Jack Gleeson

Irish actor Jack Gleeson rose to fame in 2011 with his turn as the malevolent teenaged king Joffrey Baratheon in "Game of Thrones" (HBO 2011- ). The role elevated the Cork native to worldwide fame after a half-decade of screen appearances, including "Batman Begins" (2005) and a slew of U.K. film and television projects. Gleeson's hateful character on "Thrones" helped to cement that show's status as a rollicking fantasy thrill ride for grown-ups, but off-camera, the actor was decidedly reluctant to parlay his new status into greater stardom. Gleeson made several public comments about wishing to retire from performance following his character's demise in 2014, and appeared to make good on that desire by delving into higher education rather than pursuing more roles. If "Game of Thrones" proved to be Gleeson's swan song, he ended his career on a high note with a remarkably assured and deliciously evil turn that underscored his status as one of the UK's most talented young screen stars.