Advanced search

An imposing figure (standing at 6'3") with intense, penetrating eyes and possessed of a larger-than-life personality, the actor George Raymond Stevenson began life as one of three sons, born in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, to a British pilot in the Royal Air Force. Raised near Newcastle in England after the family relocated, he initially studied art and worked for some time as an interior designer. However, after seeing a play with John Malkovich at the West End, Stevenson became inspired to study drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. By the time of his graduation in 1993, he had already made his debut on the stage at the Barbican Theatre in London in the plays Temptation and Revenger's Tragedy.

He made his first recurring screen appearances in the TV crime drama Band of Gold (1995) (acting alongside his future wife Ruth Gemmell) and as DI Tony Baynham in the BBC procedural police series City Central (1998), which was briefly touted as a rival to The Bill (1984). Though Stevenson first attracted international attention as a dependable Knight of the Round Table in the motion picture King Arthur (2004), it was his charismatic performance as the rascally, hedonistic soldier Titus Pullo in HBO's historical series Rome (2005) which truly put him on the map.

More vigorous or pugnacious warrior roles soon came his way, beginning with a starring turn as the titular anti-hero vigilante Frank Castle in the ultra-violent Punisher: War Zone (2008), for which Stevenson put himself through strenuous martial arts and weapons training under the direction of U.S. Force Reconnaissance (FORECON) Marines. Among his subsequent gallery of colourful characters were the powerful Asgardian warrior Volstagg in Marvel's Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), and Thor: Ragnarok (2017); the relentless enforcer Redridge in The Book of Eli (2010); an Irish mobster challenging the Cleveland Mafia for control of the city's criminal underworld in Kill the Irishman (2011); Porthos, one of the The Three Musketeers (2011); the much feared Blackbeard in Starz's excellent swashbuckling Black Sails (2014), and the enigmatic Anglo-Saxon missionary and explorer Othere in Vikings (2013).

Stevenson reserved one of the most compelling performances for the strangely sympathetic Russian gangster Isaak Sirko, chief antagonist in season seven of Dexter (2006), overshadowing even that of the star Michael C. Hall (definitely no mean feat!). Add to that another acting standout as the obsessed, revenge-driven Commander Jack Swinburne in the German-produced World War II drama series Das Boot (2018).

Having first joined the Star Wars universe as a voice actor (the Mandalorian Gar Saxon in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)), Stevenson was later cast in the villainous role of dark Force user Baylan Skoll doing battle with the indomitable Ahsoka (2023) Tano (Rosario Dawson), complete with orange/red lightsaber. Stevenson said in a 2020 interview that he had drawn much of his inspiration from veteran tough guys like Lee Marvin and Gene Hackman: "Never a bad performance, and brave and fearless within that caliber. It was never the young, hot leading man; it was men who I could identify with."

Tragically, this supremely accomplished and charismatic actor died in Italy on 21 May 2023 while filming Cassino in Ischia (2024), in which he was cast as a fading movie action hero attempting to revive his career. At the time of his passing he was just 58.

Born Malden, Massachusetts on July 9, 1927 (real name Urick), Ed, Vic Ames, Gene Ames and Joe Ames were sons of Ukrainian Jewish parents and four of nine children. They were very poor but Ed attended Boston Public Latin School along with brother Joe. The singing group, The Ames Brothers, was formed in 1947 in Boston and later appeared at the "Roxy Theatre" in New York City. During their early years, they won many amateur contests and made their professional debut at the "Foxes and Hounds", a posh Boston nightclub. They went on to play at the "Chez Paree" in Chicago and "Ciro's" in Hollywood. "The Riviera", just across New York City west of the George Washington bridge, was another nightclub where they appeared regularly. Ed is still best known to audiences for his television role as "Mingo" on the Daniel Boone (1964) series on NBC. Ed also appeared on Broadway in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The Crucible". He also appeared in the off-Broadway production of "The Fantasticks" at the Sullivan Street Theatre in Greenwich Village which ran until 2002.

