According to George R. R. Martin, the major roles for season two have now been filled, although casting continues for various smaller parts. GRRM himself teased some of the actors, while HBO confirmed another handful today. Read on to see who plays Qhorin Halfhand, Rickard Karstark, Ser Dontos, among other characters familiar and new.

First, we have two actors confirmed by GRRM:

John Stahl is Rickard Karstark, one of Robb Stark's more outspoken bannermen. Steven Blount held the role last season (or at least delivered some lines attributed to Rickard in the book). The character will get considerably more screen time as the show progresses, so Stahl-- a veteran of British TV and stage-- was brought in for it.

Simon Armstrong is Qhorin Halfhand, a Night's Watch ranger from Shadow Tower whom Jon Snow meets beyond the Wall. Armstrong has appeared in a number of films (The Edge of Love), as well as British TV and stage.

Four more roles were confirmed today by HBO, though most had been previously reported by Westeros.org and Winter Is Coming:

Tony Way is Dontos Hollard, a drunken knight that earns the wrath of a prince and the favor of a lady. Way had a small role in the film Finding Neverland, and has otherwise appeared in several British TV shows.

Nicholas Blane is "Spice King." No one by that title is referenced in the books, but he is presumably the leader of the Ancient Guild of Spicers in Qarth. Blane has a lengthy resume, primarily in British TV, but he is also credited in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and The Tudors.

Steven Cole is Kovarro. Once again, the book makes no mention of a "Kovarro," but the character is speculated to be a composite of several Dothraki warriors who follow Daenerys. Cole is an actor and model, perhaps best known from the British soap Brookside.

Sam Callis is "Gold Cloak," an unnamed member the City Watch that polices King's Landing. He could be one of Janos Slynt's men or Jacelyn Bywater's. Callis has had recurring roles in several British TV shows and guested on Doctor Who.

In case you haven't heard, there has been one significant cast change for the upcoming season and a couple official replacements:

Ian Whyte will be taking over as Ser Gregor Clegane. Conan Stevens, who played the part in the first season, has moved on (he'll be in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit). The 7-foot Whyte worked on Clash of the Titans and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as an actor and stuntman. He also appeared in the first season of Game of Thrones as a White Walker. [Source: Winter Is Coming]

Andy Beckwith is Rorge, a prisoner of Yoren's. Arya technically met him at the end of the first season (one of the three inside the cage), but Beckwith will take over the role going forward. Beckwith has a few film credits, including appearances in two Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

Gerard Jordan is Biter, joining Beckwith's Rorge and Tom Wlaschiha's Jaqen H'ghar to form the three caged men that Arya will get to know better in the second season. Jordan has appeared in a few films, most notably Five Minutes in Heaven. [Source: Not a Blog]

Finally, here are a few minor castings that we neglected to report while we were busy with A Dance with Dragons.

Anthony Morris is the Tickler, one of Gregor Clegane's most notorious henchmen. Morris has several British TV credits to his name, and has voiced a couple of characters on Family Guy. [Source: Not a Blog]

Lucian Msamati is Salladhor Saan, a Lyseni pirate that befriends Davos and comes to the aid of Stannis. Msamati has appeared in a few films (The International) and several British TV shows. [Source: EW.com]

Daniel Portman is Podrick Payne, the awkward squire of Tyrion Lannister. Portman is a relative newcomer to the screen, with only two film credits to his name. [Source: Access Hollywood]