23rd May 2023 – (London) Actor Ray Stevenson, known for his roles in major TV shows such as Rome, Vikings, and Dexter, as well as in films like the Thor series and the Divergent series, has died at the age of 58. His US-based publicist firm, Viewpoint, confirmed his death to the BBC but did not provide any further details. No cause of death has been revealed, but he was reportedly hospitalised during filming on the Italian island Ischia. At the time of his death, he was working on an action movie, Cassino in Ischia. He was born in Northern Ireland and later moved to England, where he studied acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He appeared in a wide range of British TV shows before securing roles in successful US-made TV shows and movies.
Stevenson’s co-stars, including English actor James Purefoy, who starred alongside him in Rome, have been paying tribute to him on social media. Purefoy described him as a “brilliant, gutsy, larger-than-life actor who filled every part he played right up to the brim”. Stevenson’s death has saddened fans of his work in both the UK and the US, where he had gained a loyal following for his performances in popular TV shows and movies. His upcoming role in the Disney+ series Star Wars: Ahsoka will now be his final screen appearance.