John Macdonald Steele (23 June 1953 – 2 March 2022), better known as John Stahl, was a Scottish actor best known for playing Rickard Karstark in HBO's Game of Thrones and Tom 'Inverdarroch' Kerr in High Road.

John Stahl
Born
John Macdonald Steele

(1953-06-23)23 June 1953
Died2 March 2022(2022-03-02) (aged 68)
OccupationActor
Years active1976–2022

Life and career

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Stahl was born on 23 June 1953 in Sauchie, Clackmannanshire.[1][2]

John was educated at Alloa Academy and studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.[3] From 1975 to 1976, Stahl worked as an assistant director in the Darlington Drama Centre. His screen debut was in 1976. He found fame for his role as Tom 'Inverdarroch' Kerr in the television series High Road, in which he appeared as a series regular between 1982 and 2003. He also played the role of Rickard Karstark in HBO's Game of Thrones, appearing in the second and third seasons.[4] His other roles include Inspector Reed in the 1995 television series Resort to Murder, and as Ewan in the 2011 Royal National Theatre production Frankenstein.[5]

Stahl lived on the Isle of Lewis and was a supporter of Scottish independence.[6] He died from cancer on 2 March 2022 at the age of 68.[7][8]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 A Sense of Freedom Det. Sergeant Williamson
1989 Albert and the Lion Forsyth (TV Movie)
1995 Jolly: A Life Moderator (TV Movie)
1996 Loch Ness First Fisherman
2010 Vocation Robert Herzfeld (Short)
2017 Victoria & Abdul Ghillie
2018 Mary Queen of Scots Fisherman
2021 A Castle for Christmas Solicitor

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1976 Garnock Way Police Constible Schoular 1 episode
1977 The Mackinnons Manager / Receptionist 2 episodes
1982–2003 High Road Tom 'Inverdarroch' Kerr 114 episodes
1994 Taggart Tom Fleming 1 episode
1994 Crime Story Det. Insp. Brian Steer 1 episode
1995 The Tales of Para Handy Robertson 1 episode
1995 Resort to Murder Inspector Reed 5 episodes
1996 Doctor Finlay Robbie Cuthbertson 1 episode
2001 Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes Supt. Milford 1 episode
2003 Doctors Fred Griffiths 1 episode
2007 Rebus Rev Andrew McLeod 1 episode
2008–2011 Holby City Jasper Glenn / Mick Hales 2 episodes
2010 Being Human Quinn 3 episodes
2012–2013 Game of Thrones Rickard Karstark 5 episodes: "A Man Without Honor", "The Prince of Winterfell", "Valar Dohaeris", "Dark Wings, Dark Words" and "Kissed by Fire"
2016 Shetland Eric the Boatman 1 episode
2019 Midsomer Murders Damian Lint 1 episode

References

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  1. ^ "Chance decision brought John to the stage". Evening Times. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  2. ^ "Obituaries: John Stahl, Take the High Road and Game of Thrones star". The Scotsman. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  3. ^ "John Stahl". Folger Shakespeare Library. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  4. ^ "John Stahl joins 'Game of Thrones' season 2 – but who is he playing?". Hypable. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  5. ^ "AHA John Stahl" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Scots Game of Thrones actor prepares for the National Theatre of Scotland's James Plays". Daily Record. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Tributes pour in for Scots Game of Thrones actor John Stahl who died aged 68". Daily Record. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  8. ^ Nugent, Annabel (4 March 2022). "John Stahl death: Game of Thrones actor dies aged 68". The Independent. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
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