Wilko Johnson, punk hero and 'Game of Thrones' actor, has died

Wilko Johnson, a versatile artist who succeeded as a musician and as an actor, died at the age of 75.

The actor lost his life due to pancreatic cancer. It had been diagnosed in 2012.

Wilko Johnson only participated once as an actor in a series. But what a great choice it was... 'Game of Thrones'!

In the HBO series he played the role of Ser Ilyn Payne, the mute executioner. When asked, "why did they choose you?", he said that they wanted a sinister-looking guy who would look at people with hateful faces before killing them.

It was his appearance in the documentary 'Oil City Confidential' that caused David Benioff and DB Weiss to seek him out for the role of Ilyn Payne in 'Game of Thrones.'

Wilko Johnson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while filming the second season of 'Game of Thrones.' At that time, the series was already a global success. As they gave him the diagnosis in 2012, the doctors estimated he had a year to live.

Because of this diagnosis, Wilko Johnson decided to leave the series, having only recorded four episodes as Ser Ilyn Payne.

One of the wishes of the series' fans was to see how the friendship between Jamie Lannister and Johnson's character evolved in the series. In George RR Martin's novels, this is one of the best arcs in the saga.

Wilko Johnson initially refused chemotherapy. However, the doctors saw that his cancer was not as aggressive as they initially believed and the artist changed his mind. He underwent surgery and had ten more years to live.

Although he was unable to resume his character in 'Game of Thrones,' Wilko Johnes was able to return to his true passion, music.

His love for music was such that Wilko Johnson managed to give his last concert on October 18, a month before he died.

Wilko Johnson, born in Canvey Island, UK, is a legend of 20th-century music, especially as an inspiration and forefather of punk.

Wilko Johnson was the guitarist for 'Dr. Feelgood', the band he led with Lee Brilleaux.

Wilko Johnson's riffs are music history and a benchmark for 70s British pub rock, a genre that emerged in British venues of the time.

To put Johnson's music into perspective, 'Roxette' is one of the band's best-known songs, and the successful Swedish group of Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle took its name from that song.

'Ian Dury and the Blockheads' was another successful group in which Wilko Johnson participated. Images from his life before 'Game of Thrones' show that the man had a long and fruitful career. His fans will miss him.