Ray Stevenson, the actor famous for his roles in movies like Thor and Star Wars, has passed away at the age of 58.
His agent, Nicki Fioravante, confirmed that Stevenson died on Sunday.
According to several reports, the burly British actor was hospitalized suddenly while filming in Italy.
Ray Stevenson was a fantastic actor. He always had a strong screen presence regardless of what role he played – the British actor appeared in a wide range of genres, including action, drama, and historical films.
He was born on May 25, 1964, in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. He relocated to England with his family when he was eight years old. Ray Stevenson made his film debut in The Theory of Flight (1998).
Many people probably remember him from his masterful portrayal of the character Titus Pullo in the HBO television series Rome, aired between 2005-2007.
“That was one of the major years of my life,” Stevenson said in an interview. “It made me sit down in my own skin and say, just do the job. The job’s enough.”
Stevenson often cited actors such as Lee Marvin and Gene Hackman as his idols and sources of inspiration for his own acting career.
Another of Stevenson’s most notable roles came as Volstagg, a member of the Warriors Three, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Thor. He also portrayed the character Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, in the film Punisher: War Zone. In 2022, the talented veteran actor appeared in the recent Oscar-winning Indian hit RRR.
Ray Stevenson consistently portrayed characters with a captivating blend of villainous and heroic qualities throughout his filmography, captivating audiences with his versatile on-screen presence. One film critic once described Stevenson as an actor with confidence, presence, and enough testosterone to power a city block.
”I guess I’m an old warrior at heart,” he once said.
But off-screen, the towering six-foot-four actor made efforts to steer clear of violence. During his upbringing in northern England, he discovered an outlet for his aggression through rugby, a skill that would later serve him well in performing film stunts.
His fans were eagerly anticipating seeing more of him in future projects and the 58-year-old had been chosen to star alongside Rosario Dawson in the upcoming Disney+ Star Wars series called Ahsoka, which serves as a spinoff from the popular show The Mandalorian.
Unfortunately, we will no longer have the opportunity to witness any new cinematic moments with this beloved actor. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ray Stevenson died on Sunday in Italy, just four days before his 59th birthday.
The Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports that he had been hospitalized on the island of Ischia while filming for a movie called Cassino on Ischia. His cause of death has not been disclosed.
Ray Stevenson is survived by his three children: Sebastiano, 15, Leonardo, 12, and Lodovico. These children were born to him and his long-term partner Elisabetta Caraccia, an Italian anthropologist who he met while working.
So sad to hear this! I loved him in so many of his roles. His size and presence added a lot to his acting prowess. Everything Ray Stevenson was in, he was stellar.
An underrated actor, gone way too soon – he will be missed! Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
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