Known as 'the Tall,' Ser Duncan towers over nearly everyone he meets. In A Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin’s novella trilogy, Dunk is described as a man so large that he often makes his squire Egg look almost comically small at his side. That imposing yet gentle presence has now finally stepped onto the screen in HBO’s adaptation of the beloved Dunk and Egg stories.

With former athlete Peter Claffey playing the role of Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the series has an actor who certainly looks the part of a knight. But when it comes to sheer height, is Claffey tall enough to truly live up to the height of Ser Duncan the Tall?

Peter Claffey plays the role of Ser Duncan the Tall in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The Irish actor stands quite tall at 6 feet 5 inches, and his height aligns closely with the imposing presence required for the role. However, in George R. R. Martin’s stories of Dunk and Egg novellas, Duncan the Tall is described as standing an inch shy of seven feet. 

That makes Dunk’s height quite close to 6 feet 11 inches. In comparison, the Irish actor is several inches shorter than the character mentioned in the book. Even though the actor is not as tall as the character, Claffey's height makes the same impact as he is seen dwarfing everyone, and even his horse. 

While there were other big horses available, the production team chose this particular horse because its exceptional training was crucial for handling the demanding scenes in the first season. So, even at 6 feet 5 inches, Claffey’s broad build and large physical frame make him a convincing choice for Duncan the Tall. Moreover, Claffey does a strong job of showing Dunk as a man who looks like a giant but has a genuinely gentle heart. 

Before committing to acting full-time, Claffey also had a notable rugby career. While there were rumors that he left his sports career due to injuries, Claffey had opened up about the real reason.

There were rumors of Peter Claffey being forced to join a new career after his injury, which he later clarified. Claffey played through serious injuries while representing Ireland in the 2016 Six Nations, dealing with concussions and neck problems that worsened over time. After taking some time off to recover, he returned to professional rugby, joining teams like Connacht Rugby in 2018. 

However, he had a different reason to leave his sports career.

"I couldn't compete at the end. My heart was falling out of it," Claffey said as per USA Today. "I was thinking about acting. I didn't leave because of injury; it was because I wasn't good enough."

Now, finding a new path was not easy, but Claffey took the challenge. With the support of his parents, he joined a drama school in Dublin after starring in Vikings: Valhalla, Bad Sisters, and now leads the cast of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. With Season 2 already filming, this is just the beginning for the actor.

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What do you think about Claffey and Dunk’s height difference? Let us know in the comments section below.