Peter Dinklage biography, net worth, height, wife, kids, age, awards 2025

Peter Dinklage Biography

Peter Dinklage – a small man with enormous talent. His entire life and journey prove that anyone can achieve their goals if they believe in themselves and their abilities. Nobody believed in him, but Peter always knew he could turn his dreams into reality. That kind of determination deserves respect.

Height

In early childhood, Peter was diagnosed with a rare genetic mutation – achondroplasia. People with this condition experience slowed growth in their limbs, though their head and torso develop normally.

The future actor's growth stopped at 4'5" (135 cm) when he was still a kid. What's particularly interesting is that Peter was the only one in the Dinklage family with this condition; both his parents and his younger brother Jonathan were average height.

The congenital condition didn't stop Peter from looking cool

As Peter himself said: "When I was younger, I was angry at the world, so I built a wall of cynicism around myself. But the older you get, the more you realize you need to approach everything with humor. Eventually, I understood that this [condition] isn't my problem – it's other people's problem."

Childhood

Peter was born in Morristown, New Jersey, to an ordinary family: his mom Diana was a school music teacher, and his dad John Carl was an insurance agent who'd go months without work.

The boy realized he was different from other kids pretty early on. Because of his condition, he was often subjected to humiliating attacks from his peers, which made him hot-tempered, withdrawn, and antisocial.

Dinklage attended Delbarton, a private Catholic boys' school. In fifth grade, Peter landed the lead role in the school production of "The Velveteen Rabbit" and received such thunderous applause that he became a regular in the drama club right up until graduation in 1987.

Music and First Roles

Living by the principle that "nothing is impossible in life," Peter aced his entrance exams to Bennington College for the Arts and soon found his confidence, shed his angry facade, and threw himself into studying the craft of acting with double the dedication at rehearsals.

Young Peter Dinklage (shot from the film "The Station Agent")

During his freshman year, Dinklage managed to turn his distinctive feature into a personal advantage, making his small stature his trademark. Professors noted his outstanding talent, and classmates welcomed Peter into their circle. The newly minted student didn't deny himself life's guilty pleasures: he partied with friends, drank, and even performed with his own punk band Whizzy – in short, he was one of the guys.

Dinklage graduated from college in 1991, but his professional career didn't launch until 1995 with a role in Living in Oblivion. The low-budget film gave audiences an ironic look at filmmaking, with Peter Dinklage playing an actor named Tito who's tired of the clichéd "dwarf" roles that come his way thanks to a temperamental director played by Steve Buscemi. The film's screenplay earned high praise at the Sundance Film Festival, and the creative partnership between Dinklage and Buscemi would go on to grace screens many more times.

"Living in Oblivion", Peter Dinklage's first film

Over the next several years, he landed supporting roles that audiences couldn't help but remember: a construction foreman in Bullet with Mickey Rourke, Leflore in The Babymakers, and Binky the clown in Thirteen Moons. Peter also started appearing on TV: he played a drug dealer in Third Watch and showed up in episodes of The Street and Body Parts.

Early in his career, Peter Dinklage played the most unexpected characters

Acting Career

In 2003, Peter Dinklage landed the lead role in "The Station Agent," playing Finbar McBride, a retired railroad worker. The character hit close to home for the actor – a reclusive dwarf condemned to endless ridicule from those around him. The film earned Peter a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor.

Peter Dinklage's breakthrough film – "The Station Agent"

That same year saw the release of "Tiptoes": Kate Beckinsale's character, desperate for a child, suddenly discovers that all the ancestors of her seemingly normal husband, played by Matthew McConaughey, suffered from dwarfism – including his brother Rolfe, portrayed by Gary Oldman. Dinklage appeared as Rolfe's best friend, the crude and cynical Maurice. Around the same time, Peter worked on the Christmas comedy "Elf," though audiences gave it a lukewarm reception.

In 2004, the actor fulfilled a long-held dream – playing Richard III in Shakespeare's play at New York's Public Theater. The following year, he appeared in British director Charlie Kaufman's production of "Hope Leaves the Theater" alongside Meryl Streep and Hope Davis.

