Neil Fingleton, a ‘Game of Thrones‘ actor and the UK’s tallest man, has died age 36, reportedly of heart failure.
A statement posted to the Tall Person’s Club Facebook group read:
“Sadly it has come to our attention that Neil Fingleton, Britain’s Tallest Man, passed away on Saturday. Neil became Britain’s Tallest Man in 2007, passing the height of Chris Greener. Neil started off in basketball in the USA before becoming an actor and starring in ‘X-Men First Class‘ and also recently in ‘Game of Thrones’.
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family.”
Neil, who stood at a towering 2.3 metres and was among the 25 tallest men in the world, played Mag the Mighty in season four’s penultimate episode, ‘The Watchers on the Wall‘. His character forced his way into the tunnel beneath the wall before being killed by the Night’s Watchman.
Neil had originally auditioned for the part of The Mountain. “Obviously I didn’t get it,” he told The Telegraph in 2014, “but they kept me in mind, so when they were casting for giants they clearly hadn’t forgotten about me, which was good.”
Rip to the giant that is Neil fingleton mag the mighty game of thrones rest in peace mate gutted ???????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/Wz2GeQRG4G
— Gary Windle (@gary_windle) February 26, 2017
RIP Neil Fingleton -basketball player and @GameOfThrones actor. Just 36-years-old. Thoughts with his family & friends [a Durham lad as well] pic.twitter.com/iw0zFuvHgL
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) February 26, 2017
Neil, who in his short life also played basketball professionally and started his own clothing line for tall people called Seven Foot Seven (his height), told The Journal in 2007 that “to be the tallest is like a special gift, it’s unique.”
“I’ve never had any problems with my height. The thing people have to understand is being exceptionally tall is not a disease — it’s just a genetic thing. I have never been self conscious about my height. I am more conscious of going bald so that should tell you.
“I never let my height play a negative part in my life. I always do what I want, some tall people may be restricted as they are constantly stared at or people ask the same questions over and over. This is the only bad thing about being tall — the stupid remarks and questions. Other than that, being tall is great.”
And now his watch has ended. RIP.
Photo: Getty / New York Daily News Archives.
