Kit Harington, Born Christopher Catesby Harington on December 26, 1986, is a talented English actor. He has gained widespread recognition for his iconic portrayal of Jon Snow in the acclaimed HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones (2011-2019), earning him prestigious nominations for a Golden Globe Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards.
Profile Summary
Full Name: | Christopher Catesby Harington |
Date Of Birth: | December 26, 1986 |
Place Of Birth: | Acton, West London, England |
Nationality: | English |
Children: | 2 |
Occupation: | Actor |
Net Worth: | $14 Million |
Early Life And Education
Christopher Catesby Harington, known professionally as Kit Harington, was born on December 26, 1986, in Acton, west London.
His mother named him after the renowned playwright Christopher Marlowe, with “Kit” being a shortened version of the name that Harington prefers. Interestingly, he remained unaware of his full name until he was eleven years old.
His parents, Sir David Harington, a businessman and baronet, and Deborah Jane Catesby, a former playwright, have a rich family history, with Harington being a descendant of Scottish politician Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville.
Harington’s educational journey began at Southfield Primary School from 1992 to 1998. Following a family move to Worcestershire when he was eleven, he attended Chantry High School in Martley until 2003.It was during this time that he discovered his passion for acting, inspired by a production of Waiting for Godot at the age of fourteen.
He went on to participate in various school plays and later enrolled in Worcester Sixth Form College, where he studied Drama and Theatre from 2003 to 2005.
A pivotal moment in his journey came when he was seventeen, after witnessing Ben Whishaw’s captivating performance as Hamlet in 2004.
This experience motivated him to pursue a career in acting, leading him to move back to London in 2005 and enroll at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama, from which he graduated in 2008.
Career
Prior to his acting career, Harington had aspirations to become a journalist. However, his passion for the performing arts led him to enroll in drama school, where he landed a breakthrough role as Albert in the National Theatre’s production of War Horse.
This critically acclaimed play earned two prestigious Olivier Awards and catapulted Harington into the spotlight.
His success continued with his second theatrical endeavor, Posh, a biting dark comedy that explored the lives of affluent individuals at Oxford University. In this ensemble production, Harington showcased his versatility as a performer, further solidifying his reputation in the acting world.
After War Horse, Harington landed the iconic role of Jon Snow in Game of Thrones (2011-2019), a fantasy epic that follows the battle for the Iron Throne.
Filmed in Iceland and Northern Ireland, Harington’s performance earned critical acclaim, Saturn and Emmy nominations, and a reported £2 million per episode.
He made his film debut in Silent Hill: Revelation (2012) and later starred in Pompeii (2014), which received mixed reviews. However, his voice work in How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) was a critical and commercial success, winning a Golden Globe and earning an Oscar nomination. Harington’s breakout role in Game of Thrones cemented his status as a leading man in Hollywood.
Harington appeared in the poorly received fantasy film Seventh Son (2014) and the HBO comedy 7 Days in Hell.
He also starred in the western thriller Brimstone and the video game Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016).
Additionally, he wrote, starred in, and executive produced the BBC historical drama Gunpowder (2017) and appeared in the West End play True West (2018), receiving mixed reviews.
In 2020, Harington participated in a virtual play reading and joined the Netflix series Criminal: UK, which received positive reviews. He also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Dane Whitman in Eternals (2021).
In 2022, he starred in Henry V at the Donmar Warehouse and landed roles in Mary’s Monster, Blood for Dust, and the Apple TV+ series Extrapolations (2023).
Additionally, he is producing the TV thriller Empire of Dirt, a “British Western” about a family’s criminal empire.
Filmography
TV Series
– Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
– 7 Days in Hell (2015)
– Criminal: UK (2020)
– Extrapolations (2023)
– The Jonah Project (yet to be released)
– Jon Snow spin-off series (in development)
Films
– Silent Hill: Revelation (2012)
– Pompeii (2014)
– Testament of Youth (2014)
– Seventh Son (2014)
– Spooks: The Greater Good (2015)
– Brimstone (2016)
– The Death and Life of John F. Donovan (2018)
– How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
– Eternals (2021)
– Baby Ruby (2022)
– Blood for Dust (2022)
– Eternal Return (yet to be released)
– What Remains of Us (yet to be released)
Personal Life
In 2017, Harington bought a £1.75 million Suffolk home and got engaged to Game of Thrones co-star Rose Leslie. They married in 2018 in Scotland and have two children, born in 2021 and 2023. In 2019, Harington sought help for personal issues at a wellness facility, and in 2024, he opened up about his struggles with anxiety, alcoholism, and ADHD. He’s also a Manchester United fan.
Kit Harington Net Worth
Kit Harington, a renowned English actor, boasts a substantial wealth of $14 million, accumulated through his successful career in the entertainment industry.