Peter Dinklage often gets stared at by fans who are eager to catch a glimpse of the real-life Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones.

But little did the actor know that one such moment would result in him witnessing the death of one of his followers.

"I was walking down Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles," he told Esquire magazine.

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"And there was this guy on a motorcycle right in front of me.

"And he looked at me. He didn’t wave, but he looked at me, and then he pulled out into traffic and this car, like, boom — killed him instantly. I was the last person he saw on earth."

Speaking of the brief period of calm before the ambulance and police arrived on the scene, he said:

"So there was this quiet moment where it was like I was the only person in the world who knew this guy was dead.

Shape Created with Sketch. Game of Thrones season four in pictures Show all 36 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Game of Thrones season four in pictures 1/36 Game of Thrones Steward serving on The Wall and fan favourite Jon Snow HBO 2/36 Game of Thrones Arya continues on her journey through the North HBO 3/36 Game of Thrones After so long in King's Landing, Sansa sees snow falling at the Eyrie in the Vale, it reminds her of Winterfell HBO 4/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys looks contemplative as she walks down the steps of a pyramid in Meereen HBo 5/36 Game of Thrones Arya and the Hound meet an unwelcome visitor HBO 6/36 Game of Thrones Meera Reed, Bran and Hodor walk through the snow to find the three-eyed crow HBO 7/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys looks at a map as she considers her next move HBO 8/36 Game of Thrones Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne continue on their quest to find Sansa HBO 9/36 Game of Thrones Sam Tarly attempts to rally the men of the Night's Watch HBO 10/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys and Missandei survey the troops HBO 11/36 Game of Thrones The Wildlings get ready to attack HBO 12/36 Game of Thrones Jon Snow trains for battle against the wildings at Castle Black HBO 13/36 Game of Thrones Cersei watches over Tyrion's trial HBO 14/36 Game of Thrones A vulnerable family fall victim to the Hound HBO 15/36 Game of Thrones Mark Gatiss makes an appearance as Tycho Nestoris, an envoy of the Iron Bank of Braavos HBO 16/36 Game of Thrones Sophie Turner as the eldest Stark daughter Sansa HBO 17/36 Game of Thrones Jaime begs his father Tywin for mercy for his brother HBO 18/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys rules in Meereen from on high as she listens to man seeking recompense for his slaughtered cattle and another asking for the burial of his crucified father HBO 19/36 Game of Thrones Tyrion Lannister goes on trial for the murder of Joffrey as the nobles of Westeros watch HBO 20/36 Game of Thrones Maisie Williams as Arya Stark in 'The First of His Name' HBO 21/36 Game of Thrones Emilia Clarke as Danerys, the Mother of Dragons HBO 22/36 Game of Thrones Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon and Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell HBO 23/36 Game of Thrones The 'Purple Wedding' shocked fans this month HBO 24/36 Game of Thrones Daario will be a new arrival in season 4 HBO 25/36 Game of Thrones The Hound strides the fields in heavy armour HBO 26/36 Game of Thrones King Joffrey and his smirk of contempt are back HBO 27/36 Game of Thrones Sansa and Tyrion have a heart-to-heart Channel 4 28/36 Game of Thrones Ygritte and Tormund prepare for battle HBO 29/36 Game of Thrones Tywin wearing the Hand of the King brooch HBO 30/36 Game of Thrones Margaery and Olenna in the courtyard HBO 31/36 Game of Thrones Sam, a steward of the Night's Watch HBO 32/36 Game of Thrones Arya remains under the watch of the The Hound HBO 33/36 Game of Thrones Jaime and Cersai in heated discussions HBO 34/36 Game of Thrones Oberyn with Ellaria, mother of the four youngest Sand Snakes HBO 35/36 Game of Thrones Tyrion and Shae have words HBO 36/36 Game of Thrones Season 4 HBO 1/36 Game of Thrones Steward serving on The Wall and fan favourite Jon Snow HBO 2/36 Game of Thrones Arya continues on her journey through the North HBO 3/36 Game of Thrones