A lot of characters have died in Game of Thrones. Like, a ridiculous amount. But while it's easy to forget about the individuals once they're thrown onto the never-ending corpse pile, some of them have had a lasting effect on the show. Despite being killed off way back in the first season, Ned Stark is likely the most influential dead character in the show.

After all, his death was the first real shock of the series. Eddard Stark was built up to be the standard, morally righteous fantasy protagonist, but Westeros is an unforgiving place which rarely rewards loyalty or ethical behavior - leading to his execution for a crime he didn't commit, in front of his two young daughters.

In the subsequent seasons, his sense of morality has affected the lives of many in the show - from those that called him naive to others who wish to live an honest life like he did. His actions started off the 'War of the Five Kings', leading to even more big shake-ups to the world.

Sean Bean, the 58-year-old actor who played the character, has recently opened up about the role, saying he was "very proud" to play one of the few good men in Game of Thrones. Speaking to the Huffington Post, he said:

"He was such a fantastic character to play. He was one of the very few good men with principles and morals and values in the whole thing, because everybody’s backstabbing and poisonous people.

"He was an anchor to a lot of people, and of goodness ... I was just glad to play Ned Stark. I’m very proud of it."

It's been a long time since we've seen the Stark patriarch on screen, with plenty happening in that world in the six seasons released after the one the actor starred in. When he was on the show, there still weren't any dragons and the Stark children were completely vulnerable to the cruel world.

Now, we've got two fully grown dragons, and have seen a zombie dragon take down the icy wall of the North to lead an army of the undead to invade the world of the living. But Sean Bean doesn't know much about that, as he hasn't been keeping up to date.

"I think I got me head chopped off in the ninth episode, I stopped watching it then," he joked. Then, when he was asked about who he would like to eventually be victorious and make it to the Iron Throne, he said: "I think Jon Snow would be a good choice."

I think his opinion is shared by a lot of people out there, but it gets a little extra credence when it comes from poppa Stark himself. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Sansa or Daenerys take on the throne while Jon Snow rules the North. He is, after all, better suited to the cold.

A lot of characters have died in Game of Thrones. Like, a ridiculous amount. But while it's easy to forget about the individuals once they're thrown onto the never-ending corpse pile, some of them have had a lasting effect on the show. Despite being killed off way back in the first season, Ned Stark is likely the most influential dead character in the show.

After all, his death was the first real shock of the series. Eddard Stark was built up to be the standard, morally righteous fantasy protagonist, but Westeros is an unforgiving place which rarely rewards loyalty or ethical behavior - leading to his execution for a crime he didn't commit, in front of his two young daughters.

In the subsequent seasons, his sense of morality has affected the lives of many in the show - from those that called him naive to others who wish to live an honest life like he did. His actions started off the 'War of the Five Kings', leading to even more big shake-ups to the world.

Sean Bean, the 58-year-old actor who played the character, has recently opened up about the role, saying he was "very proud" to play one of the few good men in Game of Thrones. Speaking to the Huffington Post, he said:

"He was such a fantastic character to play. He was one of the very few good men with principles and morals and values in the whole thing, because everybody’s backstabbing and poisonous people.

"He was an anchor to a lot of people, and of goodness ... I was just glad to play Ned Stark. I’m very proud of it."

It's been a long time since we've seen the Stark patriarch on screen, with plenty happening in that world in the six seasons released after the one the actor starred in. When he was on the show, there still weren't any dragons and the Stark children were completely vulnerable to the cruel world.

Now, we've got two fully grown dragons, and have seen a zombie dragon take down the icy wall of the North to lead an army of the undead to invade the world of the living. But Sean Bean doesn't know much about that, as he hasn't been keeping up to date.

"I think I got me head chopped off in the ninth episode, I stopped watching it then," he joked. Then, when he was asked about who he would like to eventually be victorious and make it to the Iron Throne, he said: "I think Jon Snow would be a good choice."

I think his opinion is shared by a lot of people out there, but it gets a little extra credence when it comes from poppa Stark himself. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Sansa or Daenerys take on the throne while Jon Snow rules the North. He is, after all, better suited to the cold.