Samwell Tarly

The fat kid who likes to read books and doesn't like to go up a lot of stairs.

Samwell Tarly is the elder son of Lord Randyll Tarly and Lady Melessa Florent, a self-professed coward with a deep love for books who was forced to join the Night's Watch on his fifteenth birthday. Portrayed by John Bradley in the television adaptation, Sam quickly became Jon Snow's closest friend at Castle Black, where he served as Maester Aemon's personal steward after failing combat training. Though initially bullied and called "Ser Piggy," his intelligence and loyalty allowed him to uncover critical secrets about the White Walkers. His journey takes him from the frozen wastes beyond the Wall to the ancient halls of the Citadel in Oldtown, where he trains as a novice under Archmaester Marwyn.

Quick Facts

Series

A Song of Ice and Fire character; Game of Thrones

Portrayed by

John Bradley

Creator

George R. R. Martin

First

Novel:
A Game of Thrones (1996)
Television:
"Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things" (2011)

Last

Television:; "The Iron Throne" (2019)

Also known as

Sam
Ser Piggy
Lady Piggy
Lord of Ham
Sam the Slayer
Black Sam

Gender

Male

Family

House Tarly

Lore & Background

Samwell Tarly was born with dark hair, pale eyes, and a large moon-shaped face, weighing an estimated twenty stone (130 kg; 280 lb). His father, Randyll, despised his lack of physical vigor and grooming for the younger brother Dickon to inherit Horn Hill. After stabbing an Other with dragonglass at Craster's Keep, earning the name "Sam the Slayer," he rescued Gilly and her infant son. Guided by Coldhands, Sam crossed the Wall and orchestrated Jon Snow's election as the 998th Lord Commander by convincing rivals Denys Mallister and Cotter Pyke to support him. Later, on a voyage to Braavos, he secretly swapped Gilly's baby with Mance Rayder's son to prevent sacrifice. Accompanied by Maester Aemon, who died during the journey, Sam arrived in Oldtown where he met acolyte Alleras and fellow novice Leo Tyrell.

Reader's Guide

Samwell Tarly is the most relatable character to George R. R. Martin, who stated in a 2014 interview that Sam represents "the fat kid who likes to read books and doesn't like to go up a lot of stairs." Like Martin, Sam had troubled relationships with his fathers and chose not to fight if given the option, reflecting Martin's own refusal to serve in the Vietnam War. He is second cousin to Shireen Baratheon and Edric Storm through his mother. His key ally Jon Snow originally estimated him to weigh twenty stone. Through his relationship with Gilly, Sam overcame his self-professed cowardice to become a hero who discovered the lethal properties of dragonglass against the White Walkers.

Did You Know?

In A Feast for Crows, Sam encountered a disguised Arya Stark in Braavos but did not realize her identity.
Jon Snow originally estimated Sam's weight at twenty stone (130 kg; 280 lb), calling him the fattest boy he had ever seen.