The Untold Truth Of The Late Ray Stevenson

Ask any actor who their favorite performer is and there will be several answers. Don't be surprised, though, if more than half the responses feature the names of acclaimed leading men like Marlon Brando, Clark Gable, and Paul Newman. As an actor cut from a different cloth, Ray Stevenson looked to a different set of thespians as inspirations.

"It was the likes of Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman," Stevenson told Backstage. "Never a bad performance, and brave and fearless within that caliber. It was never the young, hot leading man; it was men who I could identify with."

While impressed by Marvin and Hackman's performances, the actor stressed that it was the combination of other elements which helped these actors shine on screen. Stevenson believed actors are allowed to excel as performers when the right creative talent in other parts of the production is supportive and provides the necessary tools for success. To quote the horrid and cheesy corporate-approved term: "Teamwork makes the dream work."

Ray Stevenson's most "punishing" role arrived in Lexi Alexander's "Punisher: War Zone." Released in 2008, this reboot boasts blood, guts, and more R-rated violence than the average superhero movie of that era. Stevenson dazzles as Frank Castle, embodying the version of the vigilante from the brutal "Punisher" comic book series written by Garth Ennis and featuring art by talented artists such as Lewis LaRosa and Leandro Fernández.

Unfortunately, "Punisher: War Zone" didn't light up the box office or inspire the critics to get skull tattoos on their biceps. It made only $10.2 million against a $35 million budget, while receiving a paltry 29% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the underwhelming financial and critical performance, the film developed into a cult classic years later. As a result, many fans craved a sequel, hoping it would happen somewhere down the line.

In a chat with Stevenson, The Action Elite writer David J. Moore said that he was dismayed that the actor never had a chance to return to the part of Castle. "So was I!" Stevenson agreed. "Write in and tell them that! I would in a heartbeat go back! I loved the storyline and the comic books that it was based on. It could definitely do with a sequel." Sadly, this never happened, as the Punisher rebooted on Netflix as a series, with "The Walking Dead" star Jon Bernthal cast as the titular character.

HBO's "Game of Thrones" didn't just become one of the most popular TV shows of all time, but it also changed the lives of the cast members, transforming them into household names and immortalizing them in the pantheon of TV greats. Of course, no one looked into a crystal ball and predicted the epic fantasy series' game-changing success when it first entered production. Consequently, many actors turned down roles on the show, and Ray Stevenson was one of them.

In 2015, Stevenson revealed to Movie.com that he had received the opportunity to join the "Game of Thrones" cast, but he said no. "I was offered [a role]," he said. "I also saw them before they even started, very early on. I would rather have been [cast] at the beginning."

Stevenson didn't disclose the part he was offered, presumably not to take away from the actual actor cast for the role instead. However, he added that it would have kept him busy for anywhere from four to six months, but he had already accepted playing Blackbeard on Starz's "Black Sails."

Jon M. Chu's "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" hit the big screen in 2013. While billed as the sequel to 2009's "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," the film largely focuses on a new group of heroes, led by Dwayne Johnson's Roadblock. In the opposite corner stands Ray Stevenson as Firefly, an explosive villain who works with the sinister Cobra. Naturally, as the two big men of the film, Roadblock and Firefly eventually battle each other in a clash of the titans.

During the filming of "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," an encounter between Stevenson and Johnson left one of them a bloody mess. "The worst moment was when we filmed the first big fight," Stevenson told The Daily Record. "I spun round and accidentally caught him right across the bridge of his nose. I drew blood and I was worried. But Dwayne just shrugged it off. He was great about it and just said, 'These things happen.'"

Stevenson added how the intensity and physicality of their action scenes resulted in numerous bruises throughout production, while revealing that Johnson ended up popping him on the nose as well. In the world of pro wrestling, that's referred to as a receipt.

Ray Stevenson's journey into the acting world veered far from the conventional path. He only realized at the age of 25 that it was something he wanted to pursue and take seriously, eventually graduating from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School at 29. A notable talent, he worked his way up the ranks, reaching mainstream recognition thanks to his role as Dagonet in 2004's "King Arthur."

His big breakthrough came a year later after being cast in a lead role as Titus Pullo in the TV show "Rome." From there, his career took off and the film offers flooded in. Surprisingly, Stevenson wasn't a member of the Screen Actors Guild — American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) until later in his acting career.

Speaking to Backstage, Stevenson revealed how "Rome" played a major part in him receiving his SAG-AFTRA card. "When 'Rome' came up, with patience," he said. "Over the course of two seasons I created quite a bit of interest, and that gave me my representation in the States and, ergo, started my movie career at 44 — which is almost unheard of." It's remarkable to consider how Stevenson worked on a blockbuster like "King Arthur" without being a part of the union.

From Titus Pullo in "Rome" to Danny Greene in "Kill the Irishman" and Blackbeard in "Black Sails," Ray Stevenson showed a knack for portraying historical figures on screen. As a result, the industry and audience associated him as an actor with period pieces, since he appeared to gravitate toward these types of projects more than others.

