Vale: Ray Stevenson | TV Tonight

Irish actor Ray Stevenson, best known for Thor, RRR, Divergent, Rome and Vikings has died aged 58.

He died on Sunday in Italy but the cause of death has not been revealed.

Stevenson played Scott Buxton in box office smash RRR and Volstagg in Marvel’s Thor franchise.

Stevenson began his screen career in the 1998 drama The Theory of Flight before feature films King Arthur (2004), Punisher: War Zone (2008), The Book of Eli (2010) and The Other Guys (2010).

His next role would be Volstag in Marvel’s Thor (2011), which he reprised in Thor: The Dark World (2013) and Thor: Ragnarok (2017).

Other filmd would include The Three Musketeers (2011), G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013), 2014’s Divergent and sequel Insurgent and Kill the Irishman.

He featured as Othere in Vikings and voiced Gar Saxon in the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels. He also starred as Titus Pullo in the 2005-07 series Rome. More recently, he co-starred last year as Commander Jack Swimburne in Season 3 of the German TV series Das Boot.

Other credits included Reef Break, Rellik, Black Sails, Murphy’s Law, Dexter, Crossing Lines, Medici and The Spanish Princess.

He was most recently cast in historical drama 1242: Gateway to the West, and was set to join Rosario Dawson in Disney+’s upcoming The Mandalorian spinoff Ahsoka.

Marvel said: “The incredibly talented actor, and long-time Marvel friend, Ray Stevenson has sadly passed away at the age of 58.”

It said his Volstagg “brought both humour and action to the Thor films” and added: “Marvel extends our condolences to Stevenson’s family, friends, and fans all over the world.”

Actor James Purefoy, who portrayed Mark Antony in Rome, tweeted: “So sad to hear the news that Ray Stevenson, our Pullo in Rome, has passed away. A brilliant, gutsy, larger-than-life actor who filled every part he played right up to the brim. My thoughts are with his family, his lovely wife Betta and their beautiful kids. What a loss.”

Film director James Gun tweeted: “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.”

Source: Deadline Irish News