Hollywood hunk. Beloved actor. Loving family man. The Great Khal. And one of the kindest, most honest people you’ll meet. Jason Momoa, 41, might be Aquaman for some cinema-goers but to lots of his fans and to us, he’ll always be Khal Drogo, the Dothraki warlord from the first season of ‘Game of Thrones’ (back when the show was still good).
However, when Momoa’s role on the show suddenly ended, it impacted his and his family’s life in a very negative way. Momoa spoke very openly and candidly about the financial hardships that he faced after he left ‘Game of Thrones’ in an interview with InStyle’s Christopher Bagley. The actor revealed that he and his family were “in debt” and hardly making ends meet, “starving” and having trouble paying the bills. What's more, finding a new job was very difficult for Momoa.
Entertainment and Hollywood expert Mike Sington told Bored Panda that it's not at all surprising that Momoa had trouble finding work after 'Game of Thrones.' And his case, unfortunately, is far from unique. "He’s such a unique type, eligible roles for him would be limited. It’s very common for actors to be a hit in great roles but then struggle afterward. Audiences often stereotype actors as the character they are known for and have a hard time accepting them in other roles," Mike, who has met hundreds of celebrities over his decades-long career in Hollywood, pointed out that we, the audience, can have a strong effect on actors' careers, too.
Jason Momoa opened up about the financial difficulties he faced after his role on Game of Thrones ended in an interview with InStyle
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The actor was also candid about how he's very secure in his masculinity
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That's why he isn't 'scared' to wear the color pink
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Momoa's reached rock bottom when Season One of 'Game of Thrones' ended and he was without an acting job
Image credits: InStyle
According to Mike, Momoa's strengths as an actor lie in his personality and his charm—something that could be showcased more on-screen. But Momoa's future looks to be even brighter than now. As long as he gets the 'right' roles to show off his biggest strengths.
"It’s the personal charm of Dwayne Johnson that propelled him to superstardom, not his raw acting skills," Mike stressed. "Momoa definitely has what it takes to grow his stardom—he’s got the looks, personality, and a wonderful comedic side. He just needs the right roles to showcase those traits."
Mike also gave some advice for actors who might be in-between jobs at the moment. He suggested that they branch out and learn new skills instead of auditioning for the exact same roles over and over again.
"The actors that work the most, and are most acclaimed, are doing different types of roles. If an actor does the same type of role over and over, they’re accused of being 'lazy' or just 'playing themselves,' and that will limit their longevity. Think of the body of work of Meryl Steep or Tom Hanks—they’ve worked forever, and their range of roles is tremendous."
He added that staying relevant requires adapting, being flexible, and constantly improving: "You’ve got to learn new skills, and take chances, or the audience will simply tire of you."
Momoa played Khal Drogo for just 10 episodes on the hit HBO show
Image credits: hbo
Image credits: hbo
After several years of hardship, things were finally looking up
Image credits: InStyle
Now, we don’t know if it’s just a coincidence that the quality of the show quickly dropped after Khal Momoa was killed off (whoops, spoilers) at the end of Season One, but two things are for sure.
First, Momoa missed his role as Khal Drogo because he really enjoyed it. Second, the fact that his character was removed from the show just after 10 episodes meant that his paycheck was a lot smaller than that of his colleagues, some of whom went on to act in the show for eight friggin’ seasons.
With debt and lots of mouths to feed, Momoa, his actress wife Lisa Bonet, and their two small children were in dire straits. This struggle lasted for several years.
Fortunately, things eventually took an upward turn and the situation rapidly improved in 2016. There was finally a light at the end of the tunnel. And it was cast by the bright spotlight of superhero movies.
Momoa was cast in 2017’s ‘Justice League’ as Aquaman and then went on to reprise his role as the nautical hero in 2018’s movie named after his character. We’ll get to see Momoa on the silver screen again soon, as ‘Dune’ plans to be released in 2021. Despite his overwhelming recent success, Momoa remains humble.
Momoa and his wife, Lisa Bonet, have been through thick and thin together
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He and Bonet have two kids together: son Nakoa-Wolf and daughter Lola Iolani
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The family members are very close and always support one another through any difficulties they encounter
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Image credits: prideofgypsies
During the interview with InStyle, Momoa also opened up about his childhood
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Wholesome and heartwarming, Momoa's a loving, caring man with lots of different interests
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Image credits: prideofgypsies
Image credits: prideofgypsies
Momoa and his family's fortunes improved when he was cast for 'Justice League' and, later, 'Aquaman'
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Momoa made a terrific Aquaman (but we'll always love him for playing Khal Drogo)
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With how popular Momoa is nowadays, it's hard to imagine that he didn't always have financial stability
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Momoa shaved off his iconic beard for his role in 2021's 'Dune' and we can't wait to see him in action
Image credits: warnerbros