Sandor Clegane

Sandor Clegane, nicknamed the Hound, is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation Game of Thrones. Introduced in 1996's A Game of Thrones, Sandor is the estranged younger brother of Ser Gregor Clegane, from the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Sandor serves as King Joffrey Baratheon's personal bodyguard. He subsequently appeared in Martin's A Clash of Kings (1998), A Storm of Swords (2000), and A Feast for Crows (2005). Like his brother, Sandor is regarded as one of the fiercest and strongest fighters in the Seven Kingdoms. His face is marked by gruesome facial burns he received as a child when his brother shoved his face into a brazier; ever since he has retained a crippling fear of fire, as well as a fierce hatred for his brother. While initially appearing brutal and fatalistic, he later proves to be far more honorable, sympathetic and compassionate, particularly through his relationships with Sansa and Arya Stark. Sandor is portrayed by Scottish actor Rory McCann in the HBO television adaptation. McCann also narrates the animated "History and Lore" for House Clegane, available in the bonus material on the Blu Ray releases. Character description Sandor Clegane, known also as The Hound, is the younger brother of Gregor Clegane, and was a retainer to House Lannister. He was regarded as one of the most dangerous and skilled fighters in Westeros. His size (in the novels he is 6'8", or 2 m and over 300 lbs, or 140 kg) and strength makes him an imposing figure, though he is not even as large as his brother Gregor. His visage is distinguished by gruesome burn scars that he received as a child, when his brother forced his head into a brazier. Consequently, Clegane fears fire and hates his brother. He is cynical and scornful of a knight's vows and their code of honor, as Gregor is a brutal knight utterly devoid of any morality or even humanity, a sadist who delights and revels in rape, bloodshed and violence. Clegane was described as a tormented man, driven by anger and hate, suffering from childhood post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessed with killing his brother.