Locke

For the book version of the character see also: Vargo Hoat

Locke is a recurring villain from the HBO tv series Game of Thrones. He's played by Noah Taylor. Locke is considered by Roose Bolton to be his best hunter and known for having cut off Jaime's sword hand.

He is the TV series' condensed version of the character Vargo Hoat from the A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Hoat is the leader of the Brave Companions, also called the Bloody Mummers and the Footmen, an ill-reputed sellsword company formed by dangerous men of different cultures and backgrounds, most of them from Essos, composed of the lowliest scum from across two continents. The atrocities they have committed are far worse in their inhumane cruelty than even the savage raids and mass-murders of the Mountain and his men. The TV series condensed the subplot involving the Brave Companions, changing them to be simply a particularly vicious group of Bolton soldiers. He was supposed to be named Vargo Hoat in the show as well, but the name was changed under request of George R.R. Martin, after his lisp was removed.