Game of Thrones was a global phenomenon at the height of its popularity. The HBO show reached unprecedented success, and such is its enduring legacy, that it is still talked about to this day. Based on the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin, the show pushed the creative boundaries of everyone involved.
The actors played a huge part in immortalizing the characters that Martin wrote. Rory McCann was one of them, who played the indomitable knight, Sandor Clegane. However, the actor came very close to missing out on the glory that the show brought him.
When Game of Thrones star Rory McCann’s adventures nearly cost him his life
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss had the daunting task of adapting George R.R. Martin‘s epic fantasy for television. The showrunners did the impossible, as they translated the author’s world so beautifully. The final product was breathtaking, and it boasted of being the best across categories—from cinematography to score—the show had it all.
The HBO show was epic in every sense of the term, and every actor put their best foot forward to stand out. Rory McCann embodied the physicality of Sandor Clegane, also known as the Hound. Since his first appearance in the pilot, Clegane drilled a sense of fear into the hearts of everyone, on and off the screen. As the seasons progressed, his character transformation was incredible to witness.
McCann always managed to stand out amidst a sea of talent. His height and his proclivity for adventure worked in his favor. However, his love for rock climbing very nearly cost him dearly, years before he landed the role of Clegane.
During an interview with the Daily Record, the actor opened up about his close brush with death. He recalled his rock-climbing accident in 1990, when he fell over 70 feet and suffered major injuries.
“I used to solo rock climb, which I don’t recommend because when you find out you can’t do the climb … yeah it didn’t work out but I’m still alive. I mean, I have a few bumps. I’m in plaster nearly every year. I’m a bit like that,” said the actor.
In a strange twist of fate, the actor went on to play a climber in his very next project, The Book Group. It catapulted him to fame, and it has only increased since he donned the armor for the Hound.
Rory McCann suffered injuries while shooting Game of Thrones
D&D did an incredible job with the storytelling, even if the finale ended up disappointing the majority of the fanbase. However, the Night King’s plot gripped the imagination of everyone, and season 7 set up the story for the eventual clash between the leader of the wights and the heroes.
The penultimate season saw a few brave men go beyond the Wall to capture one of the Night King’s minions. He had to shoot scenes while carrying a man on his shoulder, which took its toll on the actor’s body. McCann opened up about it during an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald as he was icing his injury.
“O.K., it was from the show. I can‘t tell you exactly how, but I had this guy on my shoulder for days and days—it didn’t work with a dummy so I had to carry a real guy and we had to run and run. . .No wonder I’m f—ed,” he said.
The actors always gave it their all while filming, and many picked up injuries as a consequence. It was the dedication that saw the show become such a phenomenon. Game of Thrones is available to stream on Max.
