Peter Dinklage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Dinklage
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Dinklage in 2025
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| Born |
Peter Hayden Dinklage
June 11, 1969 Jersey Shore, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Bennington College |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1993–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Height | 4 ft 5 in (1.35 m) |
| Spouse(s) |
Erica Schmidt
(m. 2005) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
Peter Hayden Dinklage, born on June 11, 1969, is a talented American actor. He is widely known for his amazing portrayal of Tyrion Lannister in the popular HBO TV series Game of Thrones (2011–2019). For this role, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series a record four times! He also received a Golden Globe Award in 2011 and a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2020.
Peter Dinklage was born in Jersey Shore, New Jersey. He studied acting at Bennington College and performed in many plays. He first appeared in a film called Living in Oblivion (1995). His big break came with a main role in the 2003 movie The Station Agent. He has also been in many other films like Elf (2003), The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), and Avengers: Infinity War (2018). In 2023, he voiced Scourge in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. He also starred in the series Dexter: Resurrection in 2025.
Contents
About Peter Dinklage
Early Life and Acting Dreams
Peter Dinklage was born on June 11, 1969, in New Jersey. His father, John Carl Dinklage, was an insurance salesman, and his mother, Diane Dinklage, was an elementary school music teacher. He grew up in Brookside, with his parents and older brother, Jonathan. Peter is the only member of his family with achondroplasia, a genetic condition that affects bone growth and results in shorter limbs.
As a child, Peter and his brother Jonathan loved putting on puppet shows for their neighbors. Jonathan was very passionate about playing the violin. Peter had his first big acting success in fifth grade, playing the lead in The Velveteen Rabbit. He loved how the audience reacted. He went to Delbarton School, where he continued to develop his acting skills. In 1984, a play called True West inspired him to become an actor.
Peter attended Bennington College and earned a drama degree. He performed in many plays there before graduating in 1991. After college, he moved to New York City to pursue acting.
Starting His Acting Journey
Peter Dinklage found it challenging to get acting roles at first. He often refused parts that were stereotypical for actors with his condition, like "elves or leprechauns." He wanted to play more complex and interesting characters.
His first film role was in the independent comedy-drama Living in Oblivion (1995). In this movie, he played an actor who was frustrated with the typical roles offered to him. The film also starred Steve Buscemi. The next year, he appeared in the crime drama Bullet. Later, he was cast in the comedy 13 Moons (2002). When asked about his dream role, he once said he wanted to "play the romantic lead and get the girl."
Finding His Breakthrough Roles
Peter Dinklage's big breakthrough came in 2003 with the film The Station Agent. He played Finbar McBride, a quiet and thoughtful man. The director, Tom McCarthy, wrote the role specifically for Peter. Peter liked this role because it was different from the usual parts for people with dwarfism. His character had "romantic feelings" and was a "real human being" with flaws, not just a wise or comical figure. This role earned him nominations for important awards. Critics praised his performance, and the film was successful.
In 2003, Peter also appeared in the Christmas comedy Elf. He played Miles Finch, a children's author who gets into a funny fight with Buddy Hobbs (Will Ferrell). He also performed in several plays off-Broadway, including Richard III. In 2005, he was in the TV series Threshold and played a wedding planner in The Baxter. He also appeared in Lassie as a circus performer.
In 2006, Peter co-starred with Vin Diesel in the courtroom drama Find Me Guilty. He played a defense attorney named Ben Klandis. Critics praised his performance in this film. He also appeared in TV shows like Nip/Tuck, Entourage, and 30 Rock. That same year, he was in the romantic comedy Penelope. Peter also appeared in the 2007 British comedy Death at a Funeral and its 2010 American remake. He voiced the villain Simon Bar Sinister in Underdog.
In 2008, Peter played Trumpkin in the film The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. He also played the main role in the play Uncle Vanya, directed by his wife, Erica Schmidt.
Becoming a Star in Game of Thrones
From 2011 to 2019, Peter Dinklage played Tyrion Lannister in HBO's fantasy drama Game of Thrones. This show was based on the A Song of Ice and Fire books by George R. R. Martin. The story is about noble families fighting for power in a fictional world. Tyrion is a smart and witty member of the powerful House Lannister. He uses his intelligence to overcome challenges he faces because of his size.
Peter was the first actor cast in the show. The creators, David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, chose him because they felt his humor and intelligence matched the character perfectly. Peter was careful about taking fantasy roles, as he didn't want to play typical "elves or leprechauns." The creators assured him that Tyrion was a unique character – "a romantic, real human being." Peter quickly agreed to the role, partly because he learned how popular the character was in the books.
His performance as Tyrion received huge praise from critics and fans. Many called his portrayal charming, smart, and one of the most beloved characters on the show. For this role, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series four times (in 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2019). He also won a Golden Globe Award in 2012. Peter also lent his voice to the character of Tyrion in the video game Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series in 2015.