"I consider myself a historical nerd and clearly see the correlation between these historical figures and the massive changes that their world was undergoing with the spread of civilization and the reach of England," Stevenson told Geeks World Wide. In the same interview, the actor also revealed how he believed elements of history had been distorted by sensationalism and the one-sided views of the time, such as the pamphlets and stories of pirates like Blackbeard. However, as an actor researching the part, he would need to find the remnants of truth in these pieces and try to look at it from his character's unique perspective, coupled with the demands of the script.

One of Stevenson's last completed films before he died was the historical drama "Gateway to the West," which centers on the real-life event in which the Mongolian army invaded Hungary.

Occasionally in Ray Stevenson's career, even after he established himself in blockbusters, he popped up in unexpected films. One of his more out-of-the-blue roles came in 2018's action film "Accident Man," based on the comic written by Pat Mills and Tony Skinner and illustrated by numerous artists including Martin Edmond and Duke Mighten. The film stars Scott Adkins as Mike Fallon, an assassin who possesses the rare skill to make his hits look like accidents, while Stevenson portrays his mentor and father figure Big Ray. Adkins and Stevenson reprised their parts for the 2022 sequel "Accident Man: Hitman's Holiday."

As also the producer and co-writer of the films, Adkins revealed to The Hollywood News that the role of Big Ray was conceived with Stevenson in mind. "He was always on the list and he was the first guy we went out to and the first guy we got," Adkins said of Stevenson. "That was a great coup, and when Stu [Small] and I were writing the script, we knew that we had to write Big Ray for a great British actor and we need someone who is a great actor and someone who can sign on and help us finance the movie."

So, for those who watched and enjoyed the "Accident Man" franchise, everyone owes Stevenson a debt of gratitude for adding his star power to the project and helping it get the green light from the money people.

Ray Stevenson never received a direct sequel to Lexi Alexander's "Punisher: War Zone." However, he still got another chance at running amok as Frank Castle, albeit in a more family friendly manner. Stevenson lent his voice to the animated version of the Punisher that appears in "The Super Hero Squad Show." He plays the character in the same gritty manner as he did in the live-action movie, leaving the other fun-loving heroes shocked at how intense he is. Undoubtedly, Stevenson's straight delivery adds to the comedic effect here, as it almost becomes a parody of Marvel's edgy antihero and his bloodlust for vengeance.

Speaking about the role to The A.V. Club, Stevenson opened up more about the experience. "It was strange," he said. "I went up to a studio somewhere in L.A. and voiced over all these lines. I haven't even seen it! But, yeah, apparently it's out there in the wonderful world."

While he may not have seen the fruits of his labor, he jumped at the opportunity to reprise the part of the Punisher. The actor also admitted he harbored a keen interest in doing more voice acting roles, stating that he did a few when he was younger and living in London. However, he recognized the timing may not have aligned with his movie and television career at the time.

When actors are asked about their favorite performance, they'll likely tell the interviewer it's their current one — much the same way a musician always says their new song or album is their best work ever. Ray Stevenson decided on a different approach when he spoke to journalist Arthur Kade during the press tour for "Black Sails." Instead of declaring the pirate series as his greatest accomplishment, Stevenson cited "Rome" — not only because it was the project that kickstarted his career to superstardom but also for several personal reasons.

"It has to be 'Rome,'" he said. "That was one of the major, major periods of my life. It turned my life around. I found my partner, who was my landlady." Stevenson joked about how Elisabetta Caraccia raised his rent even after they became a couple while discussing how this meeting led to them living together, having three children, and a dog as well.

He also revealed how "Rome" was the first project that got him to look at acting from an entirely different perspective. Instead of second-guessing himself or trying too hard to think of what was next, he knuckled down and focused on what was in front of him. For him, this changed the way he approached the profession from there on out.

Considering Ray Stevenson's affinity for historical dramas, was anyone really surprised when he was eventually cast as the wandering sailor Othere in "Vikings"? The actor shows up as Othere in 11 episodes of Season 6 of the fan-favorite show. Of course, Stevenson possessed some experience for the role, having portrayed a space Viking in the form of the Asgardian Volstagg in the MCU.

However, as Stevenson revealed to journalist Matt J. Horn while discussing the topic of "Thor," he held a closer connection to the world of Vikings than most people may realize. "As for the Norse legends — I had my formative years in the north-east [sic] of England — my father's homeland of Northumberland," he said. "A place littered with Vikings and Norse mythology. Indeed, my father would often tell me that the derivative of my surname 'Stevenson' was in fact 'Svenson', a fine old Viking name."

Most actors love to talk about how acting is a calling — something more than a profession — and how they do it for artistic value and merit. Then, there are others who are more open and transparent, admitting how they also get caught up in the glitz and glamor of it as well as the benefits of stardom, such as seeing action figures based on the characters they portray. Ray Stevenson was no different, as he admitted to an interesting ambition he had for his career.

In an interview with Build during the press tour for "The Transporter Refueled," Stevenson said, "It was a dream of mine one day to have an action figure." He questioned how it was possible for someone to not be excited about it, while also expressing his delight at having three figurines of his likeness out in the world.

The actor joked that he couldn't get too carried away with it, though, since his children brought him back down to Earth. He revealed that his kids had ripped off the heads of his action figures, with one of them replacing his head with a Lego figure. Stevenson didn't reveal which figure his child did this to, but he still found the funny side of it.