:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/got-beards-090224-a193e464a9b642c2881dbae86814bf9a.jpg?w=780&resize=780,470&ssl=1 "‘Game of Thrones’ stars with and without their beards")
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Rocking a good beard was practically in the job description for male actors on Game of Thrones, which premiered 14 years ago on April 17. From Khal Drago’s (Jason Momoa) thick, braided beard to the short, boxed style of Robb Stark (Richard Madden), each had distinctive facial hair even within that framework.
Our emotional connection to their characters is so strong, however, that it can be disorienting to see the actors clean-shaven in the real world. We know it’s just a show, but seeing Kit Harington without his signature Jon Snow beard just feels wrong, somehow.
In honor of the show’s anniversary, here’s a side-by-side comparison of the various male stars of Game of Thrones in and out of character.
Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo)
Helen Sloan/HBO; Jason Momoa/YouTube
Jason Momoa stunned fans when he shaved off his iconic beard in 2019. “Goodbye, Drogo,” he yelled as he threw a handful of his famous whiskers to the wind and revealed his clean-shaven face for the first time in years.
Kit Harington (Jon Snow)
Helen Sloan/HBO; Mike Smith/NBC
You know nothing of facial hair anymore, Jon Snow.
Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister)
Helen Sloan/HBO; Jeff Vespa/WireImage
He trims and he knows things.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister)
Helen Sloan/HBO; Henry S. Dziekan III/WireImage
The beardslayer.
Richard Madden (Robb Stark)
Helen Sloan/HBO; Karwai Tang/WireImage
A stark difference.
Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy)
Helen Sloan/HBO; Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
What is shaved may never die.
Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont)
Helen Sloan/HBO; Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
No more greyscale or gray whiskers.
John Bradley (Samwell Tarly)
Helen Sloan/HBO; Gary Gershoff/WireImage
Sometimes a man has to make hard choices…like being bushy or clean-cut.
Aidan Gillen (Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish)
Helen Sloan/HBO; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) had one of the littlest beards on the show.
Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane)
Helen Sloan/HBO; Sony Pictures
A master at surviving the cold and the clippers.
Pedro Pascal (Oberyn Martell)
Helen Sloan/HBO; Desiree Navarro/WireImage
When it comes to war, Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal) fights for Dorne. When it comes to facial hair, we don’t choose sides.
Rory McCann (The Hound)
Helen Sloan/HBO; Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Afraid of fire, but not razors.
Kristian Nairn (Hodor)
HBO; Jerod Harris/Getty Images for WIRED
Nevermind the stubble, Hodor’s (Kristian Nairn) got a face tattoo!
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