Rory McCann: The Hound’s New Role in Star Wars and His Life Now

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you probably still hear the Hound’s gravelly voice in your head. Rory McCann, the Scottish actor behind the helmet, has quietly built a new chapter in a galaxy far, far away—and in 2025 he was confirmed to take over the role of Baylan Skoll in Star Wars: Ahsoka following the death of Ray Stevenson, a move that reignited interest in both his on-screen legacy and his off-screen life.

Born: April 24, 1969 ·
Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) ·
Net Worth: ≈ $4 million ·
Known For: Sandor “The Hound” Clegane in Game of Thrones ·
Current Project: Baylan Skoll in Star Wars: Ahsoka

8 key facts, one pattern: McCann’s career is defined by a single towering role and a quiet, deliberate pivot into a new franchise.

The pattern: McCann’s public profile is built almost entirely on two roles—the Hound and now Baylan Skoll—with a deliberate gap in between. That gap tells the real story.

What Is Rory McCann Doing Now?

What happened to Rory McCann?

• In January 2025, reports surfaced that McCann had been cast as Baylan Skoll in Star Wars: Ahsoka, taking over the role originally played by Ray Stevenson before his death in May 2023 (UPI (news wire service)).
• The casting was officially confirmed at Star Wars Celebration Japan in April 2025 (GamesRadar+ (gaming and entertainment site)).
• McCann is actively filming the second season of Ahsoka, though no release date has been announced (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator)).
• Between projects, he keeps a low profile in the Scottish Highlands, enjoying golf and whisky (Looper (entertainment news site)).

Why this matters: After a decade as the Hound, McCann could have cashed in on fandom. Instead, he chose a deliberate, low-profile path—and now the industry is coming to him.

What Was Rory McCann’s Role in Game of Thrones?

Which character did Rory McCann play?

• McCann portrayed Sandor “The Hound” Clegane, a scarred former knight of the Kingsguard, from Season 1 to Season 8 (Nerdist (entertainment news outlet)).
• His character undergoes a redemption arc alongside Arya Stark, a fan-favorite relationship.

How many seasons was he in?

• He appeared in all eight seasons of the show, making him one of the longest-running actors on the series.

What is his most famous scene?

• The trial by combat in Season 4 (where he faces Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane) and the “Cleganebowl” finale in Season 8 are among the most re-watched moments in the series.
• McCann said he was “very happy” with how the Hound’s story ended (Entertainment.ie (Irish entertainment site)).

The trade-off: The Hound made McCann a household name, but it also typecast him. His post-Thrones choices—including a boat-building sabbatical—show he was willing to walk away from the spotlight.

Did Rory McCann Get Married?

Does Rory McCann have children?

• McCann is reportedly married or in a long-term relationship, but he has never publicly confirmed the details (Looper).
• He is believed to have children, but no official confirmation exists.

Who is Rory McCann’s wife?

• No public information about his spouse’s identity is available. McCann avoids discussing his family in interviews.

The catch: For a man who played one of TV’s most violent characters, McCann’s real-life privacy is a striking contrast. Fans searching for a “wife” or “partner” will find almost nothing—by design.

What Is Rory McCann’s Net Worth?

How tall is Rory McCann?

• He stands at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) (Wikipedia).

What is Rory McCann’s age?

• Born on April 24, 1969, he is 55 years old as of 2024 (Wikipedia).

• His net worth is estimated at around $4 million, though exact figures vary across sources.
• He earned a significant portion from Game of Thrones and later film roles such as Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) and Gladiator II (2024) (Nerdist).

What this means: McCann’s wealth is modest by Hollywood standards, reflecting his selective project choices and his preference for a quiet life over blockbuster paydays.

Did Maisie Williams and Rory McCann Get Along?

What was their on-screen relationship like?

• On screen, the Hound and Arya Stark had a complex mentor-student bond that evolved into a deep, protective friendship.

Have they spoken about each other in interviews?

• Maisie Williams has publicly described McCann as a “gentle giant” and praised his mentorship on set (Nerdist).
• McCann has spoken warmly about their friendship, saying they remain in contact.

The implication: The off-screen bond between McCann and Williams mirrors the redemption arc of their characters—built on trust and mutual respect, not just scripted lines.

For fans of Game of Thrones, the Hound remains a cultural icon. But McCann’s real story is one of deliberate distance—from the noise of fandom, from the Hollywood machine, and from the expectation that he would chase the spotlight. His decision to step into Baylan Skoll’s armor is not a comeback; it’s a continuation of a career built on quiet choices. McCann’s career proves that the most interesting actors are often the ones you don’t hear from—until they appear somewhere you least expect.