Wilko Johnson, an English guitarist and singer for the band Dr. Feelgood who also played the executioner Ser Ilyn Payne on HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” On Monday, he died. He was 75.
“This is the announcement we never wanted to make, and we do so with a very heavy heart: Wilko Johnson has died. He passed away at home on Monday 21st November. Thank you for respecting the family’s privacy at this very sad time. RIP Wilko Johnson,” On Wednesday, his official Twitter account published the following:
This is the announcement we never wanted to make, & we do so with a very heavy heart: Wilko Johnson has died. On Monday, 21 November 2016, Wilko Johnson passed away in his home. We are very grateful to you for your understanding and privacy during this difficult time. RIP Wilko Johnson.
(Image: Leif Laaksonen) pic.twitter.com/1cRqyi9b9X— Wilko Johnson (@wilkojohnson) November 23, 2022
Johnson founded Dr. Feelgood in 1971 with Lee Brilleaux, John B. Sparks and others. They played a distinctive style of British pub rock and R&B and toured throughout the ’70s with high-energy performances. Their debut album “Stupidity” It reached No. Johnson had left the group in 1977 after reaching No. 1 on the U.K. Albums Chart.
On TV, Johnson’s lone role was as Payne in Seasons 1 and 2 of “Game of Thrones.” Known as the King’s Justice, Payn was the royal executioner who was ordered to kill the beloved Eddard “Ned” Stark (Sean Bean), near the end Season 1. He had his tongue cut out during the Mad King’s rule, making him the perfect, silent killer.
“They said they wanted somebody really sinister who went around looking daggers at people before killing them,” Wilko spoke in a 2011 Interview. “That made it easy. Looking daggers at people is what I do all the time, it’s like second nature to me…On the first day, I had to look evilly at this girl. So I sort of boggled at her. Afterwards, the American director came up to me and said ‘Wilko, you don’t have to act scary. You are scary.’”
After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer late in the stage, he opted not to have chemotherapy. He was then given 10 months of life expectancy. His Story “Game of Thrones” The role of Roger Daltrey was then cut short and he recorded his final album in 2014 with The Who. He was later declared cancer-free after a series of operations.
Two sons Matthew and Simon are left to Johnson. Irene Knight was his wife and died in 2004 from complications of cancer.