Frequently bearded Scottish character actor John Stahl became best known for playing Lord Richard Karstark, an erstwhile ally but subsequent betrayer of Robb Stark, in seasons two and three of HBO's Game of Thrones (2011). A classically trained thespian, Stahl also acted in many theatrical productions and had stints at the Royal Shakespeare Company and at the National Theatre. Trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, he first worked as an assistant director for a stage company. He appeared on screen from 1976, initially coming to prominence as Tom Inverdarroch Kerr, a recurring character in the British soap Take the High Road (1980) set in the fictional Scottish village of Glendarroch. In 2016, Stahl was cast as Scottish regent Murdac (or Murdoch) Stewart (1362-1425) in Rona Munro's play James I, which opened in Edinburgh and subsequently toured New Zealand, Australia and Canada. A fervent supporter of Scottish independence, Stahl died on the Isle of Lewis on March 2 2022.