Peter Dinklage on stage: the play "A Month in the Country"

In 2005, audiences could catch Dinklage in "Lassie," followed by the 2006 crime drama "Find Me Guilty," where Peter starred opposite Vin Diesel, and in 2007 – the international comedy "Death at a Funeral" (three years later, he also appeared in the American remake).

Peter Dinklage's eccentric character in "Death at a Funeral"

Dinklage also tackled negative characters, like the "evil dwarf" Lemon in the romantic comedy "Penelope," and in "Underdog," he played the obsessed geneticist Simon Bar Sinister.

In 2008, Peter joined the cast of "The Chronicles of Narnia" sequel, playing the dwarf Trumpkin. Critics unanimously panned the role, claiming that this time the actor couldn't overcome the stereotypical portrayal. Dinklage himself found the project disappointing, stating: "I'm a different kind of bird. That shit's not for me."

Game of Thrones

By the time David Benioff and David Weiss started adapting George R.R. Martin's fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, Peter Dinklage had over forty roles under his belt – from bit parts in forgettable TV shows to serious work like KC Munk in "Pete Smalls Is Dead". Colleagues jokingly called him "Hollywood's most famous little person," and when directors needed a short-statured character, they knew exactly who to call first.

So it's no surprise that both the show's producers and George R.R. Martin himself unanimously championed Dinklage for the role of Tyrion Lannister, scrapping any further auditions. He then recommended his old friend Lena Headey for the part of Cersei.

The one and only Tyrion Lannister – Peter Dinklage

Tyrion, lurking in the shadow of his older brother Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), is the only voice of reason in the corrupt House Lannister. Stripped of any claim to the title, he instantly won over longtime fans of the saga and newcomers to the "Game of Thrones" universe alike.

The Daily Show - Peter Dinklage

After the first season premiered, Peter Dinklage's photo landed on the cover of Rolling Stone, Playboy magazine dubbed him a "sexy hunk," and GQ crowned him "Stud of the Year 2011."

With each season, Dinklage's character arc expanded until Tyrion moved front and center alongside the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), and the Stark bastard Jon Snow (Kit Harington).

Peter Dinklage with George R.R. Martin and other "Game of Thrones" cast members

Thanks to the series, Dinklage's trophy case gained an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, and little people around the world started viewing the "half-man" as something of an ombudsman.

Peter Dinklage wins an EMMy for Game of Thrones 2011

Later Career

In 2013, during breaks between filming seasons 3 and 4 of "Game of Thrones," Dinklage accepted director Bryan Singer's invitation to play the main villain in the blockbuster "X-Men: Days of Future Past."

X-Men: Peter Dinklage became the main antagonist of the film

In 2014, Peter worked on another major project – "The Angriest Man in Brooklyn." Dinklage's co-stars were Robin Williams (for whom this became one of his final roles) and Mila Kunis. The actor played the main character's brother, who's confronted with a shocking revelation: he's terminally ill and has less than 24 hours to live.

Peter Dinklage, "The Angriest Man in Brooklyn"

The actor also stayed busy with theater productions and worked on the feature film "The Boss" alongside Kristen Bell and Melissa McCarthy.

Peter Dinklage sings

In 2017, Dinklage landed a role in the Oscar-winning film "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" with Frances McDormand. While Peter didn't receive awards for this performance, audiences singled out his character as one of the most memorable.

Frances McDormand and Peter Dinklage on the set of "Three Billboards"

A year later, Peter played a brief role as a dwarf from Asgard in Marvel Studios' epic "Avengers: Infinity War."

In winter 2018, the film "I Think We're Alone Now" was released, with the actor in the lead role. This indie film follows a dwarf whose dream of everyone on Earth disappearing becomes reality.

In early 2020, Dinklage's talent as a dramatic actor earned him a SAG Award – for his powerful performance in the final season of "Game of Thrones".

In 2020, Dinklage surprised fans with an unexpected role – playing pirate Fannybaws in a music video for Scottish power metal band Alestorm. That same year, he transformed into Russian gangster Roman Lunyov in the dark crime comedy "I Care a Lot".

