Actor J.J Murphy has collapsed and died at the age of 86 after four days on of filming his first scene for the fantasy HBO drama the Game of Thrones.

A spokesperson from the Arts of Council of Northern Ireland confirmed his death in a statement.

"The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has learned with regret of the death of veteran Northern Ireland's actor, JJ Murphy, who died suddenly on Friday 8^th of August.

Murphy who was also starred in the films of Cal and Angela's Ashes, had been cast in the series as Ser Denys Mallister as the oldest member of the Night's Watch.

In HBO Game of Thrones narrative, the Night's Watch is a military order that protects "the Wall" a fortification on the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms.

Murphy's character in the said movie was one of the nine new characters that will join the show on its fifth season.

They include Alexander Siddig as Doran Martel, the ruling Lord of Dorne, Yoby Sebastian as Trystane Martell, Prince Dorna's son, Nell Tiger Free as Mycrela, the eldest child of Cersei Lannister, Keisha Castle-Hughes us Obara Sand, a "fearsome warrior" and Jonathan Pryce as the evangelical figure, the High Sparrow.

According to producer of HBO Games of Thrones D.B Weiss and David Benioff the role of J.J Murphy as Denys Mallister will not be recast in the Games of Thrones.

"We will not be recasting J.J Murphy, he was a lovely man and the best Denys Mallister we could have hoped for. And now his watch is ended."

Actress and fellow Equity member Maggie Cronin reminisce how kind was the actor was, "His passion for theatre, for the welfare and betterment of actors and those who worked in the performing arts was always there, it was an integral part of the man."