Other Exciting Roles and Projects
In 2011, Peter appeared in the film A Little Bit of Heaven. The next year, he voiced Captain Gutt in Ice Age: Continental Drift. He prepared for this role by resting his voice, as it was his first voice acting job. Peter also hosted an episode of the comedy show Saturday Night Live in April 2016, which was very well-received.
In 2014, Peter played the villain Bolivar Trask in the superhero film X-Men: Days of Future Past. He approached the character not as purely evil, but as someone who believed he was doing good. He also voiced the AI Ghost in the 2014 video game Destiny, though he was later replaced due to scheduling conflicts.
In 2015, Peter starred in the science fiction comedy film Pixels as a former arcade champion named Eddie Plant. In 2016, he voiced The Mighty Eagle in The Angry Birds Movie. He even recorded a song for the movie's soundtrack.
His 2017 film Rememory received praise for his performance as Sam Bloom. He also had a supporting role in the critically acclaimed drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. In 2018, Peter produced and starred in I Think We're Alone Now, a drama about companionship after an apocalypse. He also appeared as Eitri, a giant dwarf, in the Marvel Studios film Avengers: Infinity War.
Peter also starred in My Dinner with Hervé (2018), a film based on the life of actor Hervé Villechaize. In 2018, he starred in a stage musical adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac called Cyrano. He later reprised this role in a 2021 film adaptation, earning a Golden Globe nomination.
In 2019, Peter was announced to co-star in the comedy film Brothers, which was released in October 2024. In 2020, he played a mobster in the crime thriller I Care a Lot, a role that was highly praised.
In 2023, Peter voiced the main villain, Terrorcon Scourge, in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. He also starred in She Came to Me and played Casca Highbottom in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. In 2024, he voiced Dr. Dillamond in the two-part film adaptation of the musical Wicked. He also had a cameo in Jerry Seinfeld's Unfrosted in 2024.
Peter purchased the rights to the novel The Thicket in 2017. The film adaptation, The Thicket, starring Peter, was released in September 2024. In 2024, he voiced Hercule Poirot in an Audible adaptation of The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and again in 2025 for The A.B.C. Murders. He starred as the main character in The Toxic Avenger, which was released in August 2025. In 2025, Peter also starred as the main antagonist Leon Prater in the first season of Dexter: Resurrection.
Peter's Personal Life
Family and Home
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In 2005, Peter Dinklage married Erica Schmidt, who is a theater director. They have two children, a daughter born in 2011 and a son born in 2017. They live mainly in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, and also have a home in Ulster County, New York.
Peter has a scar on his face from an accident that happened during a band performance when he was younger.
His Perspective on Dwarfism
Peter Dinklage has achondroplasia, a genetic condition that results in him being 4 feet 5 inches (1.35 m) tall. He has learned to accept his condition, though he found it challenging when he was growing up. He has shared that as he got older, he realized he needed "a sense of humor" and understood that his condition was not his problem, but others' perceptions.
When asked if he saw himself as a spokesperson for people with dwarfism, Peter said that everyone's experience is different. He believes that just because he is comfortable with his condition, he cannot tell others how to feel. However, he is seen as a role model by many people who share his condition.
At the 2012 Golden Globe ceremony, when he won an award, Peter spoke about a man named Martin Henderson. He encouraged people to learn about him. This brought attention to the harmful act of "dwarf-tossing" and the importance of treating everyone with respect. Peter later explained that he said what he wanted to say and felt at peace with his message.
In January 2022, Peter spoke out about Disney's portrayal of the Seven Dwarfs in the upcoming live-action remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He felt that while Disney tried to be modern by casting a Latina actress as Snow White, they still used a harmful stereotype with the Seven Dwarfs. Disney responded by saying they were taking a different approach and consulting with the dwarfism community. Another actor with dwarfism, Hornswoggle, disagreed with Peter's comments, saying it might reduce roles for dwarf actors.
Standing Up for What's Right
Peter became a vegetarian at age 16. He supports Farm Sanctuary, an organization that protects farm animals, and has been their spokesperson. He also appeared in a PETA campaign, asking Game of Thrones fans to adopt pets from shelters instead of buying huskies that look like direwolves.
In 2017, Peter attended the Women's March in Park City, Utah. He joined others to support human rights and other important issues.
Achievements and Recognitions
Peter Dinklage has received many awards and nominations for his acting. His most praised films include Living in Oblivion (1995), The Station Agent (2003), Lassie (2005), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017).
He won a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in Game of Thrones. He also won four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the same role. As of 2024, Peter Dinklage has won thirty-two awards from seventy-six nominations.
Music He's Made
| Year | Title | Album |
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| 2024 | "Something Bad" (featuring Cynthia Erivo) | Wicked: The Soundtrack |
See also
In Spanish: Peter Dinklage para niños
