Games of Thrones/Song of Ice and Fire question?

I just finished watching Season 1.

My friend who reads the Song of Ice and Fire series tells me pretty much half the characters I see on the show are going to die?

Is this true?

The story feels so much more interesting cause Ned died but it's such a pity that Sean Bean and Mark Addy die so early on.



Do you think the TV series is going to kill off most of the cast to exactly follow the book?Games of Thrones/Song of Ice and Fire question?
I've read the books through book 5. it depends on who you are talking about. If the friend means half the characters in the whole series, then they are wrong.

SPOILER! SPOILER





If they mean more than half of one family, then yes, they are correct.