Brian Cox recounts in his memoir turning down Game of Thrones' King Robert Baratheon role

Insider

"Game of Thrones' went on to be a huge success and everybody involved earned an absolute fortune, of course. But when it was originally offered the money was not all that great, shall we say say," writes the Succession star of the role that went to Mark Addy. "Plus I was going to be killed off fairly early on, so I wouldn't have had any of the benefits of the long-term effects of a successful series where your wages go up with each passing season."