Roy Stevenson Cause of Death: What We Know So Far

Who was Roy Stevenson?

Roy Stevenson was a Northern Irish actor who starred in many films and TV shows, such as King Arthur, Punisher: War Zone, Rome, and Ahsoka. He was born on May 25, 1964 in Lisburn, County Antrim, and moved to England with his family at the age of eight. He attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and graduated at the age of 29. He was married to English actress Ruth Gemmell from 1997 to 2005 and had three sons with Italian anthropologist Elisabetta Caraccia.

When and where did he die?

Stevenson died on May 21, 2023, just four days before his 59th birthday. He was working on a film called Cassino in Ischia, a comedy about an action star who travels to Italy to revive his career. He was reportedly hospitalized during filming on the Italian island of Ischia, according to his PR company Viewpoint. No cause of death has been revealed by his representatives or family.

What are the possible causes of his death?

While the official cause of his death is still unknown, some media outlets have speculated that it might have been related to a heart attack. According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Stevenson “fell ill and had to be hospitalized” on Saturday, May 20. They added that he “suffered a heart attack” and that “the doctors tried everything to save him, but there was nothing they could do”. However, this information has not been confirmed by any official source.

Another possible cause of his death could be related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that has been spreading around the world since late 2019. Italy has been one of the hardest-hit countries by the pandemic, with over 4 million cases and over 120,000 deaths as of April 2023. Stevenson might have contracted the virus while traveling or working in Italy, or he might have had underlying health conditions that made him more vulnerable to the disease. However, there is no evidence that Stevenson had tested positive for COVID-19 or had any symptoms of the disease.

How are his fans and colleagues reacting to his death?

Stevenson’s death has shocked and saddened many of his fans and colleagues, who have expressed their condolences and tributes on social media and other platforms. Some of his co-stars from his previous and upcoming projects have also shared their memories and appreciation of him.

Rosario Dawson, who played Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars Rebels and Ahsoka, remembered Stevenson as a “gentle” and “heavy-handed” actor who brought life to his character Baylan Skroll, a former Jedi turned to the dark side. She wrote on Instagram: “I’m so grateful I got to work with you Ray. You were such a gentle soul with a heavy hand. You brought so much depth and humanity to Baylan Skroll. You will be missed by so many.”

Dominic West, who played Julius Caesar in Rome alongside Stevenson’s Titus Pullo, praised him as a “brilliant” and “charismatic” actor who was “always up for a laugh”. He told BBC: “He was a brilliant actor and a charismatic presence on screen. He was always up for a laugh and great fun to work with. He had a wonderful voice and a great sense of humour. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”

Keira Knightley, who played Guinevere in King Arthur with Stevenson’s Dagonet, said she was “devastated” by his death and called him a “wonderful” and “kind” person. She told Variety: “I’m devastated by the news of Ray’s passing. He was a wonderful actor and a kind person. He was always generous and supportive of everyone on set. He had a great spirit and a big heart. He was one of the good ones.”

What are his legacy and achievements?

Stevenson leaves behind a rich legacy and many achievements in his career as an actor. He appeared in over 50 films and TV shows, spanning various genres and roles. He was known for his versatility and intensity as an actor, as well as his distinctive voice and physique.

Some of his most notable roles include:

• Frank Castle / The Punisher in Punisher: War Zone (2008) and The Super Hero Squad Show (2009-2011), where he portrayed the Marvel Comics character who seeks revenge for the murder of his family.
• Volstagg in Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Endgame (2019), where he played one of the Warriors Three, loyal friends of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
• Titus Pullo in Rome (2005-2007), where he played a Roman soldier and friend of Lucius Vorenus in the historical drama series that chronicled the rise and fall of the Roman Republic and Empire.
• Blackbeard in Black Sails (2016-2017), where he played the notorious pirate captain and mentor of Charles Vane in the prequel series to Treasure Island.
• Gar Saxon in Star Wars Rebels (2016-2018) and Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2020), where he voiced the Mandalorian warrior and leader of the Imperial Super Commandos who served Darth Maul and the Empire.
• Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka (2023), where he played a former Jedi who turned to the dark side and allied with Grand Admiral Thrawn in the original Disney+ Star Wars series that followed the adventures of Ahsoka Tano after the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Stevenson also received several awards and nominations for his work, such as:

• A Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor on Television for Rome in 2006.
• A Scream Award nomination for Best Actor in a Horror Movie or TV Show for Punisher: War Zone in 2009.
• A Golden Nymph Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for Rome in 2007.
• A BAFTA Scotland Award nomination for Best Actor – Film for Outpost in 2009.

Stevenson will also be seen in some posthumous projects that he had completed or were in production before his death, such as:

• RRR (2022), where he played the villainous Governor Scott, a British officer who oppresses the Indian freedom fighters in the period action drama film directed by S. S. Rajamouli.
• 1242: Gateway to the West (2023), where he played King John, the monarch of England who faced a rebellion by his barons and signed the Magna Carta in 1215, in the historical drama film directed by Roland Emmerich.
• Cassino in Ischia (2023), where he played Nic Cassino, an action star who travels to Italy to make a neo-realist action film with down-on-their-luck Italian directors, in the comedy film directed by Marco Pontecorvo.

Stevenson will be remembered as a talented and versatile actor who brought many memorable characters to life on screen. He will be missed by his fans, colleagues, friends, and family. May he rest in peace.