Lew Palter was born on 3 November 1928 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Titanic (1997), Day by Day (1988) and The Waltons (1972). He was married to Nancy Vawter. He died on 21 May 2023 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

George Logan was born on 7 July 1944 in Rutherglen, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Dear Ladies (1983), Dawson and Friends (1977) and At Home with Dr Evadne Hinge and Dame Hilda Bracket (1977). He was married to Louie Perone. He died on 21 May 2023.

Leon Ichaso was born on 3 August 1948 in Havana, Cuba. He was a director and writer, known for Piñero (2001), El Super (1979) and Bitter Sugar (1996). He was married to Karen Willinger and Amanda Barber . He died on 21 May 2023 in Santa Monica, California, USA.

Bob Marx was born on 19 August 1930 in New York City, New York, USA. He died on 21 May 2023 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Douglas Squires was born on 16 February 1932 in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, England, UK. He was a producer and actor, known for The Rolf Harris Show (1967), Hi! Summer (1977) and Man in a Suitcase (1967). He was married to Antony Johns. He died on 21 May 2023.

Maxann Crotts Harvey was born on 15 January 1954 in Independence, Virginia, USA. She was a casting director and producer, known for The Patriot (2000), The Strangers (2008) and A Knight to Remember. She was married to Joe Harvey. She died on 21 May 2023 in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA.

Akin Ugurlu was born in 1950 in Istanbul, Turkey. He was an actor, known for Umitler Kirilirsa (1988). He died on 21 May 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Santiago Nadeau was born on 6 January 2002 in Montevideo, Uruguay. He was an actor and writer, known for Eggvidence (2021), The Start of Something and Cherry Wine (2022). He died on 21 May 2023 in Great Falls, Montana, USA.

Michael Lamont was born on 3 April 1947 in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA. Michael was a cinematographer, known for The Human Quality (2000) and Visas and Virtue (1997). Michael was married to Kay Cole. Michael died on 21 May 2023 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Bernard Pignerol was born in 1958 in France. He died on 21 May 2023 in France.

Charles Donald Bateman was born on 8 March 1932 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was married to Mary and Joan . He died on 21 May 2023 in Bellevue, Washington, USA.

Kjell-Gunnar Hjartholm Knudsen was born on 18 February 1987 in Os, Hordaland, Norway. He was an actor and cinematographer, known for The Innocents (2021), 22 July (2018) and Downsizing (2017). He died on 21 May 2023 in Os, Vestland, Norway.

Ted Bernhardt was born on 3 May 1958 in Lafayette, Indiana, USA. He was married to Sherry Wright. He died on 21 May 2023 in Isabela, Puerto Rico.

Giuseppe Piva is an Italian Film Director based in Milan. Graduated at Scuola di Alta Formazione Cinematografica by Marco Bellocchio, in 2014 he won the Canon Italia Award with his short film "Es". Among the other recognitions he received also 20 nominations and 5 award (including Best Thriller Director) at the Rome Web Awards with six episodes tv series Nero, also selected at Rome Fiction Fest 2015. In 2017 he directed the short film Memoria, written by Valeria Mingolla, Laura Fusconi and Fabio Maselli, on the theme of new technologies. The protagonist is an extraordinary Nino Formicola (the famous Gaspare of the Drive-In) with Letizia Bravi.

In 2018 he won Racconti Local Plus #2 of IDM Alto Adige/Südtirol and the Province of Bolzano for the development of the short film The Receptionist which he will make the following year. The film, which sees the magnificent participation of Denise Tantucci, is written by Alessio Posar and produced by Alex Pescosta.

Nutty was born on 14 February 1990 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. He was an actor, known for Nutty: Shotts Fired (2022). He died on 21 May 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

Antón Arrufat was born on 14 August 1935 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. He died on 21 May 2023 in Havana, Cuba.

C. Boyden Gray was born on 6 February 1943 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. He was married to Carol Taylor. He died on 21 May 2023 in Georgetown, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

Lucille Rieley Rights was born on 29 April 1928 in Maryland, USA. Lucille Rieley was a writer, known for City of Dreams (2011). Lucille Rieley was married to William Murtough and Charles Rights . Lucille Rieley died on 21 May 2023 in Stuart, Florida, USA.