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Ray Stevenson

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This article is about the actor. For the political activist of the same name, see Ray Stevenson (political activist).

Ray Stevenson
Stevenson in 2014
Born
George Raymond Stevenson

(1964-05-25)25 May 1964
Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Died21 May 2023(2023-05-21) (aged 58)
Lacco Ameno, Italy
Alma materBristol Old Vic Theatre School
OccupationActor
Years active1993–2023
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1997; div. 2005)​
Children3

George Raymond Stevenson (25 May 1964 – 21 May 2023)[1] was an Irish actor. He portrayed Dagonet in the film King Arthur (2004) and Titus Pullo in the BBC/HBO television series Rome (2005–2007). He portrayed two Marvel Comics characters: Frank Castle / The Punisher in Punisher: War Zone (2008) and The Super Hero Squad Show, and Volstagg in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (2011–2017). His other films include Kill the Irishman (2011), where he portrayed mobster Danny Greene, The Three Musketeers (2011), and RRR (2022), where he portrayed the villainous Governor Scott. His television roles include Ukrainian mobster Isaak Sirko in the seventh season of Dexter, Blackbeard in the third and fourth seasons of Black Sails, and voicing Gar Saxon in Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Early life

George Raymond Stevenson was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, on 25 May 1964, the second of three sons born to Irish parents. His father was a Royal Air Force pilot.[2] He moved to England with his family at the age of eight, first settling in the Lemington area of Newcastle upon Tyne and later in Seaton Delaval. He attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating at the age of 29.

Career

Film

Stevenson made his film debut in The Theory of Flight (1998) as a gigolo hired to help Helena Bonham Carter's character lose her virginity.[3] In 2002, he starred in the short film No Man's Land, which was the antipodal picture from actor/director Edward Hicks prior to his graduation from the London Film School. In the 12 minute film, set during World War I, Stevenson portrayed an experienced private who is forced to help a novice officer (David Birkin) back to safety after they both find themselves trapped and isolated in "No Man's Land" during the Battle of Ypres. In 2004, he starred in King Arthur as Dagonet, a knight of the round table who sacrifices his life for his comrades.[3] His first leading role in a film was in the Scottish horror picture Outpost (2008), portraying a mercenary pitted against Nazi zombies in a bunker somewhere in Eastern Europe. That same year, he also starred in Punisher: War Zone, as Frank Castle / The Punisher, a former Marine turned vigilante after the murder of his family. In 2010, he played an antagonist in the comedy The Other Guys.[3]

In 2011, Stevenson appeared in the film Kill the Irishman, based on the book To Kill the Irishman: The War That Crippled the Mafia, as Danny Greene, the Irish mob boss who took on the Italian-American Cleveland crime family during the 1970s.[4] He starred as Volstagg, one of Thor's trusted comrades, in the 2011 Marvel film Thor. Also that year, he played Porthos in Paul W. S. Anderson's adaptation of The Three Musketeers.[3] He played Firefly in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, released in 2013. He appeared in the Finnish-American thriller film Big Game.[5] In 2014, he starred in the film Divergent, based on the first book of The Divergent Series. He reprised his role in the sequels, The Divergent Series: Insurgent, released in March 2015, and The Divergent Series: Allegiant, released in March 2016.[3]

In 2019, Stevenson was announced as a lead antagonist in the movie RRR, a Telugu film directed by S. S. Rajamouli and released in 2022. This marked his debut in Indian cinema.[6]

Television

Stevenson played legionary Titus Pullo in the BBC/HBO series Rome. Other television work includes guest appearances in Waking the Dead, Murphy's Law and lead roles in City Central and At Home with the Braithwaites.[7] He also appeared in TV films, including Some Kind of Life in 1995, and The Return of the Native. Some of his earliest parts were in two Catherine Cookson films: The Dwelling Place (1994) and The Tide of Life (1996).[3] Stevenson reprised his role as the Punisher as a voice actor in The Super Hero Squad Show and played the role of Isaak Sirko in the seventh season of Dexter in 2012.[3]

On 24 March 2015, it was announced by producers that Stevenson would be joining the cast of the Starz series Black Sails as the character Edward Teach.[8]

At Star Wars Celebration 2023, Stevenson was announced as playing the Dark Jedi Baylan Skoll in the upcoming series Ahsoka.[9]

Stage

Stevenson's stage work includes playing the part of Jesus Christ in the York Mystery Plays in 2000 at York Minster. In 2001, he took the part of Roger in the play Mouth to Mouth by Kevin Elyot, at the Albery Theatre in London with Lindsay Duncan and Michael Maloney. His most well-known part is perhaps that of the Cardinal in The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster with Janet McTeer at the Royal National Theatre in 2003.[10]

Personal life and death

In 1997, Stevenson married English actress Ruth Gemmell in London; they had met on the set of Band of Gold (1995), and later played a married couple in Peak Practice (1997). They divorced in 2005 after eight years of marriage.[11]

Stevenson died on 21 May 2023 at the age of 58 while filming Cassino in Ischia in Italy.[9] Stevenson passed only 4 days shy of his 59th birthday.

