Ray Stevenson, who appeared in popular television series such as Rome, Vikings, and Dexter, has perished at the age of 58.
He was well-known for his roles in the Thor films and the Divergent series, as well as a number of British television series, including Band of Gold, Peak Practice, and Murphy’s Law.
His publicist firm in the United States, Viewpoint, verified his death to the BBC but did not provide any additional information.
He was reportedly hospitalized while filming on the Italian island of Ischia, although the cause of his demise has not been revealed.
He was working on the action film Cassino in Ischia at the time of his passing. His passing was reported four days prior to his 59th birthday.
When he was eight years old, Stevenson migrated to England from Northern Ireland. When he was born in 1964, his father was stationed with the Royal Air Force (RAF) near Lisburn, County Antrim.
His family moved to Newcastle upon Tyne, and he spent the majority of his formative years in England.
Ray Stevenson was inspired to become an actor after seeing John Malkovich perform in a production on London’s West End.
One of his first television roles was in Catherine Cookson’s drama The Dwelling Place, where he studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Later, he appeared in numerous British television programs, including Waking the Dead, Dalziel and Pascoe, and At Home with the Braithwaites.
In 2004, he portrayed a knight in the Hollywood blockbuster King Arthur, starring Keira Knightley.
Volstagg in the Thor trilogy and Titus Pullo in HBO’s historical drama Rome are among Stevenson’s most recent roles in successful American television and film productions.
He will portray Baylan Skoll in the upcoming Star Wars: Ashoka series on Disney+.
Greater than life
On social media, Stevenson’s co-stars have paid tribute to the late actor. James Purefoy, who co-starred with Stevenson in Rome, referred to him as a “brilliant, gutsy, larger-than-life actor who filled every role he played to the brim.”
Rosario Dawson, who will appear alongside Stevenson in the Ashoka series, posted on Instagram that her co-star was a “giant of a man” whose passing left her “stunned and reeling”.
James Gunn, who was involved in the production of the second Thor film, remarked that the late actor was “a pleasure to work with.”
Bear McCreary, who scored the television series Black Sails, praised Stevenson’s “mesmerizingly unforgettable” performance as Blackbeard.
And Actor Scott Adkins, who co-starred with Stevenson in Accident Man, stated that he was “shocked and saddened by the tragic news” and added,
“I will miss you, Big Ray!”
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