Kit Harington

Christopher Catesby Harington (born 26 December 1986) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Jon Snow in the HBO fantasy television series Game of Thrones (2011–2019), for which he received nominations for a Golden Globe Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards. A graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Harington made his professional acting debut in 2009 with the lead role of Albert Narracott in the West End play War Horse. He developed, produced, and starred as Robert Catesby in the 2017 BBC drama series Gunpowder. His film roles include the historical romance film Pompeii (2014), the period drama Testament of Youth (2014), and the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Eternals (2021), and a voice role in the second and third films of the How to Train Your Dragon film series (2014–2019). Early life and ancestry Christopher Catesby Harington was born on 26 December 1986 in Acton, west London. His mother named him after Christopher Marlowe, whose first name was shortened to Kit, a name Harington prefers. He did not learn what his full name was until age eleven. His parents are Sir David Harington, 15th Bt, a businessman and baronet, and former playwright Deborah Jane. Through his father, Harington descends from Scottish politician Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Harington is related to men who were involved on opposite sides of the Gunpowder Plot (1605). He claims a family connection with the leader of the plot, Robert Catesby, on his mother's side, while through his father's side, he is related to King James I, the target of the assassination attempt, and to Lord Harington of Exton, who was in the Houses of Parliament that Catesby and his co-conspirators tried to blow up.