The actor Ray Stevenson, who appeared in major TV shows such as Rome, Vikings and Dexter, has died aged 58.

He was known for roles in the Thor films and the Divergent series, as well as several UK TV shows like Band of Gold, Peak Practice and Murphy's Law.

His US-based publicist firm, Viewpoint, confirmed his death to the BBC but did not provide any further details.

No cause of death has been revealed but he was reportedly hospitalised during filming on the Italian island Ischia.

At the time of his death, he was working on an action movie, Cassino in Ischia.

His death was announced four days before his 59th birthday.

Stevenson was born in Northern Ireland but moved to England when he was eight years old.

His father was stationed with the Royal Air Force (RAF) near Lisburn, County Antrim, at the time of his birth in 1964.

His family relocated to Newcastle upon Tyne and he spent much of his childhood in England.

• Ray Stevenson's career in pictures

Stevenson was inspired to become an actor after seeing John Malkovich in a play at a West End theatre in London.

He studied acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and one of his first TV roles was in the Catherine Cookson drama The Dwelling Place.

He later appeared in a wide range of British TV shows including Waking the Dead, Dalziel and Pascoe and At Home with the Braithwaites.

In 2004, he played a knight in the big-budget Hollywood film, King Arthur, which starred Keira Knightley.

More recently, Stevenson secured roles in successful US-made TV shows and movies, taking the role of Volstagg in the Thor trilogy and Titus Pullo in HBO's historical drama series Rome.

He will star as Baylan Skoll in the upcoming Disney+ series Star Wars: Ahsoka.

'Larger than life'

Stevenson's co-stars have been paying tribute to the late actor on social media.

English actor James Purefoy, who starred alongside Stevenson in Rome, described him as a "brilliant, gutsy, larger-than-life actor who filled every part he played right up to the brim".

So sad to hear the news that Ray Stevenson, our Pullo in Rome, has passed away. A brilliant, gutsy, larger-than-life actor who filled every part he played right up to the brim. My thoughts are with his family, his lovely wife Betta and their beautiful kids. What a loss.

— James Purefoy 🇺🇦 (@JamesPurefoy) May 22, 2023

Rosario Dawson - who will appear in the Ashoka series alongside Stevenson - posted on Instagram to say her co-star was a "giant of a man" whose death left her "stunned and reeling".

Meanwhile, director James Gunn, who was involved in the production of the second Thor film, wrote that the late actor had been a "joy to work with."

Bear McCreary, the composer who soundtracked the Black Sails TV series, saluted Stevenson's "mesmerisingly unforgettable" turn as Blackbeard in the programme.

And actor Scott Adkins, who starred alongside Stevenson in Accident Man, sad he was "shocked and saddened by the tragic news", adding: "I will miss you, Big Ray!"