Jack Gleeson immortalized the character of the vile King Joffrey on Game of Thrones. But where is he now? Here’s an update on the actor and Jack Gleeson net worth.
More than half the world probably broke into a Sam Rockwell dance when the young, vile King Joffrey Baratheon died in Season 4 Episode 2 of the HBO hit fantasy series Game of Thrones. The young Irish actor wowed everyone with his portrayal, so natural and convincing that he effectively became one of the most hated characters in the show.
But what happened after he exited Game of Thrones? Many were shocked when he announced his retirement from being an actor despite being so young, famous, and in demand.
For the current year, Jack Gleeson net worth is estimated at $6 million. Read more about his life and career and how he’s doing now.
[Related Reads: Larry the Cable Guy Net Worth]
Jack Gleeson Short Bio
Jack Gleeson was born in Cork, Ireland, on May 20, 1992. He is the third child of the family and a brother to three girls. Gleeson’s older sisters got involved in theater at the same time he did. The siblings attended drama classes together and participated in Youth Theater performances.
Jack Gleeson’s interest in acting started as a weekend activity at their local community center. The drama classes were just playtime for the then 8-year-old Jack. He once said in an interview that if it happened to be a karate class, he would have been involved with that.
Career
Gleeson officially debuted on screen as Jack in the 2002 movie Moving Day. Minor roles followed this in 2003’s Fishtale and Tom Waits Made Me Cry in 2004. He also had brief appearances in Hollywood movies like Reign of Fire in 2002 and Batman Begins in 2005.
From 2006 to 2008, Jack Gleeson played the part of Pa Connors Jr. in the Irish television comedy series Killinaskully, but he already played minor roles before that. This was his first major TV project.
Game of Thrones
Jack Gleeson auditioned for Game of Thrones in front of Dan Weiss and Dave Benioff. Though the series’ creators seemed to have enjoyed his performance, Gleeson tried not to get his hopes up in landing the role. Then when it seemed like they wanted Gleeson for the part, he almost turned it down because the filming schedule conflicted with his studies.
Luckily, the producers decided to change the filming schedule, and it fitted nicely with Gleeson’s free time. Game of Thrones believed that they got the best person to play the role of Joffrey Baratheon, one of the central characters that could affect the outcome of the show.
Becoming Joffrey
Gleeson was initially delighted to land the part. He internalized Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as the treacherous Emperor Commodus in the 2000 box office film Gladiator. His portrayal of the role was so compelling that he didn’t just become one of the most hated characters in the series. He gained the respect of his seasoned peers to play such a challenging role.
Jack Gleeson wore the crown as the vile young king for no more than three years and played the role for 26 episodes. Within a short time, he received a total of eight award nominations, winning four of them, which included a mention for the Saturn Award in 2014 for Best Performance By A Younger Actor in a Television Series and Best TV Villain from IGN Awards.
Jack Gleeson’s Retirement
Jack Gleeson first mentioned his plans of retiring from his acting career after he’s done with Game of Thrones in 2011 despite being only nineteen at the time. He mentions wanting to take up a Ph.D. in Ancient Hebrew and dreaming of someday becoming a university lecturer.
He was young, rich, and very famous. Jack Gleeson had the potential of becoming a great TV and Film actor, yet he was already speaking of giving up his career even before it could reach its heights. Perhaps his dreams outside the showbusiness meant more than his path as an actor.
As terrible as his character was on screen, playing Joffrey Baratheon slowly ate away Gleeson’s love for acting. He loved the people he was working with, but quoting his exact words “pretending to be mean for money” sent him through depression, and Jack tried his best to hide it.
So when the death of King Joffrey Baratheon came in Season 4 Episode 2 of HBO’s Game of Thrones, the world cheered, and Jack Gleeson was one of them. He never has to cringe every time he receives his script full of swear words or shudder every time he has to say them.
Jack Gleeson ended his role of the vile king with a graphicly deserving death of a hated ruler. Offers came pouring in, but Gleeson turned them all down to focus on his studies. His transition to regular life was made easier by family and friends who knew him best..
[Related Reads: Todd McFarlane Net Worth]
Jack Gleeson Net Worth – Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is Jack Gleeson Net Worth?
Jack Gleeson net worth is $6 million for the current year. The sum came from his involvement in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones as Joffrey Baratheon.
What Happened to Jack Gleeson?
Aside from his initial plan of becoming an academic, Gleeson was losing his love for acting, which started when he was eight. To preserve his respect in the craft, he needed to leave the big screen.
Is Jack Gleeson Actually Nice?
Despite the somewhat toxic elements of his role, Jack Gleeson is described as a kind, sweet and courteous young man by everyone involved in the production of Game of Thrones. They were very proud of him for aiming to become an educator and a respectable member of society.
Jack Gleeson Net Worth – Final Thoughts
Jack Gleeson net worth is estimated at $6 million from being part of Game of Thrones. Had he continued his career after his involvement in the television series, Jack Gleeson net worth might have been even higher.
He was a prized young talent who had the knack of playing the most complicated roles ideally suited for the big screen.
In 2012, Jack Gleeson founded the Collapsing Horse Theater Company based in Dublin. The group became a regular in Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Smock Alley Theater, Dublin Fringe Festival. The company also reached off-broadway in New York and London.
One of the Collapsing Horse’s most popular plays is called Bears in Space. Despite aiming for the simpler and lighter side of being a performer, Gleeson’s theater company steadily earns international success. It only proved that Gleeson’s choice to follow his happiness was correct.
Related Reads:
- Gladys Knight Net Worth: The Inspiring Life of The Empress of Soul
- Patti LaBelle Net Worth: Breaking The Limits of Music
- Fran Drescher Net Worth: The Sensational Nanny Fine
