Ray Stevenson, the acclaimed Irish actor known for his remarkable performances in films such as “Punisher: War Zone,” “King Arthur,” the “Thor” series, and notable television shows like HBO’s “Rome” and the upcoming “Ahsoka” series, passed away on Sunday in Italy, as confirmed by Variety through his publicist. He was 58 years old.
Ray Stevenson, born in Northern Ireland on May 25, 1964, initially made his mark in the entertainment industry by appearing in television shows during the 1990s. However, it was in the 2000s that he began to establish himself as an action star in Hollywood. One of his breakthrough roles came in Antoine Fuqua’s 2004 adventure film “King Arthur,” where he portrayed Dagonet, a valiant Knight of the Round Table. In the movie, Stevenson’s character makes the ultimate sacrifice in battle to aid Arthur (Clive Owen) and his brave brotherhood of warriors.
In 2008, Ray Stevenson achieved a major milestone in his career by landing the leading role in the Marvel film “Punisher: War Zone,” portraying the iconic mercenary Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher. The movie, distributed by Lionsgate in North America, predates Disney’s acquisition of Marvel rights and the subsequent reintroduction of the character in the Netflix series “Daredevil.” Stevenson became the third actor to bring the Punisher to life on screen, following Dolph Lundgren’s portrayal in a straight-to-video release in 1989 and Thomas Jane’s performance in the 2004 R-rated “Punisher” film. While “War Zone” aimed to reboot the series with a PG-13 rating, it unfortunately underperformed at the box office, earning $10.1 million from a $35 million budget. The Punisher mantle was later taken up by Jon Bernthal in Netflix’s “Daredevil” and “The Punisher” shows.
Throughout the 2010s, Stevenson continued to make his mark in action movies, appearing in films such as “The Book of Eli,” “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” “The Three Musketeers,” as well as franchises like Marvel’s “Thor” and Lionsgate’s “Divergent” adaptation. In his second Marvel outing, Stevenson portrayed the Asgardian hero Volstagg, one of the Warriors Three who stood as allies to Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. He appeared in the first three “Thor” movies before meeting his demise at the hands of Cate Blanchett’s villainous character, Hela, in “Thor: Ragnarok.” In the “Divergent” series, Stevenson portrayed Marcus Eaton, the leader of the Abnegation faction’s city council and the father of Four (played by Theo James).
More recently, Stevenson made an appearance in the Oscar-nominated Telugu blockbuster “RRR,” portraying the villainous Governor Scott Buxton. Additionally, he is set to feature in the upcoming Disney+ series “Ahsoka,” set in the “Star Wars” universe, where he will portray Baylan Skoll, a Jedi who succumbs to the dark side and becomes an ally of the nefarious Grand Admiral Thrawn. Prior to this role, Stevenson lent his voice to the character Gar Saxon in the animated series “Star Wars Rebels” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
In addition to his notable film roles, Ray Stevenson made a significant impact on television as well. From 2005 to 2007, he starred in the HBO historical drama series “Rome” as the character Titus Pullo. Portraying a Roman soldier alongside Kevin McKidd’s Lucius Vorenus, Stevenson’s character witnessed pivotal historical events during the rise of the Roman Empire. “Rome” garnered critical acclaim and received seven Emmy Awards during its two-season run.
Stevenson further showcased his versatility on the small screen, taking on diverse roles such as Ukrainian mobster Isaak Sirko in Season 7 of Showtime’s “Dexter,” the legendary pirate Blackbeard in Starz’s series “Black Sails,” and the sailor Othere in Season 6 of “Vikings.”
Although his passing is deeply regrettable, Ray Stevenson’s posthumous credits will include appearances in the upcoming Disney+ “Star Wars” series “Ahsoka.” Additionally, he will be seen in the films “1242: Gateway to the West” and “Cassino in Ischia.”
