On Monday, we learned that Ahsoka star Ray Stevenson had passed away at the age of 58. Details about the alleged illness that saw him hospitalised over the weekend have not been revealed, but tributes continue pouring in for an actor who was clearly beloved by those he worked with.
After first joining the Star Wars franchise with the animated series Star Wars Rebels (where he voiced Gar Saxon), Stevenson was tapped to play Baylan Skoll in this summer's live-action Ahsoka. We expect his character to be an incredibly important part of the series, with theories running rampant that he may, in fact, be playing the evil Joruus C'baoth from Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire novels.
Sharing his thoughts on the late actor, Ahsoka showrunner Dave Filoni tells StarWars.com (via SFFGazette.com), "We have lost a great talent and friend in Ray Stevenson. His kindness and generosity were felt by our entire team on Ahsoka. I always looked forward to working with Ray, and I appreciated his insight and daily wisdom."
"I am glad that his memory will live on through his family, friends, and the many characters he created. Thank you Ray, for everything."
Ahsoka Tano herself, Rosario Dawson, has also weighed in with her own tribute. Taking to Instagram, where she shared a number of behind-the-scenes photos from the series, the actress called Stevenson, "A giant of a man."
"[I'm] stunned and reeling from this tragic, devastating news. Gone too soon from this world," she continued. "At a loss for words...just wanted to mark this moment and share your ever-ready and present smile. Love you forever. Holding your family in my heart."
It's unclear what role, if any, Stevenson's character was set to play beyond Ahsoka, but his lightsaber-wielding baddie has already captivated Star Wars fans.
Once again, our thoughts go out to Ray's family and friends at this time.