Ray Stevenson, a renowned actor known for his appearances in popular TV shows like Rome, Vikings, and Dexter, passed away at the age of 58.
His talent extended to roles in the Thor films, the Divergent series, and various UK TV shows such as Band of Gold, Peak Practice, and Murphy’s Law.
The confirmation of his death was made by his US-based publicist firm, Viewpoint, to the BBC. However, no further details were provided.
While the cause of his death remains undisclosed, reports suggest that he was hospitalized during the filming of Cassino in Ischia, an Italian island.
At the time of his passing, he was actively working on the action movie Cassino in Ischia, which adds to the tragedy of his loss.
His departure was announced just four days before what would have been his 59th birthday.
Stevenson was originally born in Northern Ireland but moved to England when he was eight years old. His father served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) near Lisburn, County Antrim, during his birth in 1964.
His family later settled in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he spent most of his childhood.
A visit to a West End theatre in London, where he witnessed John Malkovich’s performance, ignited Stevenson’s passion for acting.
He pursued his acting studies at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and one of his early TV roles was in the Catherine Cookson drama The Dwelling Place.
Throughout his career, he appeared in numerous British TV shows, including Waking the Dead, Dalziel and Pascoe, and At Home with the Braithwaites.
In 2004, he portrayed a knight in the high-budget Hollywood film King Arthur, featuring Keira Knightley.
More recently, Stevenson achieved success in American-made TV shows and movies, notably playing Volstagg in the Thor trilogy and Titus Pullo in HBO’s historical drama series Rome.
He was set to star as Baylan Skoll in the upcoming Disney+ series Star Wars: Ashoka.
Stevenson’s fellow actors and colleagues have taken to social media to pay tribute to him following his passing.
James Purefoy, an English actor who worked alongside Stevenson in Rome, described him as a “brilliant, gutsy, larger-than-life actor who filled every part he played right up to the brim.”
Rosario Dawson, who will appear alongside Stevenson in the Ashoka series, expressed her shock and grief on Instagram, referring to him as a “giant of a man” and expressing her deep sorrow.
James Gunn, a director involved in the production of the second Thor film, expressed his joy in working with the late actor.
Bear McCreary, the composer behind the Black Sails TV series, acknowledged Stevenson’s unforgettable performance as Blackbeard in the program.
And actor Scott Adkins, who starred alongside Stevenson in Accident Man, sad he was “shocked and saddened by the tragic news”, adding: “I will miss you, Big Ray!”
Scott Adkins, an actor who starred alongside Stevenson in Accident Man, expressed his shock and sadness at the tragic news, stating: : “I will miss you, Big Ray!”
