‘Game Of Thrones,’ ‘Dracula Untold’ Actor J.J. Murphy Dead At 86

Irish actor J.J. Murphy was about to grab some international fame when he unfortunately died just four days into shooting his scenes for HBO's megahit Game of Thrones, reports the Belfast Telegraph. He was 86-years-old.

The Telegraph claims Murphy collapsed and died this past Friday, Aug. 8.

The veteran actor was cast in the series as the oldest member of the Night's Watch, Ser Denys Mallister. Aside from the show, Murphy also had a role in the upcoming Dracula Untold.

Game of Thrones is currently filming it's fifth season in Murphy's home of Northern Ireland, and it's been said that the actor was "excited" to have been chosen to work on the series in a role that would undoubtedly become a major supporting role. Further news as to whether or not the network will re-cast Murphy's part, and thus re-shoot the scenes, or merely order up rewrites of the series, has yet to be said.

Also shot in Northern Ireland, Dracula Untold is set to be released in the United States on October 17. Murphy's role was that of the Village Elder.

While the actor found some success in television and film, he was a noted theater actor, through and through, having trained with the Ulster Group Theatre School in 1948. He also worked for a number of years with the Lyric Theatre in Belfast –– a place where the likes of Liam Neeson honed his craft.

Murphy's credits outside of Game of Thrones and Dracula Untold consist of the CBBC series The Sparticle Mystery, Cal, Angela's Ashes and Mickybo and Me.