J.J. Murphy, the veteran stage actor who joined season 5 of Game of Thrones as Ser Denys Mallister of the Night's Watch, died Friday, just a few days into filming the HBO show, Mashable has confirmed. He was 86.
Murphy had shot enough footage that showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff intend to include his performance in Season 5, saying in a statement via HBO that the role of Ser Denys Mallister would not fall to another actor.
"We will not be recasting J.J. Murphy," they said. "He was a lovely man, and the best Denys Mallister we could have hoped for. And now his watch is ended."
The Irish actor, who also had a role in the upcoming film Dracula Untold starring Luke Evans and Dominic Cooper, was not on set when he collapsed Friday, Mashable has learned.
Murphy's agent, Phillip Young, told the Guardian that his client had been "absolutely delighted" to have been cast in HBO's hit.
Murphy's character, Denys Mallister, plays an important role in Jon Snow's storyline, as he is one of the top contenders for the position of Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, following the murder of the previous Lord Commander, Jeor Mormont.
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