Game of Thrones Bran Stark actor on that twist: 'It's so sad' 

Get behind-the-scenes insight each week during season 6

'Game of Thrones' actor on that heartbreaking exit

Spoiler warning: The following discusses a major plot twist in Sunday’s

fans aren’t the only ones hard hit by the tragic loss of Hodor.

Actor Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark) and showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss say losing the earnest character and actor Kristian Nairn was rough on them too.

“He’s not somebody you think of as a main character, but he’s slowly, stealthily become an integral association with the show,” Weiss said. “‘Hodor’ is the one word you can say to somebody and immediately evoke the show or the books. And he’s just been quietly there in Bran’s storyline, being lovable with his delivering the hell out of many, many ‘Hodors.’ I think people will be surprised how hard it hits them emotionally.” Added Benioff: “It’s always interesting when we do the death calls; the Hodor one was particularly tough.”

Bran’s longtime companion and protector perished in Sunday’s hour “The Door,” swarmed by an army of wights after heroically saving Bran’s life. Bran stayed too long watching a vision of the White Walkers’ undead army, allowing the Night’s King to learn his location, and provoking in an attack that led to Hodor’s demise. But before he perished, fans learned why Hodor is only able to say one word — Bran inadvertently ruptured young Hodor’s mind by giving Hodor’s younger self the urgent command to “hold the door” during the attack years later.

Hempstead Wright said he was wrecked by the twist and that his character was responsible for so much tragedy. “It’s so sad!” he said. “We learned Hodor really is this vulnerable soul, who had such potential to live a happy life. First, through [Bran’s] selfish actions, going to the White Walker vision in the first place, I’ve screwed him over. He didn’t pick up that he should get out of the dream. And then Hodor sacrifices himself. He’s been through all this and he’s still having to do this.”  

Hempstead Wright, now 17, recalls first meeting Nairn when he was working on the show’s pilot. “Kristian is one of my best friends,” he says. “As an ice breaker when we first me, he just handed me his iPhone to play with. I was playing the Harry Potter: Spells app. He says, ‘Whatever you do don’t drop my phone,’ and then I [accidentally] smashed it into pieces.”

actors often look forward to seeing the reaction from fans to various twists, Hempstead Wright admitted to being a bit apprehensive about how fans will respond to “The Door.”

world — the nice guys who deserve looking after don’t always get it,” he says. “It’s going to be mortifying when it airs. Bran would literally be nowhere without him.”

See also: Our interview with Hodor actor Kristian Nairn, and our deep-dive “The Door” recap.

\'Game of Thrones\': Bran Stark actor, producers on tragic twist

Madonna honors Prince with Stevie Wonder at Billboard Music Awards

Celine Dion dedicates Billboard Music Award to late husband

\'Fear the Walking Dead\' showrunner talks midseason finale

\'Game of Thrones\' actor on that heartbreaking exit

Kesha receives standing ovation for powerful Dylan cover at BBMAs

Adele debuts \'Send My Love (To Your New Lover)\' video

Billboard Music Awards 2016: Best and Worst Dressed

Billboard Music Awards 2016: Red Carpet Arrivals

\'Ferris Bueller\'s Day Off\': Where Are They Now?

Rose Byrne on Her Most Memorable Roles, From \'Star Wars\' to \'Neighbors 2\'