- "But I'm glad the conversation is about Ray and how great he was… I used to have mini debates with him and say, 'Ray, you're the villain here.' And he'd be like, 'I don't think so.' I was like, 'I know you don't think so, but you are. I love that you're playing it like you're not.' Which is exactly the way Baylan thinks. […] I think he would've been over the moon. The big regret here is that he didn't get to experience that. I'm glad he was at Star Wars Celebration with us, that he got to see the trailer and get a taste of that from the fans. And they've been nothing but wonderful about Ray and the character."
- ―Dave Filoni
Ray Stevenson (May 25, 1964 - May 21, 2023) was an actor from Northern Ireland[1] who voiced Gar Saxon in the third season of Star Wars Rebels and in the revival of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.[3]
He returned to the Star Wars universe for the role of Baylan Skoll in the Ahsoka television series. The character was revealed in a teaser trailer wielding an orange-red lightsaber, one month before Stevenson's death.
The first episode of the series was dedicated to Stevenson, with a message that read "For our friend, Ray".[4]
His notable roles included Legionary Titus Pullo (with Kevin McKidd, Tobias Menzies, and Indira Varma) in HBO's series Rome, Volstagg in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Thor trilogy (with Natalie Portman), and Frank Castle in Punisher: War Zone. One of his earliest film roles included the knight Dagonet in King Arthur (2004), appearing with Joel Edgerton, Keira Knightley, Mads Mikkelsen, and Stellan Skarsgård.
Works[]
Filmography[]
| Year | Title | Series | Contribution(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Imperial Supercommandos" | Star Wars Rebels | Gar Saxon |
| 2017 | "Legacy of Mandalore" | Star Wars Rebels | Gar Saxon |
| 2020 | "Old Friends Not Forgotten" | Star Wars: The Clone Wars | Gar Saxon |
| 2020 | "The Phantom Apprentice" | Star Wars: The Clone Wars | Gar Saxon |
| 2023 | "Part One: Master and Apprentice" | Ahsoka | Baylan Skoll[4] |
| 2023 | "Part Two: Toil and Trouble" | Ahsoka | Baylan Skoll[5] |
| 2023 | "Part Three: Time to Fly" | Ahsoka | Baylan Skoll[6] |
| 2023 | "Part Four: Fallen Jedi" | Ahsoka | Baylan Skoll[7] |
| 2023 | "Part Five: Shadow Warrior" | Ahsoka | Baylan Skoll (Voice)[8] |
| 2023 | "Part Six: Far, Far Away" | Ahsoka | Baylan Skoll[9] |
| 2023 | "Part Seven: Dreams and Madness" | Ahsoka | Baylan Skoll[10] |
| 2023 | "Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord" | Ahsoka | Baylan Skoll[11] |
Sources[]
Imperial Super Commandos Episode Guide on StarWars.com (backup link)- Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2023 - DAY 2 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- Ray Stevenson and Lars Mikkelsen | Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2023 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- SWCE 2023: 10 Things We Learned from the Ahsoka Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Ahsoka Panel Recap | Star Wars Celebration 2023 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- This Week! in Star Wars Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 Recap on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- Remembering Ray Stevenson on StarWars.com (backup link)
- This Week! in Star Wars Celebrating 40 Years of Return of the Jedi on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- Ahsoka Premiere Date Revealed on StarWars.com (backup link)
- This Week! in Star Wars Ahsoka Release Date Announced, Hayden Christensen and Diego Luna Chat, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 219
- New Ahsoka Trailer: The Former Jedi Prepares for the Return of Thrawn on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 220
- Ahsoka: Fans Celebrate Their First Look at New Disney+ Series on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Ahsoka Is Here! on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 222
- Behind the Scenes of Ahsoka: Images from the Cast on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ray Stevenson, Actor in the Thor Movies and ‘RRR,' Dies at 58 by Borys Kit; Aaron Couch; Mike Barnes on The Hollywood Reporter (May 22, 2023) (archived from the original on May 22, 2023)
- ↑ Star Wars Undertakes Universe-Shaking Changes After Ahsoka by Anthony Breznican on www.vanityfair.com (November 21, 2023) (archived from the original on November 21, 2023)
- ↑
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Old Friends Not Forgotten" credits
- ↑ 4.0 4.1
Ahsoka — "Part One: Master and Apprentice"
- ↑ Ahsoka — "Part Two: Toil and Trouble"
- ↑ Ahsoka — "Part Three: Time to Fly"
- ↑ Ahsoka — "Part Four: Fallen Jedi"
- ↑ Ahsoka — "Part Five: Shadow Warrior"
- ↑ Ahsoka — "Part Six: Far, Far Away"
- ↑ Ahsoka — "Part Seven: Dreams and Madness"
- ↑ Ahsoka — "Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord"
