Tyrion Lannister

The Imp: A brilliant, black-witted dwarf whose intelligence outshines the swords of kings, surviving family hatred to become a pivotal force in Westerosi politics.

Tyrion Lannister is the youngest child of Lord Tywin Lannister, introduced in A Game of Thrones (1996) as a dwarf whose birth killed his mother, Joanna. Despised by his father and sister Cersei, he compensates for his status as an outcast with wit, self-indulgence, and political savvy. Portrayed by Peter Dinklage in the television adaptation, Tyrion holds the most viewpoint chapters of any character across the first five novels. While often underestimated due to his stature and described as a "bitter, cynical, high-born dwarf," he is George R. R. Martin's favorite creation and widely considered one of the series' finest characters.

Quick Facts

Series

A Song of Ice and Fire character; Game of Thrones

First

Literature:
A Game of Thrones (1996)
Television:
"Winter Is Coming" (2011)
Video game:
"Iron From Ice" (2014)

Last

Television:
"The Iron Throne" (2019)
Video game:
Reigns: Game of Thrones (2018)

Creator

George R. R. Martin

Adapted by

David Benioff; D. B. Weiss (Game of Thrones)

Portrayed by

Peter Dinklage

Voice

Peter Dinklage (video game)

Nickname

The Imp; The Halfman

Lore & Background

Tyrion's origin traces back to a 1981 concept for Windhaven involving an ugly but intelligent dwarf lord. In the narrative, he serves as a prominent point-of-view character in A Game of Thrones (1996), A Clash of Kings (1998), and A Storm of Swords (2000). Notably absent from A Feast for Crows (2005), he returned in A Dance with Dragons (2011) and is confirmed to appear in The Winds of Winter. His journey involves managing King's Landing affairs under his father Tywin, where he utilizes statecraft to stabilize the realm against Joffrey's whims. Despite being tried for life and later condemned for Joffrey's murder, his intellect remains his primary survival mechanism in a violent world ruled by military might.

Reader's Guide

Fans can track his evolution through his chapters in the first five novels, noting his absence in A Feast for Crows and his return in A Dance with Dragons, where he acts as a counselor seeking to temper ambition with pragmatism.

Did You Know?

Peter Dinklage is the only Game of Thrones actor to win an Emmy Award for his role as Tyrion.
Bantam Books published The Wit & Wisdom of Tyrion Lannister in 2013, an illustrated collection of his quotes.