Samwell Tarly

Samwell Tarly is a character in Game of Thrones. He is played by John Bradley-West and will first appear in the first season.

Samwell Tarly is the oldest son and former heir of Lord Randyll Tarly of Horn Hill. He is popularly called 'Sam', and disparagingly as 'Ser Piggy'. He is a large boy who has clearly led a somewhat pampered life.

In the books
In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, House Tarly is a loyal vassal of House Tyrell. Lord Randyll is a famous general, probably the best battlefield commander in the Seven Kingdoms, with a string of significant military victories to his name. During Robert's Rebellion he defeated Robert Baratheon at the Battle of Ashford, despite having inferior numbers. He also had a senior role in Lord Mace Tyrell's long siege of Storm's End.

Lord Randyll is a stern, fierce taskmaster and disciplinarian who holds martial valour and military skill above all other attributes. His eldest son Sam is soft, somewhat indolent and fat, enjoying music and reading over fighting and war, although his younger son Dickon shows much more military promise. Furious with Sam's lack of military potential, Ser Randyll sends him packing to join the Night's Watch on the Wall, making Dickon heir in Sam's place.