Night King

The first White Walker, a creation of the show.

The Night King is the overarching antagonist of HBO's Game of Thrones: the leader and first of the White Walkers, in existence since the age of the First Men and the most powerful of his kind. He is set apart from the other White Walkers by a crown of frosty, pointed horns.

Quick Facts

Series: Game of Thrones
Portrayed by: Richard Brake (seasons 4–5); Vladimir Furdik (seasons 6–8)
Creator: David Benioff; D. B. Weiss
First: "Oathkeeper" (2014)
Last: Fortnite Battle Royale (2026)
Based on: Night's King, George R. R. Martin
Occupation: Liche King
Species: White Walker

Lore & Background

He is an original creation of the television series. In the novels, "Night's King" is a legendary 13th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch who is said to have married a female White Walker; George R. R. Martin has said that figure is no more likely to have survived to the present than Brandon the Builder.

Reader's Guide

He was played by Richard Brake in seasons 4 and 5 and by Vladimir Furdik from season 6 to 8. Makeup artist Barrie Gower said the look was mostly practical prosthetics, with the glowing eyes and an icy layer added in post-production.

In a vision seen by Bran and the Three-eyed Raven, the Children of the Forest create him by driving a dragonglass dagger into a captured man. Beyond the Wall he kills Daenerys's dragon Viserion with an ice javelin and raises it; riding Viserion, he brings down part of the Wall at Eastwatch and leads his army into the Seven Kingdoms.