Northern Irish actor Ray Stevenson, who often played warriors in projects such as Rome and Vikings, died on Sunday 21 May 2023, at the age of 58, only four days before his birthday, according to his representatives.
According to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, he was hospitalised with a sudden illness on the island of Ischia while filming a new project, called Cassino in Ischia.
On Twitter, reactions were swift and heartfelt to the news of Stevenson’s death. Harry Potter actor Matthew Lewis, who appeared alongside Stevenson as a child in the 1996 television film Some Kind of Life, wrote:
‘This is so sad. Ray played my dad in the first thing I ever did on TV. Almost 30 years ago. A proper actor with a fascinating career and I couldn’t have dreamed of a better first experience in this ridiculous industry.’
Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn wrote:
Damn. So sorry to hear about the passing, far too young, of Ray Stevenson. I only knew him a little from shooting post-credits of Thor 2 & a couple interactions at events, but we had some good laughs & he was a joy to work with. His friends & family are in my heart today.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings Of Power composer Bear McCreary wrote:
‘I’m shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Ray Stevenson. I was honored to write him a theme for his mesmerizingly unforgettable Blackbeard on #BlackSails. What a talent! #RIP’
Ray Stevenson was inspired to become an actor after seeing John Malkovich in a play at a West End theatre in London. Stevenson worked in British television for many years after attending the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, playing in shows including The Dwelling Place, Waking the Dead, Dalziel and Pascoe, and At Home with the Braithwaites.
He made his film debut in the 1998 film The Theory of Flight, and in 2004 he played a Knight of the Round Table in Antoine Fuqua’s King Arthur. Years later, he played the lead in the 2008 pre-Disney/Marvel adaptation of Punisher: War Zone.
Despite Punisher receiving poor reviews, Ray Stevenson went on to star in other Marvel films, most notably the first three Thor films, in which he played the Asgardian warrior Volstagg. Other notable film roles include those in the Divergent trilogy, The Three Musketeers, GI Joe: Retaliation, and The Transporter: Refuelled.
Stevenson has recently landed roles in popular US-made TV shows and films, most notably as Titus Pullo in HBO’s historical drama series Rome. In the upcoming Disney+ series Star Wars: Ahsoka, he will play Dark Jedi Baylan Skoll.
