SS Rajamouli mourns the untimely demise of Ray Stevenson from RRR and offers a heartfelt tribute

Stevenson, who gained popularity in India through his role in "RRR," was also recognized for his performances as an Asgardian warrior in the Thor movies and as a member of the 13th Legion in HBO's "Rome."

Upon hearing the news, SS Rajamouli, the director of "RRR," expressed his grief on Twitter, stating that he was shocked and couldn't believe the news. Rajamouli praised Stevenson's energy and vibrancy on the set, describing the experience of working with him as pure joy. He offered his prayers to Stevenson's family and wished for his soul to rest in peace.

Shocking... Just can't believe this news. Ray brought in so much energy and vibrancy with him to the sets. It was infectious. Working with him was pure joy.

My prayers are with his family. May his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/HytFxHLyZD

— rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) May 23, 2023

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Stevenson passed away on Sunday, just four days before his birthday. Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported that he had been hospitalized on the island of Ischia while working on the film "Cassino on Ischia," directed by Frank Ciota. Further details regarding his death were not immediately available.

Stevenson's acting career began with appearances on TV shows in the 1990s, eventually landing action roles in Hollywood films in the 2000s. He gained prominence for his role as Dagonet, one of the Knights of the Round Table, in Antoine Fuqua's adventure movie "King Arthur" (2004).

One of Stevenson's notable roles was that of the charismatic soldier Titus Pullo in the HBO series "Rome" (2005-2007). Following the conclusion of the series, he portrayed Marvel anti-hero Frank Castle in "Punisher: War Zone" (2008). He also had small roles in Marvel's "Thor" (2011) as Volstagg, a member of Thor's friends known as the Warriors Three, and reprised the role in "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017).