Dragons, the Golden Company sails to Westeros and captures the castle Storm’s End, but not for Cersei – for an entirely different claimant to the Iron Throne who was left out of the show altogether.
While the character nicknamed “Homeless Harry” Strickland in the books didn’t get the screentime fans wanted for him, none seemed to hold Rissman responsible. The actor did not get enough lines for fans to really form an opinion of his performance, but that has not been the case on Yellowstone: 1883. With the premiere season more than halfway over, Josef has become a character of great interest in the series.
1883 is a prequel about how the Dutton family came to own the Yellowstone Ranch. It starts with their move from Fort Worth, Texas out to Montana and their work to establish a home there. Six episodes of the series have aired so far, with four more expected this season. So far, Paramount has not announced whether the show will be renewed for another season. New episodes of 1883 premiere every Sunday on Paramount+.