Filmography

Film

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
1998 The Theory of Flight Gigolo [3]
1999 G:MT – Greenwich Mean Time Mr Hardy [4]
2004 King Arthur Dagonet [3]
2008 Outpost DC [3]
Punisher: War Zone Frank Castle / Punisher [3]
2009 Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant Murlough [3]
2010 The Book of Eli Redridge [3]
The Other Guys Roger Wesley [3]
2011 Kill the Irishman Danny Greene [4]
Thor Volstagg [3]
The Three Musketeers Porthos [3]
2013 G.I. Joe: Retaliation Firefly [3]
Jayne Mansfield's Car Phillip Bedford [3]
Thor: The Dark World Volstagg [3]
2014 Divergent Marcus Eaton [3]
Big Game Morris [3]
2015 The Divergent Series: Insurgent Marcus Eaton [3]
The Transporter: Refueled Frank Martin Sr. [3]
2016 The Divergent Series: Allegiant Marcus Eaton [3]
2017 Thor: Ragnarok Volstagg [3]
Cold Skin Gruner [3]
2018 Accident Man Big Ray [3]
Final Score Arkady Belav [3]
2022 RRR Governor Scott Buxton Indian film[3]
Memory Detective Danny Mora [3]
Accident Man: Hitman's Holiday Big Ray [3]
TBA 1242: Gateway to the West † Cesareane Post-production, posthumous release[12]
Cassino in Ischia † Nic Cassino Filming, posthumous release[13]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1993 A Woman's Guide to Adultery Journalist
1994 The Dwelling Place Matthew Whitwell 3 episodes[3]
1994 The Return of the Native Clym Yeobright TV movie[3]
1995 Band of Gold Steve Dickson 12 episodes
1995 Some Kind of Life Steve TV movie[3]
1996 The Tide of Life Larry Birch 3 episodes[3]
1997 Peak Practice Joe Higson Episode: "Home Truths"
1997 Drover's Gold Armstrong 5 episodes[7]
1998 City Central DI Tony Baynham 32 episodes[7]
1999 Love in the 21st Century Alex Episode: "Toyboys"[7]
2000 Holby City Laurence Haney Episode: "Taking It on the Chin"
2000 The Bill Sgt. Gartland Episode: "Over the Edge"
2001 At Home with the Braithwaites Graham Braithwaite 11 episodes[3]
2001 Dalziel and Pascoe Jeff Parry Episode: "Truth and Consequences"[3]
2003 Red Cap Sgt. Chris Roxborough Episode: "Cover Story"
2003 Murphy's Law Robert Eaglan Episode: "Kiss and Tell"[3]
2004 Waking the Dead Dr Tim Faulkner Episode: "Fugue States"
2005–2007 Rome Titus Pullo 22 episodes[3]
2007 Life Line Peter Brasco TV movie[7]
2009 The Super Hero Squad Show[14] Frank Castle/The Punisher (voice) Episode: "Night in the Sanctorum"[3]
2012 Dexter Isaak Sirko 9 episodes[3]
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Guest Starring Role on Television
2014 Crossing Lines Miles Lennon 4 episodes
2015 Saints & Strangers Stephen Hopkins TV miniseries[3]
2016–2017 Black Sails Edward Teach / Blackbeard 11 episodes[3]
2016–2017 Star Wars Rebels Gar Saxon (voice) 2 episodes[9]
2017 Rellik DSI Edward Benton 6 episodes[3]
2019 Reef Break Jake Elliot 13 episodes[3]
2019 Medici Ferdinand I of Naples 2 episodes[9]
2020 The Spanish Princess James IV of Scotland 2 episodes[3]
2020 Vikings Ohthere of Hålogaland 11 episodes[3]
2020 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Gar Saxon (voice) 2 episodes[9]
2022 Das Boot Commander Jack Swinburne 8 episodes[9]
2023 Ahsoka † Baylan Skoll Upcoming series, posthumous release[9]

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2000 York Mystery Plays Christ [15]
2001 Mouth to Mouth Roger [15]
2003 The Duchess of Malfi The Cardinal [10]

References

  1. ^ "Ray Stevenson, 'Punisher: War Zone' and 'Rome' Star, Dies at 58". TheWrap (in eng). 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  2. ^ "BBC - Press Office - Rome press pack phase two Ray Stevenson". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au "Ray Stevenson List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Ray Stevenson Filmography". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Samuel Jackson Hunts a 'Big Game' (Trailer) -". bloody-disgusting.com. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  6. ^ Press Trust of India (20 November 2019). "SS Rajamouli ropes in Olivia Morris Ray Stevenson and Alison Doody for RRR". India Today. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Ray Stevenson". British Film Institute. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  8. ^ Friedlander, Whitney. "'Divergent's' Ray Stevenson Joins Starz's 'Black Sails' as Blackbeard". Variety. Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Pederson, Erik. "Ray Stevenson Dies: 'RRR', 'Thor', Vikings' & 'Divergent' Actor Was 58". Deadline. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  10. ^ a b Wolf, Matt. "The Duchess of Malfi". Variety. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  11. ^ Koncienzcy, Rebecca (10 December 2017). "Where is the cast of Band of Gold now?". Liverpool Echo. Reach Plc. Retrieved 7 March 2019. She married fellow Band of Gold actor Ray Stevenson in 1997, but the couple divorced in 2005.
  12. ^ Ray Stevenson Replaces Kevin Spacey in Epic Drama ‘1242: Gateway to the West’
  13. ^ Republic Pictures & Paramount Global Set Ray Stevenson Movie ‘Cassino In Ischia’
  14. ^ MARVEL SUPER HERO SQUAD VOICE CAST at The Comics Continuum
  15. ^ a b "Ray Stevenson". Empire. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
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