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Games of Thrones: 'Lunatic' Jon Arryn death scene was cut from pilot according to Sir John Standing

We only ever see the character's dead body

Jack Shepherd
Wednesday 27 January 2016 04:50 EST
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John Standing as Jon Aryyn in Game of Thrones
John Standing as Jon Aryyn in Game of Thrones (HBO)

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Game of Thrones may focus on the Starks, Lannisters and Targaryens, but it was not any of their deaths that would kick off the ongoing war.

It was Robert Baratheon’s hand, Jon Arryn, who would uncover the dark secret behind the Lannister children’s’ parentage.

Eventually, Littlefinger would persuade Jon's wife, Lysa Arryn, to murder him because of his new-found knowledge. This, in turn, would lead Ned Stark to King’s Landing.

In conclusion, the reason everyone is at war is because of Jon Arryn! In the show, however, we hardly see him at all. Throughout the first season we get a brief glimpses of his dead body, played by Sir John Standing, but nothing more.

Sir Standing - who was literally just lying down the whole time - told Los Siete Reinos that a brutal death scene featuring Lena Heady was shot for the pilot. Unfortunately, it was “inevitably cut”. Watch the interview below.

The esteemed actor details how Arryn crawled across the floor, eventually reaching an ink and quill, hoping to scribble down a note. Unfortunately, in his frail state, he spills the ink as Cersei walks in and stomps on his hand.

Sir Standing goes on to detail how he still receives fan mail for his role in Game of Thrones even though he only appeared as a dead corpse.

In other GoT news, Kit Harrington has spoken about the fate of his character, Jon Snow, once again.

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