Before he became Tyrion Lannister, Peter Dinklage was just a New Jersey kid who once hid inside a treasure chest during a school play and nearly gave his mother a heart attack. Long before the Emmys and worldwide fame, he was a theater-loving teenager with a questionable mullet and a huge dream of becoming an actor. Born in Morristown, New Jersey, on June 11, 1969, he grew up in a modest home and showed a love for performing from an early age. His mother later said he seemed destined for the acting world almost as soon as he could speak. What no one could have guessed was that his road to fame would include pirate costumes, punk-band chaos, and plenty of unforgettable detours.
The Delbarton Days
Dinklage attended Delbarton School in Morristown, a private, all-male Roman Catholic college-preparatory institution, alongside his brother Jonathan. It was here that his theatrical instincts first found a stage — quite literally. While other kids were focused on sports or getting into trouble, young Peter threw himself into the school’s drama program with a confidence that belied his age.
His former drama teacher, Diane Lopez, remembers him vividly. “Peter always had extreme presence right from the get-go,” she recalled. “He was confident and hung around with a tight-knit group.” Despite his stature making him stand out physically, Lopez insists he never appeared distressed or withdrawn. Quite the opposite he was one of the most self-assured kids in the building.