"Winter Is Coming '' Game of Thrones episode Lord Eddard Stark, as portrayed by Sean Bean before executing Will for deserting the Night 's Watch. Episode no. Season 1 Episode 1 Directed by Tim Van Patten Written by David Benioff D.B. Weiss Featured music Ramin Djawadi Cinematography by Alik Sakharov Editing by Oral Norrie Ottey Original air date April 17, 2011 (2011 - 04 - 17) Running time 62 minutes Guest appearance (s) Donald Sumpter as Maester Luwin Jamie Sives as Jory Cassel Ron Donachie as Rodrik Cassel Joseph Mawle as Benjen Stark Roger Allam as Magister Illyrio Dar Salim as Qotho Esmé Bianco as Ros Susan Brown as Septa Mordane Bronson Webb as Will John Standing as Jon Arryn Rob Ostlere as Waymar Royce Dermot Keaney as Gared Art Parkinson as Rickon Stark Callum Wharry as Tommen Baratheon Aimee Richardson as Myrcella Baratheon Kristian Nairn as Hodor Episode chronology ← Previous -- Next → "The Kingsroad '' Game of Thrones (season 1) List of Game of Thrones episodes
game of thrones season 1 episode 1 running time
62 minutes