Ray Stevenson, Iconic 'Punisher,' 'Thor,' and 'RRR' Actor, Dies at 58 Leaving $8M Legacy
Prominent British actor Ray Stevenson, revered for his roles in 'Punisher: War Zone,' 'Thor,' and 'RRR,' has passed away at age 58. The tragic news was confirmed by Stevenson's representatives at Independent Talent, who disclosed his passing to Deadline and Fox News on Sunday. The cause of death and other specifics have yet to be released.
Stevenson, born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, began his illustrious acting career in 1993 with a minor television role in "A Woman's Guide to Adultery." Two years hence, he secured a recurring part in "Band of Gold," paving the way for his thriving career. He also starred in 32 episodes of "City Central" and five episodes of "Drover's Gold." Stevenson made his big-screen debut in 1988's "The Theory of Fight," alongside Helena Bonham Carter and Kenneth Branagh, where he portrayed a gigolo.
The actor rose to prominence when he portrayed Dagonet in Antoine Fuqua's 2004 cinematic piece, "King Arthur." As one of the Knights of the Round Table, his character performed a self-sacrifice during a crucial battle scene to assist Arthur and his brotherhood, as reported by Variety.
Stevenson's most memorable roles, however, came from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the Tollywood hit "RRR." His standout performance as the eponymous mercenary, Frank Castle, in Marvel's "Punisher: War Zone" in 2008, won him acclaim. This film, distributed by Lionsgate in North America prior to Disney's acquisition of MCU, saw Stevenson become the third actor to depict the Punisher on screen, following Dolph Lundgren and Thomas Jane.
Stevenson further expanded his MCU portfolio with his portrayal of the Asgardian hero Volstagg in "Thor," allied with Chris Hemsworth's Thor. He reprised this role in the first three "Thor" movies until his character's demise in "Thor: Ragnarok."
The late actor also shined as the antagonist Governor Scott Buxton in the Oscar-nominated film "RRR." He had signed on to portray Jedi Baylan Skoll in the Disney+ "Star Wars" series "Ahsoka," a character who eventually succumbs to the dark side.
Stevenson's acting prowess also resonated in his work with the "Star Wars" franchise, where he provided the voice for Gar Saxon in "Star Wars Rebel" and "Star Wars: The Clone Wars."
With an extensive filmography, including roles in "The Book of Eli," "G.I. Joe Retaliation," "Three Musketeers," "Rome," "Vikings," and the "Divergent" series, Stevenson leaves behind a considerable legacy, worth $8 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. Most recently, he was seen as Commander Jack Swinburne in the third season of the German TV series "Das Boot."