Gallery: Who Could George R. R. Martin Be on Game of Thrones: Bearded Guy or Other Bearded Guy?
01lord-manderly
So, George R. R. Martin, the wordsmith behind the *Game of Thrones* novels, is likely going to get a [cameo on the HBO show](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2013/03/george-r-r-martin-cameo-season-4/). With his epic beard and overall Dungeons & Dragons-ready sense of style, there are just so many shoes (or boots, or whatever) that he could fill. His cameo character hasn't been announced, but since it costs nothing to dream, we decided to speculate wildly about the roles Martin might play, especially given the plethora of secondary characters with similar builds -- and beards -- in the books. Could he be a random guest drinking too much at a major event? A wildling? A maester? Beardy McBeardson of the Beard's Watch? Anything is possible! Click through the gallery above to see some of our dream roles for the *Song of Ice and Fire* author, complete with amateur Photoshops, and then hit the comments to let us know who you think Martin should play. *Photos courtesy HBO.* Above: Lord Wyman Manderly --------------------------- __Character Sketch:__ One of Robb Stark’s more comical bannermen, Wyman is the corpulent lord of White Harbor, a port city that’s the richest in the North. Mocked as Lord Too-Fat-To-Sit-A-Horse, Wyman is rarely seen without an artery-clogging assortment of the rich fare that Martin is famous for describing in pornographic detail. Not to bodysnark Martin, but he’s got the build for the role. And Martin did [tell Entertainment Editor Laura Hudson](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2013/03/george-r-r-martin-cameo-season-4/) that he wanted a role where he could recline, and you don’t often see Lord Wyman on his feet. – Spencer Ackerman
02wildling
A Wildling/Tormund ------------------- __Character Sketch:__ Described as “an immensely broad man” with a white beard, Tormund Giantsbane (alternately, Tormund Thunderfist) is one of the minor Wildling characters involved with Jon Snow’s storyline Beyond the Wall. A tall talker who makes bold claims about his ability to “outdrink, outfight and outsing” others – not to mention the hyperbolic size of his “member” – a faithful portrayal of Tormund would almost certainly require a speaking part – or more accurately, a boasting one. – Laura Hudson
03maester-of-nights-watch
A Maester of the Night's Watch ------------------------------ __Character Sketch:__ We already got a Night's Watch maester in season 1 with Aemon but that doesn’t mean another member of the order couldn't pop up for some official Watch advising, right? Perhaps Harmune, the maester who who serves at Eastwatch-by-the-sea and is described on his Wikipedia page as "usually drunk"? Martin already has the scholarly looking beard, and have you ever heard the guy speak? He's a, well, master with a bon mot so distilling a little wisdom would be right in his acting wheelhouse. – Angela Watercutter
04guest-at-event-redacted
Guest at \[Event Redacted\] --------------------------- __Character Sketch:__ What better place for a celebrity cameo than a red-carpet event? There’s one that's likely coming up -- rumored to close the coming season -- where an extra guest could easily slip in (out is another question altogether). Not only would an author cameo make for some cutting irony, but it would be a sly nod to Martin’s earlier scrapped Season One appearance. Plus, if there’s a scene more definitive of *Game of Thrones* than Ned’s death or the hatching dragons, it has to be the \[Event Redacted\]. – Rachel Edidin
05brave-companion
Brave Companion/Bloody Mummer ------------------------------ __Character Sketch:__ A particularly ugly band of sellswords run by the lispy and terrifyingly vicious Vargo Hoat – a role that will reportedly be filled in the TV series by a non-canonical character named Locke – the Brave Companions of the novels are alternately known as the Bloody Mummers as well as the Footmen, thanks to Hoat’s habit of cutting off the extremities of his prisoners. If we’re judging by the book, this means Martin could be anything from a sociopathic jester to a sociopathic maester to, well, a garden-variety sociopath. So many choices. – Laura Hudson
06joffreys-target-practice
King Joffrey's 'William Tell' Plaything (Minus the Apple) --------------------------------------------------------- __Character Sketch:__ Back when [fans on Empire asked Martin](http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=1496) about his cameos he mentioned that he "had investigated the idea of being a head on a spike" but it turned out that would be too expensive. So, here's an alternative: What if he was an unfortunate townsperson that King Joffrey decided to recruit [game of William Tell](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple-shot), minus the apple? The boy king does love that crossbow he's always playing with, and he's a profoundly sadistic little dick, so why not? This doesn't even have to be part of the plot – it could just be something happening in the background while he's having one of those battles of wit with Tyrion that the boy-king always comes to up unarmed. Imagine it: Tyrion and Joffrey bickering while Martin sits to the side off in a corner, dreading his fate. – Angela Watercutter
07aeron-damphair
Aeron 'Damphair' Greyjoy ------------------------ __Character Sketch:__ Theon’s uncle personifies why the Iron Islands are terrible: The Damphair is a humorless, fundamentalist priest of the bellicose Drowned God. Oh, and he might also be a zombie, as Aeron Greyjoy found religion after Stannis Baratheon sank his ship and he “drowned.” These days he walks barefoot along the islands with seaweed in his hair and baptizing/drowning the Ironborn. Martin’s many fans already consider him something of a prophet, so he might as well play the part. And so what if the guy who baptized Theon last season was supposed to be the Damphair -- the show recast the Mountain That Rides. – Spencer Ackerman
08petyr-baelishs-client
A, Um, Client of Lord Baelish ----------------------------- __Character Sketch:__ If Martin wants a sitting role, wouldn't a lying down role be even better? The author has always [been very frank](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/07/game-of-thrones-comic-con/) about the sexual content he puts in his stories, so why shouldn't he get to be a part of it? Also, how funny would it be to catch a glimpse of him in the background as Littlefinger strolls through his brothel? Too good. – Angela Watercutter
09writers-block
Author With Writer's Block -------------------------- __Character Sketch:__ This character doesn't really exist, but it would be perfect for its actor. As Martin himself well knows, hardly anyone sits more than a writer, so this role would be perfect for him. Also, if the show's creators want to get really meta with it, they could cast Martin as a soothsayer of sorts who can see the future of Westeros ::cough:: books six and seven ::cough cough:: and just can't find a way to get it down on parchment. – Angela Watercutter
