ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Ray Stevenson FILE PHOTO: Ray Stevenson attends the Ahsoka panel at Start Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 08, 2023 in London, England. Stevenson's representatives confirmed that he has died at the age of 58. (Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Dis)
(Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Dis)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Actor Ray Stevenson has died, his publicist has confirmed.
Stevenson was an Irish actor known for his roles in the “Thor” films, “King Arthur,” “Rome” and the upcoming Disney+ “Star Wars” series “Ahsoka,” IMDB said.
In the ‘90s, Stevenson started appearing in European television shows before transitioning to the big screen, acting in such films as “The Theory of Flight,” Deadline reported. His first big role was in “King Arthur,” where he played one of the Knights of the Roundtable named Dagonet opposite Clive Owen as Arthur, Variety reported.
Stevenson starred as Frank Castle in Marvel’s 2008 “Punisher: War Zone” before Disney bought the Marvel Cinematic Universe the next year.
His most noted role was that of Volstagg, a member of the Warriors Three in the “Thor” films, Deadline reported.
Stevenson will appear in “Ahsoka” as Baylan Skoll along with Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka, David Tennant as Huyang and Hayden Christensen, who is once again reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker.
Skoll is one of the “main antagonists” in the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Getting to wield the lightsaber is just the best feeling in the world,” Stevenson said last month at Star Wars Celebration. “The first time they handed it to me for the camera test, I couldn’t help myself, I made the noise.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter and Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Stevenson had been hospitalized in Ischia during the production of “Cassino on Ischia.”
Through the years NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Actors Ray Stevenson, Keira Knightley and Ioan Gruffudd attend the "King Arthur" world premiere after-party at The Cathedral Church of St. John The Divine, June 28, 2004 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 24: Actor Ray Stevenson arrives at the premiere of HBO's new drama series "Rome" at the Wadsworth Theater on August 24, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images) (Mark Mainz/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 24: Kevin McKidd, Indira Varma, Ray Stevenson, Lindsay Duncan, Tobais Menzies, Max Pirkis, James Purefoy, Lee Boardman pose for a cast photograph at the premiere of HBO's new drama series "Rome" at the Wadsworth Theater on August 24, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images) (Mark Mainz/Getty Images)
Through the years ROME, ITALY - MARCH 15 : In this handout image provided by RAI fiction, actrors Kevin McKidd (L) and Ray Stevenson is seen during the filming of 'Rome', a popular television series, on March 15, 2006 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by RAI fiction via Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 11: Actor Ray Stevenson arrives at the premiere of Warner Bros. 'The Book Of Eli' held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on January 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 28: Actor Ray Stevenson arrives at the premiere of Paramount Pictures' "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" at TCL Chinese Theatre on March 28, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 04: Actors Zachary Levi and Ray Stevenson arrive at the premiere of Marvel's "Thor: The Dark World" at the El Capitan Theatre on November 4, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 04: (L-R) Actors Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins and Ray Stevenson arrive at the premiere of Marvel's "Thor: The Dark World" at the El Capitan Theatre on November 4, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 18: Actor Ray Stevenson arrives at the premiere of Summit Entertainment's "Divergent" at the Regency Bruin Theatre on March 18, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 14: Actor Ray Stevenson attends the New York premiere of "Allegiant" at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater on March 14, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 10: Actors Tom Hiddleston (L) and Ray Stevenson at The World Premiere of Marvel Studios' "Thor: Ragnarok" at the El Capitan Theatre on October 10, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 10: Ray Stevenson at The World Premiere of Marvel Studios' "Thor: Ragnarok" at the El Capitan Theatre on October 10, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: (L-R) Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Ivanna Sakhno, Rosario Dawson, Diana Lee Inosanto, Ray Stevenson, Lars Mikkelson and Mary Elizabeth Winstead onstage during the Ahsoka panel at the Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 08, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney) (Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)