Hodor Actor Kristian Nairn Says Carrying Bran in Game of Thrones Gave Him Back Problems

On-set injuries are as old as the art of acting, but leaving a role with chronic pain is not something any actor wants. Unfortunately, that's exactly what Kristian Nairn, who played Hodor on Game of Thrones, endured after carrying around Bran Stark, played by Isaac Hempstead Wright, on his back for about six seasons.

Nairn has a pelvic tilt, which is a fixable condition but requires about six months of physical therapy, as he explained during an episode of the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast. "I do have a back problem, but that came from working on Game Of Thrones," Nairn said. "All that carrying …"

The actor explained that when Hempstead Wright became too tall to carry, a "small lady" named Samantha was brought in as a Bran double. But it wasn't until later seasons that the show's creators found a stunt double with the same build as the 7-foot-tall Nairn and who could do some of the heavy lifting for him.

The 43-year-old actor was asked if he would sue because of the injuries he sustained on Game of Thrones, but he laughed it off. "It's not something I want to go down, the show's done so much for me," Nairn, who hails from Northern Ireland, said. "That's such an American point of view! We don't sue people back home for that."

Although fan theories argue that we could see the late Hodor again in the final season, it's probably unlikely he'll make an appearance. Game of Thrones will return for its final season on April 14.