Iain Glen
June 24, 1961 — Edinburgh, Scotland
Iain Glen is a Scottish actor with a distinguished career spanning theatre, film, and television — best known internationally as the loyal Ser Jorah Mormont in Game of Thrones, but equally celebrated on the London stage, where he won the Olivier Award as Best Actor, and in acclaimed television dramas including Downton Abbey.
Edinburgh, RADA, and Early Stage Career
Born on June 24, 1961, in Edinburgh, Glen was the son of a Scottish football manager. He studied at the University of Aberdeen and then trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. He established his reputation on the London stage rapidly, winning the Olivier Award for Best Actor in 1993 for his performance in Howard Brenton's Hedda Gabler at the Gate Theatre. His theatrical career continued to run in parallel with his screen work throughout his career, and he is regarded as one of the finest stage actors of his generation in Britain.
Film Career and International Breakthrough
Glen built an impressive film résumé through the 1990s and 2000s, appearing in Mountains of the Moon (1990), Fools of Fortune (1990), the title role in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) as Manfred Powell, and in Beautiful Creatures (2013). His nuanced, physically commanding presence made him a natural for complex villains and conflicted heroes alike. In British television he appeared in numerous acclaimed productions, demonstrating versatility across period drama, thrillers, and contemporary stories.
Did You Know?
Iain Glen's father, Stanley Glen, was manager of Aberdeen FC in the 1970s — and Iain actually grew up immersed in Scottish football culture before choosing acting. It may explain the athletic physicality Glen brings to roles like Ser Jorah Mormont, where his real-world stamina was tested in grueling outdoor shoots across multiple continents over eight seasons of Game of Thrones.
Jorah Mormont and Later Work
Glen's most recognized role came with HBO's Game of Thrones (2011–2019), where he played Ser Jorah Mormont — the exiled knight and devoted protector of Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke) — across all eight seasons. His portrayal of unrequited loyalty and moral complexity earned him widespread critical praise and a global audience. He subsequently appeared in the Downton Abbey film (2019), played Bruce Wayne's mentor Thomas Wayne in the TV series Pennyworth, and took the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in HBO Max's Batman: Caped Crusader (2024). He continues to work extensively across stage and screen.