Ian McShane had one of the most pivotal cameos in Game of Thrones, but the legendary actor was never on the best of terms with diehard fans. McShane appeared in one episode of David Benioff and D.B. Weiss' HBO adaptation based on George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Though his stint was short, it was McShane's comments before and after his appearance that caught the most attention.
McShane notably appeared in the Game of Thrones season 6 episode titled "The Broken Man" as a character named Brother Ray. The episode from June 2016 featured the return of Sandor "The Hound" Clegane (Rory McCann), who surprisingly survived the duel with Brienne of Tarth the previous season. Ray, a former sellsword turned Septon, found the Hound and nursed him back to health. In service to the Faith of the Seven, Ray and his followers set out to build a sept in the Riverlands before the Brotherhood Without Banners arrived, looking to pillage their supplies. The Hound warned Ray to prepare for combat, but the religious man thought violence was never the answer. While the Hound was out gathering lumber, the Brotherhood returned and killed the followers before hanging Ray.
When McShane was originally cast, there was a thought he would be a recurring character based on his star status. That wasn't the case, seeing as the actor only worked on one episode, but that was a major selling point in joining the hit series. Not only was McShane game after learning of Brother Ray's quick demise, but the demands for the role fit with his expertise. According to McShane (via EW), Game of Thrones sent him the script featuring Ray's two-page speech, which the actor described as "a big soliloquy, like in Deadwood." McShane was known for his long-winded speeches during his time playing his award-winning role of Al Swearengen in HBO's Deadwood. Even though McShane showcased a heartfelt performance as Ray, his comments surrounding the series have since tarnished his Game of Thrones legacy.
Before Ray even appeared in "The Broken Man," McShane revealed his quick on-screen demise. When discussing the role in the time leading up to the Game of Thrones season 6 cameo, the actor spoiled the fact that his character would be killed off by the end of the episode. This spoiler came after McShane let slip how his character would connect to the return of a presumed-dead character. It didn't take long for fans to figure out he was vaguely referring to the Hound.
The spoilers resulted in contention with viewers, which led to some harsh comments from McShane. While speaking about the leaked details with Empire Magazine (via EW), McShane had this to say to disgruntled fans: "Get a f—ing life. The show is huge, but some fans seem to identify with it [too closely]. You want to say, ‘Have you thought about your lifestyle? Maybe you should get out a little more.'" These comments also didn't go over too well, but by then, the damage was already done.
Despite the issues surrounding McShane's short-term casting before and after his brief Game of Thrones appearance, there was no denying the importance of the role. Ray's conversations with the Hound convinced the hardened man he had the power to change, and he did exactly that by series end. He made peace with his past while also making an effort to make friends rather than enemies. Ray may have had a short arc, but he made a lasting impact, serving as a combination of two book characters, the Elder Brother and Septon Meribald. It's just too bad McShane's comments will always overshadow his brilliant cameo.