Ray Stevenson, 58, appeared in major TV shows such as Rome, Vikings, and Dexter.
Aside from his roles in Thor films and Divergent series, he also starred in a number of UK TV shows such as Band of Gold, Peak Practice, and Murphy’s Law.
The BBC was notified of his death by his US-based publicist firm, Viewpoint, but no further details were provided.
The cause of his death has not been revealed, but he was hospitalized during filming on the Italian island of Ischia.
He was working on Cassino in Ischia when he died.
Four days before his 59th birthday, his death was announced.
When he was eight years old, Tennson moved from Northern Ireland to England.
When he was born in 1964, his father was stationed with the Royal Air Force (RAF) near Lisburn, County Antrim.
He spent most of his childhood in England after his family relocated to Newcastle upon Tyne.
A career in pictures for Ray Stevenson
After seeing John Malkovich in a West End play, Stevenson became inspired to become an actor.
The Dwelling Place, a Catherine Cookson drama, was one of his first TV roles after studying acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Later, he appeared in a number of British TV shows, including Waking the Dead, Dalziel and Pascoe, and At Home with the Braithwaites.
He appeared as a knight in Keira Knightley’s big-budget Hollywood film, King Arthur, in 2004.
Stevenson also appeared in successful US TV shows and movies, including Volstagg in the Thor trilogy and Titus Pullo in HBO’s historical drama Rome.
In Star Wars: Ahsoka, he will play Baylan Skoll.
It’s bigger than life
On social media, Stevenson’s co-stars have paid tribute to him.
He was described as a “brilliant, gutsy, larger-than-life actor who filled every role he played to the brim” by James Purefoy, who starred alongside Stevenson in Rome.
Dawson posted on Instagram that Stevenson, who will appear in Ashoka, was a “giant of a man” whose death had left her “stunned and reeling”.
James Gunn, who directed the second Thor film, wrote that the late actor was a “joy to work with.”
Bear McCreary, who composed the soundtrack for Black Sails, praised Stevenson’s “mesmerisingly unforgettable” performance as Blackbeard.
Actor Scott Adkins, who starred alongside Stevenson in Accident Man, said he was “shocked and saddened by the tragic news”.
