Actors Who Died Right Before Their Birthday

Hailing from Northern Ireland, Ray Stevenson was a late bloomer in Hollywood, getting his first taste of major stardom in his 40s. He was acting decades earlier, though, getting his start in the mid-1990s in TV movies and lesser-known British dramas. In 1998, he joined Kenneth Branagh for a small role in «The Theory of Flight» with Helena Bonham Carter, but it wasn’t until the mid-2000s that things began to really take off for him.

Stevenson’s first leading role came in HBO’s period drama «Rome,» where he starred with Kevin McKidd, Polly Walker, Ciarán Hinds, James Purefoy, and Indira Varma. From there, he inherited the role of gun-toting vigilante Frank Castle in «Punisher: War Zone» (which he’d reprise in an episode of «The Super Hero Squad Show»). Despite that film’s failure, Stevenson entered the Marvel Universe again when his former co-star Kenneth Branagh enlisted him to play the Asgardian Volstagg in «Thor,» a role he came back for twice.

Known for his imposing stature and steely gaze, Stevenson often played warriors and villains, but by all accounts, was a warm and loving individual whom co-stars praised for his kindness. Following roles in prestige period dramas «Vikings,» «Black Sails,» and «Das Boot,» Stevenson filmed his final on-screen role as Baylan Skoll in the «Star Wars» spin-off «Ahsoka,» which was released after his death. He died on May 25, 2023, not long after completing his work on the series and just four days before his 59th birthday.