Liam Cunningham wasn't even supposed to be the Onion Knight. Not at first. He actually auditioned for a different role back when the Game of Thrones pilot was being cobbled together. He’s never officially leaked which one—though fans love to guess it was Jorah Mormont or maybe even Stannis Baratheon—but the producers told him "no."
They didn't just reject him, though. They told him they had someone else in mind for the second season. Usually, in Hollywood, that's just a polite way of saying "don't call us, we'll call you." Except they actually called.
When Liam Cunningham eventually showed up as Davos Seaworth, everything changed. In a show where everyone was busy stabbing each other in the back or burning children alive for a bit of favorable wind, Davos was... normal. He was the guy who stayed human. Honestly, he was the only person in Westeros you'd actually want to grab a beer with, provided he didn't mind you staring at the leather pouch of finger bones around his neck.
The Smuggler Who Became a Moral Compass
Davos Seaworth is a weird character if you think about it. He’s a high-level advisor to kings, but he started as a crabber’s son from Flea Bottom. He’s a knight who can’t fight particularly well and, for a long time, couldn't even read. Cunningham played him with this weary, blue-collar grit that made you forget you were watching a high-fantasy epic with dragons.
His relationship with Stannis Baratheon is the heart of his early arc. It’s a toxic, complicated bromance. Stannis is the man who made Davos a knight but also chopped off his fingertips as "justice" for his smuggling past. Most people would harbor a bit of a grudge. Not Davos. He saw the potential for a just king in Stannis, even when Stannis was being led astray by Melisandre’s shadow babies and fire magic.
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Cunningham’s performance is all in the eyes. You see the heartbreak when he realizes his "King" is losing his mind. There’s that specific scene—the one everyone remembers—where he confronts Melisandre about the death of Princess Shireen.
"I loved that girl like she was my own. She was good, she was kind, and you killed her!"
The way Cunningham’s voice cracks? That wasn't just acting. It felt like a physical blow. He brought a fatherly grief to the screen that grounded the show's crazier supernatural elements. He was the audience's surrogate. We were all screaming at the screen, and he was the only one on screen screaming back at the people responsible.
Why Liam Cunningham Refused That Controversial Plot Line
Here's something a lot of casual fans don't know: Cunningham actually fought the showrunners to keep Davos's integrity intact.
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At one point, there was a suggestion from the writers that Davos might develop a bit of a "thing" for a much younger character. We’re talking a romantic attraction that would have felt completely gross and out of place. Liam shut it down immediately. He basically told David Benioff and D.B. Weiss that he wouldn't do it.
He knew that if Davos became just another "horny old man" in a world already full of them, the character's unique power—his status as the only pure father figure left—would be ruined. He saved the character from a bad writing choice that would’ve soured his entire legacy. That’s the kind of protection an actor provides when they truly get who they're playing.
Life After Westeros and 3 Body Problem
Since the show ended in 2019, Liam hasn't exactly slowed down. He’s been busy. You've probably seen him recently in Netflix’s 3 Body Problem, playing Thomas Wade.
It’s a massive pivot. Wade is nothing like Davos. Where Davos was humble and kind, Wade is a ruthless, high-stakes leader who will do literally anything to save humanity from an alien invasion. It's fascinating to see Cunningham use that same gravelly authority but for a character who is much more "ends justify the means."
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He’s also been incredibly vocal in the real world. In 2026, he’s still making headlines for his activism, particularly regarding global conflicts and Irish-Palestinian solidarity. He’s a guy who actually gives a damn. He isn't just an actor collecting a paycheck; he carries that Davos-level sense of duty into his actual life.
The Legacy of the Onion Knight
Why does Davos still matter? Why is he the one character people still quote with a weird amount of affection?
Basically, it's because he won. He didn't win the Iron Throne, but he survived. In a story that famously kills off everyone you love, the "simplest" man in the room made it to the end. He ended up on the Small Council as the Master of Ships. It’s the ultimate working-class victory.
Davos proved that you don't need a Valyrian steel sword or a dragon to be a hero. Sometimes, you just need to be the person who tells the King he’s being a complete idiot.
What to Watch Next If You Miss Ser Davos
If you’re looking to scratch that Liam Cunningham itch, don't just rewatch Game of Thrones for the tenth time. Check out these specific projects to see his range:
- Hunger (2008): He plays a priest opposite Michael Fassbender. It’s a masterclass in dialogue and tension.
- Dog Soldiers (2002): A cult classic werewolf movie where he plays a gritty soldier. Very different vibe, very fun.
- A Little Princess (1995): This is the one that blows everyone's mind. He plays the kind father (Captain Crewe). It shows he’s had that "ultimate dad" energy for decades.
- 3 Body Problem (2024-Present): Watch it on Netflix to see him play the most powerful, dangerous man in the room.
If you really want to understand the craft, go back and watch the scenes where Davos is learning to read with Shireen. Notice how he lets his guard down. It’s those quiet moments—not the giant battles—that made Liam Cunningham the secret weapon of the entire series.