Peter Dinklage is an American actor best known for playing the witty Tyrion Lannister in the hit series Game of Thrones, a role that made him one of the most recognisable faces on television, earned him four Emmy Awards and made him one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation. With his sharp intelligence and his gift for playing complex, charismatic men, he has built a career that spans television, film and theatre, and he has become known as much for his warmth off screen as for his intensity on it.
| Full Name | Peter Hayden Dinklage |
| Date of Birth | June 11, 1969 |
| Age | 57 years old (as of November 2026) |
| Birthplace | Morristown, New Jersey, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 4 ft 5 in (1.35 m) |
| Profession | Actor, producer |
| Known For | Game of Thrones, The Station Agent, Cyrano |
| Wife | Erica Schmidt (married 2005) |
| Children | Two |
| Net Worth | Approx. $25 million (Celebrity Net Worth, 2025) |
Who Is Peter Dinklage?
Peter Dinklage is an actor who became a star playing complex, charismatic men. He first found fame in the film The Station Agent in 2003, in which he played Finbar McBride, a train enthusiast who inherits a depot, a performance that earned him widespread praise and an Independent Spirit Award nomination. He then appeared in the films Elf in 2003, in which he played Miles Finch, and Find Me Guilty in 2006.
Dinklage became known to a new generation as Tyrion Lannister in the HBO series Game of Thrones in 2011, a role that made him a household name and that earned him four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. He also appeared in X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014, in which he played Bolivar Trask, and in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri in 2017.
Early Life & Background
Peter Hayden Dinklage was born on June 11, 1969, in Morristown, New Jersey, the son of an insurance salesman father and a schoolteacher mother, and he grew up in Mendham Township, New Jersey, where he attended Delbarton School. He has achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, and he began acting as a teenager, appearing in school plays, including a production of The Velveteen Rabbit.
After graduating from Delbarton, Dinklage studied at Bennington College in Vermont, where he graduated in 1991 with a degree in drama. He then moved to New York City, where he began acting in theatre and in independent films, including in Living in Oblivion in 1995, his first film role.
He has been married to theatre director Erica Schmidt since 2005, and they have two children, a daughter born in 2011 and a son born in 2017, whose names they have kept private. He lives in New York City, and he is known for his advocacy for animal rights and for his work with the charity Farm Sanctuary.
Career
Dinklage’s breakthrough came with Game of Thrones in 2011, in which he played Tyrion Lannister, opposite Sean Bean as Ned Stark. The show became one of the most successful television series of all time, and Dinklage’s performance was praised for its wit and its humanity, and for the way he made Tyrion’s journey, from a despised younger son to the Hand of the Queen, feel real.
After Game of Thrones, Dinklage appeared in Cyrano in 2021, in which he played Cyrano de Bergerac, a performance that earned him a Golden Globe nomination, and in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes in 2023, in which he played Casca Highbottom. He also voiced the character of Mighty Eagle in The Angry Birds Movie.
Like fellow Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Dinklage is known for a defining role in a fantasy epic, and for the wit and warmth he brings to every performance. He continues to act and produce, and he remains one of the most beloved actors in cinema and television.
Facts About Peter Dinklage
- Peter Dinklage won four Emmy Awards for playing Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones.
- He starred in the independent film The Station Agent in 2003, which made him a star.
- He was born in Morristown, New Jersey, in 1969, and studied drama at Bennington College.
- He played Cyrano de Bergerac in the musical film Cyrano in 2021.
- He has been married to Erica Schmidt since 2005, and they have two children.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Peter Dinklage?
Peter Dinklage was born on June 11, 1969, which makes him 57 years old as of November 2026.
How tall is Peter Dinklage?
Peter Dinklage is 4 feet 5 inches tall (1.35 metres).
Who is Peter Dinklage married to?
Peter Dinklage has been married to theatre director Erica Schmidt since 2005. They have two children.
What is Peter Dinklage’s net worth?
Peter Dinklage’s net worth is estimated at approximately $25 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth in 2025.
What is Peter Dinklage best known for?
Peter Dinklage is best known for playing Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones.