Peter Dinklage
Actor, known for his supporting role as James in *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri*.
Peter Dinklage is an American actor, born on June 11, 1969, in the North Jersey region of New Jersey. He is best known for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister on the HBO series *Game of Thrones* (2011–2019), a role that earned him a record four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, as well as a Golden Globe Award in 2011 and an Actor Award in 2020. Dinklage studied acting at Bennington College, graduating in 1991, and began his career in amateur stage productions. His film debut came in the 1995 black comedy *Living in Oblivion*, where he played a frustrated actor with dwarfism. His breakthrough followed in 2003 with the comedy-drama *The Station Agent*, in which he portrayed Finbar McBride, a quiet, withdrawn man. The role was written specifically for Dinklage and earned him nominations for the Independent Spirit Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor. Dinklage’s other notable films include *Elf* (2003), *Find Me Guilty* (2006), *The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian* (2008), *X-Men: Days of Future Past* (2014), *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017), *Avengers: Infinity War* (2018), *The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes* (2023), and *Wicked* (2024). He also voiced characters in the video game *Destiny* and the film *Transformers: Rise of the Beasts* (2023). On television, he starred in the 2025 series *Dexter: Resurrection*. Dinklage has performed on stage in productions such as *Richard III* (2003), *A Month in the Country* (2015), and *Cyrano* (2019). He grew up in Mendham Township, New Jersey, with his parents and older brother Jonathan, and is the only family member with achondroplasia. Dinklage attended Delbarton School and was inspired to pursue acting by a production of Sam Shepard’s *True West*. After college, he moved to New York City, where he worked for a data-processing company for six years before returning to full-time acting.
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Lore & Background
In *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri*, Peter Dinklage plays James, an acquaintance of the protagonist Mildred Hayes. After Dixon sets the police station ablaze, James happens to pass by and extinguishes Dixon's burning clothes before providing Mildred with an alibi. Later, Mildred goes on a date with James to thank him for his help, but when Charlie enters and apologizes for burning the billboards, Mildred abruptly calls off the date. James misinterprets her decision as embarrassment to be seen with him and leaves the restaurant incensed. The film also features songs by ABBA, Joan Baez, The Felice Brothers, the Four Tops, Monsters of Folk, and Townes Van Zandt.
Reader's Guide
Peter Dinklage's role in *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* is a supporting one as James, an acquaintance of Mildred Hayes. His character provides a key alibi for Mildred after she sets the police station on fire, extinguishing Dixon's burning clothes. Later, he goes on a date with Mildred, but the evening ends abruptly when Mildred calls it off after learning that Charlie burned the billboards. James misinterprets her decision as embarrassment to be seen with him and leaves the restaurant incensed. The film was released in the United States in November 2017 and in the United Kingdom in January 2018 by Fox Searchlight Pictures, and it grossed $162 million at the worldwide box office.
Did You Know?
- Peter Dinklage plays James, an acquaintance of Mildred Hayes, in *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri*.
- James extinguishes Dixon's burning clothes after the police station fire and provides Mildred with an alibi.
- Mildred goes on a date with James to thank him for his help, but she abruptly calls it off.
- James misinterprets Mildred's decision as embarrassment to be seen with him and leaves the restaurant incensed.
- The film grossed $162 million at the worldwide box office.
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