Irish actor Ray Stevenson has died aged 58. His publicist confirmed the news but provided no further details as the cause and conditions surrounding his demise are currently under wraps.
The actor most recently appeared in RRR, the Oscar-winning movie from India. Stevenson is survived by Elisabetta Caraccia, an Italian anthropologist with whom he had been in a relationship for nearly two decades. The couple had three sons – Sebastiano Derek, Leonardo George, and Ludovic.
The RRR team paid tribute to the actor after news of his death broke out. “He was 56 years old when we were shooting this difficult scene but he did not hesitate while performing this stunt. We will forever cherish having you on the sets of #RRR, Ray Stevenson. Gone too soon,” the tweet read.
He was 56 years old when we were shooting this difficult scene but he did not hesitate while performing this stunt.
— RRR Movie (@RRRMovie) May 23, 2023
We will forever cherish having you on the sets of #RRR, Ray Stevenson.
Gone too soon 💔 pic.twitter.com/LdzecSIO2H
The movie’s director S.S. Rajamouli expressed grief after learning about Stevenson’s demise. “Shocking... Just can't believe this news. Ray brought so much energy and vibrancy with him to the sets. It was infectious. Working with him was pure joy. My prayers are with his family. May his soul rest in peace,” he tweeted, along with a picture of them together.
Shocking... Just can't believe this news. Ray brought in so much energy and vibrancy with him to the sets. It was infectious. Working with him was pure joy.
— rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) May 23, 2023
My prayers are with his family. May his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/HytFxHLyZD
The actor, born George Raymond Stevenson, harboured dreams to be an actor but quickly shoved them aside thinking it was an unattainable feat. He pursued his second love, art, instead, and went on to become an interior designer. As fate may have it, Stevenson’s love for acting revived. He pursued it and graduated from the Bristol Old Vic Theater School in 1993 aged 29, as per IMDb.
After appearing in a handful of projects including Return of the Native and Green-Eyed Monster, Stevenson rose to popularity with his portrayal of Dagonet in the 2004 movie King Arthur. The following year he played Titus Pullo in HBO’s offering Rome, a performance that people still look back on, and consider as one of Stevenson’s greatest. The roles he played in Thor: Ragnarok, Kill the Irishman, and Vikings also contributed to his fame.
