Actor Ray Stevenson, who appeared in hit TV shows such as Rome, Vikings and Dexter, has died aged 58. He was known for roles in the Thor films and the Divergent series, as well as several UK TV shows such as Band of Gold, Peak Practice and Murphy's Law.
His US-based publicist firm, Viewpoint, confirmed his death to the BBC but gave no further details. No cause of death has been released, but he was hospitalized during filming on the Italian island of Ischia. At the time of his death, he was working on an action film, Cassino in Ischia. His death was announced four days before his 59th birthday.
Stevenson was born in Northern Ireland but moved to England when he was eight. Stevenson was inspired to become an actor after seeing John Malkovich in a play at a West End theater in London.
He studied acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theater School and one of his first television roles was in the Catherine Cookson drama The Dwelling Place. He later appeared in a wide range of British television shows, including Waking the Dead, Dalziel and Pascoe and At Home with the Braithwaites.
In 2004, he played a knight in the big-budget Hollywood film King Arthur, starring Keira Knightley. More recently, Stevenson has secured roles in hit US-made TV shows and movies, landing the role of Volstagg in the Thor trilogy and Titus Pullo in the HBO historical drama series Rome.