Sandor Clegane, nicknamed the Hound, is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation Game of Thrones.

Introduced in 1996's A Game of Thrones, Sandor is the estranged younger brother of Ser Gregor Clegane from the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

Clegane was described as a tormented man, driven by anger and hate, suffering from childhood post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessed with killing his brother.

While escorting Sansa home, he reveals to her how his face was scarred and expresses much resentment of his brutish older brother and towards the concept of knighthood in general.

Sandor becomes disillusioned during the Battle of the Blackwater and abandons his duty as Joffrey's guard due to the widespread use of wildfire (a fictional incendiary substance inspired by Greek fire).

In A Storm of Swords, the lordless Sandor gets drunk and is captured by the Brotherhood Without Banners, who sentences him to a trial by combat on a charge of murder accused by Arya.

But the Elder Brother mentions to Brienne of Tarth that he found Sandor moribund, and is now "at rest", so his helmet was doubtless stolen from his graveyard.

Scottish actor Rory McCann[1] has received acclaim for his portrayal[5] of Sandor Clegane in the television adaptation of the series of books.

Sandor Clegane continues to defend Sansa, covering her after Joffrey has her humiliated and stripped in front of the assembled royal court.

He ultimately deserts the battle and city after losing half of his men and witnessing some burned alive, "Fuck the kings guard.

At the Brotherhood's cave hideout, he is accused and tried via combat against their leader, Lord Beric Dondarrion; although Clegane asserts that any killings, even running down Mycah, the butcher's son, were committed in protection of Prince Joffrey, "I was (his) sworn shield.

Accusing them of thievery, as they will not now return his gold, days later, Clegane, still in the area, kidnaps a fleeing Arya, intending to ransom her to Robb Stark, at the wedding of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey.

However, they arrive at the Twins just as the Freys unfold their "Red Wedding" plot, and Clegane and Arya barely escape the ensuing bloody massacre.

Returning from the Bloody Gate, they encounter the sworn sword to Arya's mother Catelyn, Brienne of Tarth, who had promised to take the Stark children to safety.

Clegane takes up an ax to hunt down those responsible and kills four of them before discovering the remaining three about to be hanged by Lord Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr, who inform him that the group were acting independently of the Brotherhood.

Lord Beric allows Clegane to help hang two of the outlaws, followed by an offer to join the Brotherhood in their journey north to help Jon Snow and the Night's Watch fight the White Walkers.

The Brotherhood attempts to cross the Wall via Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, but are intercepted by wildling scouts manning the castle and are locked in the ice cells.

Soon afterward, Jon Snow, Davos Seaworth, Jorah Mormont, and Gendry arrive at Eastwatch, intending to capture a wight to present to Cersei (now Queen of the Seven Kingdoms) as evidence the White Walkers exist.

One dragon, Viserion, is killed and eventually reanimated by the Night King, but Daenerys' group, minus Jon – who stays behind to fight back the White Walkers – are able to flee.

During the summit in the Dragon Pit outside King's Landing, Clegane confronts Gregor, sees his disfigured face under his armor and asks what they did to him before cutting off his answer and warning him again that he will come for him one day.