Game of Thrones Star Kit Harington Reveals He Almost Died as a Child

Rich Polk, Getty Images for IMDb
Rich Polk, Getty Images for IMDb | Rich Polk, Getty Images for IMDb

Before his ​shocking death in season five, Jon Snow survived multiple near-death experiences on Game of Thrones. Whether it was the time he was close to execution or the time he was outnumbered by an army of wights, he has always found a way to escape.

Turns out K​it Harington, the actor who plays Jon Snow, had a near-death experience himself when he was younger.

"Once, I nearly drowned in a swimming pool," ​Harington recalled. "When I was four. I was seconds away from death, apparently."

Harington did not elaborate on who or what nearly caused the drowning, but it may have incidentally been at the hands of his older brother, who enjoyed teasing Harington when the two were growing up.

The actor used to have a volatile relationship with his brother and joked his acting career stems from the way he used to be able to put on a performance and get his sibling into trouble very easily when they were growing up.

He said the two are "very, very close," but they fought all the time when they were younger.

After starring on ​GoT for years, Harington is returning to the stage and says the sibling rivalry in his new play, True West, reminds him of the one he grew up with.

"My older brother will find this play hilarious, because he used to kick the out of me," he said. "There's something in this play that appeals to that side of me and my brother's relationship, way back when. We were quite competitive."