After so long in King's Landing, Sansa sees snow falling at the Eyrie in the Vale, it reminds her of Winterfell HBO 4/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys looks contemplative as she walks down the steps of a pyramid in Meereen HBo 5/36 Game of Thrones Arya and the Hound meet an unwelcome visitor HBO 6/36 Game of Thrones Meera Reed, Bran and Hodor walk through the snow to find the three-eyed crow HBO 7/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys looks at a map as she considers her next move HBO 8/36 Game of Thrones Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne continue on their quest to find Sansa HBO 9/36 Game of Thrones Sam Tarly attempts to rally the men of the Night's Watch HBO 10/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys and Missandei survey the troops HBO 11/36 Game of Thrones The Wildlings get ready to attack HBO 12/36 Game of Thrones Jon Snow trains for battle against the wildings at Castle Black HBO 13/36 Game of Thrones Cersei watches over Tyrion's trial HBO 14/36 Game of Thrones A vulnerable family fall victim to the Hound HBO 15/36 Game of Thrones Mark Gatiss makes an appearance as Tycho Nestoris, an envoy of the Iron Bank of Braavos HBO 16/36 Game of Thrones Sophie Turner as the eldest Stark daughter Sansa HBO 17/36 Game of Thrones Jaime begs his father Tywin for mercy for his brother HBO 18/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys rules in Meereen from on high as she listens to man seeking recompense for his slaughtered cattle and another asking for the burial of his crucified father HBO 19/36 Game of Thrones Tyrion Lannister goes on trial for the murder of Joffrey as the nobles of Westeros watch HBO 20/36 Game of Thrones Maisie Williams as Arya Stark in 'The First of His Name' HBO 21/36 Game of Thrones Emilia Clarke as Danerys, the Mother of Dragons HBO 22/36 Game of Thrones Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon and Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell HBO 23/36 Game of Thrones The 'Purple Wedding' shocked fans this month HBO 24/36 Game of Thrones Daario will be a new arrival in season 4 HBO 25/36 Game of Thrones The Hound strides the fields in heavy armour HBO 26/36 Game of Thrones King Joffrey and his smirk of contempt are back HBO 27/36 Game of Thrones Sansa and Tyrion have a heart-to-heart Channel 4 28/36 Game of Thrones Ygritte and Tormund prepare for battle HBO 29/36 Game of Thrones Tywin wearing the Hand of the King brooch HBO 30/36 Game of Thrones Margaery and Olenna in the courtyard HBO 31/36 Game of Thrones Sam, a steward of the Night's Watch HBO 32/36 Game of Thrones Arya remains under the watch of the The Hound HBO 33/36 Game of Thrones Jaime and Cersai in heated discussions HBO 34/36 Game of Thrones Oberyn with Ellaria, mother of the four youngest Sand Snakes HBO 35/36 Game of Thrones Tyrion and Shae have words HBO 36/36 Game of Thrones Season 4 HBO

"And I was there looking at him, you know, in those moments of calm after something horrible happens, the calm before the melee starts … There was that moment when I was with him."

Asked by the reporter if he felt he had caused the accident by distracting him, he exploded:

"Oh, my God! F**k you ... I never thought of that before.

"This was supposed to be a story about how I actually connected with a stranger. I’m gonna have nightmares tonight."

He also recalled a meaningful encounter with a young woman, who broke down in tears in front of him when she met him for the first time.

"She didn’t seem crazy or anything," Dinklage said, "So I asked what was the matter. And she was like, ‘I just wanted to tell you, my boyfriend died today.

"And The Station Agent was his favourite movie. This is like a sign that I saw you. I can’t believe this. May I please have a hug because I’m dying right now?’"

"And, of course, I gave her a hug," he continued.

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"It’s like, there are the idiots with cellphones taking your picture all the time, and then there’s something like that woman. And it really moved me, because it was honest and so pure and so sad."

Season 4 of Game of Thrones is set to air on 7 April 2014. Earlier this week, 15 new images were released. See them in the gallery above.

Watch the trailer for Game of Thrones Season 4 - Ice and Fire