Peter Dinklage American actor Date of Birth: 11.06.1969 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Struggles and Early Roles
3. Breakthrough with "Game of Thrones"
4. Post-"Game of Thrones" Career
5. Awards and Recognition
6. Personal Life

Early Life and Education

Peter Hayden Dinklage was born on June 11, 1969, in Morristown, New Jersey, USA. His parents, John Carl Dinklage, an insurance agent, and Diane Dinklage, an elementary school music teacher, raised him and his older brother, Jonathan. Dinklage's fascination with acting began at a young age. As a child, he and Jonathan performed amateur puppet musicals for their neighbors. Although Jonathan also had acting aspirations, he pursued music and went on to become a professional violinist. Dinklage attended Delbarton School, a Catholic boarding school for boys, where he actively participated in school theater productions. His determination to pursue acting solidified after seeing a 1984 production of Sam Shepard's "True West." After graduating, he enrolled at Bennington College, a liberal arts institution, and graduated in 1991.

Struggles and Early Roles

Upon graduating from college, Dinklage traveled to New York City with his friend Ian Bell, hoping to land theater gigs. However, they struggled to gain traction and were eventually evicted from their apartment due to unpaid rent. To make ends meet, Dinklage worked for six years at a data processing company. Dinklage's acting debut came in 1995 with minor roles in the film "Living in Oblivion" and the New York theater production "The Killing Act." His career began to gain momentum after these early works. Notable roles in films such as "The Station Agent" (2003), for which he received multiple award nominations, and "Elf" (2003) established his acting abilities beyond his physical stature.

Breakthrough with "Game of Thrones"

Dinklage's breakthrough role came in 2011 when he was cast as Tyrion Lannister in the HBO fantasy series "Game of Thrones." The cunning and witty yet wise and honorable character of Tyrion became a fan favorite. Starting with the second season, Dinklage's name was featured first in the opening credits of "Game of Thrones" in episodes that included Tyrion, a testament to his pivotal role in a series known for its ensemble cast and unpredictable deaths. Dinklage's portrayal of Tyrion earned him four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series as well as a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film in 2012.

Post-"Game of Thrones" Career

Building on his international stardom, Dinklage joined the voice cast of the animated film "Ice Age: Continental Drift" (2012) and had prominent roles in films such as "X-Men: Days of Future Past" (2014), "Pixels" (2015), and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (2017). He also continued to appear in television shows like "Saturday Night Live" and stage productions such as "Month in the Country" (2015) at the Classic Stage Company. In 2018, Dinklage starred in the lead role of "I Think We're Alone Now," an auteur film exploring the consequences of his character's wish for humanity's disappearance.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his career, Dinklage has received numerous accolades for his acting achievements. In addition to his Emmy and Golden Globe awards, he has been nominated for Screen Actors Guild Awards, BAFTA Awards, and Tony Awards, cementing his status as a highly respected and accomplished actor.

Personal Life

Dinklage is married to theater director Erica Schmidt, and they have two children. He is known for being private about his personal life, and little is known about his family beyond their existence.