Liam Cunningham

Biography

Liam Cunningham, born on June 2, 1961, in Dublin, Ireland, is a celebrated Irish actor with a career spanning film, television, and stage.   

Cunningham initially worked as an electrician in the mid-1980s and even spent three years in Zimbabwe maintaining electrical equipment at a safari park. However, he found himself drawn to acting and pursued it in his mid-twenties, attending acting classes and working in local theatre, including with the Royal Shakespeare Company.   

His screen debut came in 1992 with the film Into the West, where he played a police officer. This marked the beginning of a prolific career with roles in films like War of the Buttons (1994), A Little Princess (1995), and Jude (1996). He continued to build a strong filmography with appearances in The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006), Hunger (2008), The Escapist (2008), and Clash of the Titans (2010).   

While he has a significant presence in film, Cunningham is perhaps most widely recognized for his role as Davos Seaworth in the HBO epic-fantasy series Game of Thrones (2012-2019). His portrayal of the honorable and loyal former smuggler earned him international acclaim and a dedicated fan base.   

Beyond Game of Thrones, Cunningham has starred in numerous other notable television series, including Outcasts (2011), Titanic: Blood and Steel (2012), The Hot Zone (2019), and 3 Body Problem (2024), where he plays Thomas Wade. He has also appeared in the upcoming 2025 film The Physician II.   

Throughout his career, Liam Cunningham has garnered recognition for his talent, including two Irish Film & Television Awards and a shared BAFTA for the short film Pitch Black Heist, which he also co-produced with Michael Fassbender. His journey from electrician to acclaimed actor showcases a remarkable dedication to his craft.