ALESTORM - Fannybaws (Official Video)

Late 2021 brought the musical "Cyrano", with Dinklage shining in the lead role – fittingly, since the screenplay was written by his wife Erica Schmidt. Filming took place in Sicily in October 2020, with all vocals recorded live. The film hit wide release in February 2022. Dinklage's work earned widespread acclaim – critics praised his "ability to convey Cyrano's pain and longing with subtle emotional precision."

Peter Dinklage in period costume with a red doublet holds a letter and looks up with a slight smile — Peter Dinklage in "Cyrano"

In January 2022, Dinklage sparked controversy when he spoke out on Marc Maron's "WTF" podcast about Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" remake. He noted that while Disney was celebrating casting a Latina actress in the lead role, they were still telling "a backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave."

Disney responded with a statement that the studio was "taking a different approach with these seven characters" and consulting with the dwarfism community. However, Dinklage's comments drew mixed reactions within the community itself – some actors with dwarfism felt his words cost them a shot at significant roles in a major Hollywood film.

In 2023, the actor voiced main villain Scourge in the blockbuster "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts". That same year, he played the lead in romantic comedy "She Came to Me" and appeared on screen as Dean Casca Highbottom in "The Hunger Games" prequel – "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes".

2024 was packed – Dinklage popped up with a cameo in Jerry Seinfeld's Netflix comedy "Unfrosted". September brought the western "The Thicket" with him in the cast.

Peter Dinklage and Gbenga Akinnagbe stand in the snow, one aiming a rifle mounted on a tripod, the other gazing into the distance — Still from "The Thicket"

October saw the premiere of the comedy "Brothers", where Dinklage played the twin of Josh Brolin's character – the absurdity was part of the point. Meanwhile, Dinklage voiced goat Doctor Dillamond in the first part of the "Wicked" musical adaptation.

Peter Dinklage's Personal Life

Peter's height hasn't stopped him from building a happy family life – he's married to theater director Erica Schmidt.

Peter Dinklage and Erica Schmidt - photos together from public events, a collage of three images — Peter Dinklage and Erica Schmidt

Their meeting happened in the most charming way: back in 1995, Erica complained to her close friend, playwright Jonathan Marc Sherman, about being lonely and having no one to play board games with. He flipped through his address book looking for a suitable candidate; when he got to "Dinklage," he hesitated, but Erica said, "Why not?"

Erica and Peter quickly became close friends and stayed that way for about 10 years. In 2005, they made it official as a couple and had a quiet, intimate wedding.

In 2011, the creative couple welcomed a daughter they named Zelig – German for "blessing." Six years later, Zelig got a baby brother. Neither child inherited Peter's condition.

Peter Dinklage Now

February 2025 brought news of Peter Dinklage's return to television – he's landed the role of villain Leon Prator in the series "Dexter: Resurrection". It's his first major TV role since "Game of Thrones" wrapped.

Peter Dinklage stands in a dark room illuminated by green and orange light — Peter Dinklage in "The Toxic Avenger"

Late summer finally saw "The Toxic Avenger" hit theaters, two years after filming wrapped in 2023. Peter Dinklage took on the lead role of Winston, an ordinary janitor and single dad who becomes a mutant but keeps his sensitivity and heart of gold.

Deanna Davis

He is doing a good job. This person achieves everything because of his talent and efforts!

2021-05-03 12:16:29
Barbara Williamson

All over the place, it`s possible to find Dinklage :) He is one of the famous actors with short stature.

2021-04-21 13:44:02
Donald Adams

I think I missed that moment when he used to play in the last part of the Avengers? I should watch it one more time :)

2021-04-12 15:11:54
Richard Miller

I`m watching Game of Thrones and by the way, Dinklage is playing a complicated and important role there.

2021-03-24 13:50:03
Kenneth Thompson

I watched The Station Agent around 2010 and since that time I like this actor.

2021-03-13 18:37:15
Jack Rail

I never heard of this guy until GoT. Now he's a fave.

2018-12-05 16:11:24

Photos: Peter Dinklage