Ray Stevenson, actor in ‘Thor, ‘Rome’ and ‘Punisher: War Zone,’ dies at 58

British actor Ray Stevenson, known for starring roles in “Thor,” “Punisher: War Zone” and HBO’s “Rome,” has died.

The burly thespian was 58 years old.

Stevenson died Sunday, his publicist Nicki Fioravante told multiple outlets. He had been hospitalized on the Italian island Ischia following an illness, according to La Repubblica newspaper. No other information about his cause of death was released.

Stevenson, who was four days shy of his birthday, was born on a British army base in Northern Ireland in 1964. After working as an interior designer with a London architectural firm, Stevenson decided to pursue a career in acting.

After attending the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, he landed roles on British TV before getting cast as one of the Knights of the Round Table in 2004′s “King Arthur” with Clive Owen and Keira Knightley.

For two seasons, he starred in the HBO series “Rome” as a soldier in the early days of the Roman Empire. He later also starred on Starz’ “Black Sails” as the famed pirate Blackbeard. He will posthumously appear on the Disney Plus series “Ahsoka” as a Jedi knight who turns to the dark side and torments Rosario Dawson’s title character. He also did voice acting for the “Star Wars Rebels” and “The Clone Wars” animated series.

“A brilliant, gutsy, larger-than-life actor who filled every part he played right up to the brim...What a loss,” his “Rome” co-star James Purefoy wrote on Twitter.

But the 6foot-4 Stevenson was known mostly for turns as hulking tough guys in Hollywood action films, like “Punisher: War Zone,” “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” “The Three Musketeers” and “The Other Guys.” He played Volstagg in all four of the “Thor” movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Stevenson also starred in Netflix’s Oscar-winning Telugu blockbuster action epic “RRR” as the villainous governor. He had a role in the young adult-focused, dystopian “Divergent” films.

“I will miss you Big Ray! Life is short so make the most of it people,” Scott Adkins, his co-star in two “Accident Man” films, wrote on Twitter.

Stevenson is survived by wife Elisabetta Caraccia and their three sons.