Wilko Johnson Game of Thrones
The actor and musician has died aged 75 (Picture: HBO)

Games of Thrones actor and Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson has died at the age of 75 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it was announced earlier today.

A statement posted to his social media accounts read: ‘This is the announcement we never wanted to make, and we do so, on behalf of Wilko’s family and the band, with a very heavy heart: Wilko Johnson has died. He passed away at home on Monday evening, 21st November 2022.

‘Thank you for respecting Wilko’s family’s privacy at this very sad time, and thank you all for having been such a tremendous support throughout Wilko’s incredible life.’

While no cause of death has been given, Johnson’s manager Robert Hoy said in 2013 Johnson had been diagnosed with ‘terminal cancer of the pancreas,’ although the following year Johnson declared himself cancer-free at the Q Awards, after doctors removed a 3kg tumour.

Johnson was a member of Dr Feelgood until 1977, and after leaving the band played with Ian Dury’s Blockheads as well as forming his own group, The Wilko Johnson Band.

But as well as his career as a musician, he was also an actor.

Who did Wilko Johnson play in Game Of Thrones?

Game of Thrones. Ilyn Payne [Wilko Johnson]
The actor and musician has died aged 75 (Picture: HBO)

Johnson played the role of mute executioner Ser Ilyn Payne in Game Of Thrones.

In the first series, Ser Ilyn serves King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) after the death of his father Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy), and under Joffrey’s orders, executes Ned Stark (Sean Bean).

The execution earns him a place on Arya Stark’s (Maisie Williams) death list, which she recites throughout the series.

It was never confirmed whether Ser Ilyn was killed with the members of Cersei’s (Lena Headey) household during the Battle of King’s Landing in the final season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT-8rXwuWwk

What episodes did Ilyn Payne feature in?

Ser Ilyn appeared in three episodes in the first series and one episode in the second.

He was later referred to, for example, in season four when Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) confronts his father Tywin (Charles Dance) before his execution, and Tywin assures Tyrion that Ser Ilyn won’t take his head.

Johnson previously said that his ‘sinister’ look had won him the part. ‘They said they wanted somebody who went around looking daggers at people before killing them,’ he revealed to Echo News.

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‘That made it easy. Looking daggers at people is what I do all the time. It’s like second nature to me.’

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