'Game of Thrones': From Ed Sheeran to Aaron Rodgers, here are the show's best cameos

Game of Thrones may have launched the careers of many talented actors, such as Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams and Kit Harington, but it's also featured plenty of already-famous faces throughout the years. Some cameos are more prominent than others (yes, we’re looking at you, Ed Sheeran) while others were more of a blink-and-you-missed-it type of appearance. As the show prepares to wrap up its eighth and final season (on May 20 for UAE viewers), we take a look back at the athletes, musicians and celebrities that have appeared on the fantasy epic. Quite possibly one of the more noted appearances in the history of the series, Ed Sheeran not only had a cameo but even a speaking line on the show in the first episode of season seven. Appearing as a Lannister soldier leading a group in a singalong, fans were a bit surprised to find out the tuneful voice belonged to the popular singer. The Green Bay Packers quarterback surprised fans by showing up in the penultimate episode of season eight. He was actually spotted a couple of times – once as a Lannister solider lining up to fight against Daenerys Targaryen’s army, as well as in another scene in which he helps a falling woman. The former deputy director of America’s Central Intelligence Agency made a surprise cameo in season eight playing a Northerner lurking around Winterfell. While he had no lines, his scene consisted of Ser Davos Seaworth serving him a bowl of soup as they prepared for a big battle against the Night King and his army of the dead. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney and Silicon Valley actor Martin Starr were extras in the first episode of season eight, but you might have missed it because it happened so fast. Both actors saw their characters (who were crew members aboard Euron Greyjoy's ship) get killed off relatively quickly with McElhenney taking an arrow to the eye. One of the first big cameos for the show featured the Snow Patrol frontman appearing in season three as an unnamed bard singing a rousing rendition of The Bear and the Maiden Fair with a group of Roose Bolton's men. Luckily, his character seemed to escape unscathed. Another American athlete to make a cameo in the show is New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard. In yet another split-second cameo in season seven, the 26-year-old is shown as a Lannister soldier during a big battle between the Lannister army and Daenerys, her dragon and the Dothraki army. While he’s known for his arm, in this episode he’s seen throwing a spear rather than a baseball. The drummer for Coldplay had a cameo in one of the most infamous scenes in Game of Thrones history and was one of the first celebrities to make an appearance on the TV show. He plays a drummer for a band performing at the wedding of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey – in the episode nicknamed The Red Wedding. In a we-wouldn’t-blame-you-if-you-missed-him appearance, the country singer shows up in a scene during the Battle of Winterfell. He plays one of the fallen Wildlings who is summoned back up by the Night King. Of course, the episode faced backlash for literally being too dark to make out anything so for those who specifically tried to look for Stapleton, we wouldn't be surprised if you didn't catch his cameo. The American heavy-metal band appear twice in two different seasons. Members Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher and Brann Dailor first appear on the show in a scene as wildlings in season five and then again in season seven where they reprise their role – only this time as White Walkers marching with the Night King. This Icelandic group showed up in season four, performing The Rains of Castamere at the marriage of Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell, in an episode dubbed The Purple Wedding. _____________________ Read more: How Game of Thrones changed Northern Ireland – and the life of one local man Game of Thrones: Fans demand remake of 'rushed' final season Here's what Lena Headey made per minute for GOT final season _____________________

'Game of Thrones': From Ed Sheeran to Aaron Rodgers, here are the show's best cameos

Musicians, athletes and even former heads of intelligence agencies have made appearances on the massively popular HBO show