Liam Cunningham

Liam Cunningham was a seasoned Irish film and television actor who brought a grave but energetic presence to his many roles. He was most recognizable to a television audience as Davos on epic fantasy hit "Game of Thrones" (HBO 2011- ). Cunningham was born on June 2, 1961 in Dublin, Ireland. He dropped out of school at the age of 15 to work as an electrician, a profession that he continued for the next 11 years. After seeing an ad for acting classes in The Irish Times, he chose to pursue theater, taking classes and performing in plays. His first film role was as a police officer in the Irish magical realist film "Into the West" (1992), but it was his role in the Thomas Hardy adaptation "Jude" (1996) that brought him into the spotlight. Starring alongside Kate Winslet and two successive stars of "Doctor Who" (BBC 1963- ), Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, Cunningham held his own as the respectable Mr. Phillotson. He went on to star in a variety of films in the UK and US, from the Ken Loach-directed Irish independence drama "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" (2006) to the big-budget action flick "Clash of the Titans" (2010). In 2012, he was cast in a recurring role as Davos, a former smuggler with a heart of gold, on "Game of Thrones." He also made appearances on other fantasy series, including "Merlin" (BBC 2008-2012) and "Doctor Who."