The late actor Ray Stevenson received a touching tribute at the end of the first episode of the new Star Wars series Ahsoka, which premiered on Disney+ on August 22 in the US and August 23 in the UK.
The actor, who stars in the series as the villainous character Baylan Skoll, died in May aged 58. A title card for the beloved Ahsoka cast member appeared at the end of the first episode, right before the end credits, with the message: “For our friend, Ray.”
Stevenson was well known amongst the Star Wars community, having voiced Gar Saxon in Star Wars: Rebels and The Clone Wars before returning to portray Admiral Thrawn’s ally Baylon Skoll in Ahsoka. Footage from Star Wars Celebration showed Skoll engaging in a lightsaber duel with Rosario Dawson’s titular hero.
Dawson previously remembered Stevenson by sharing photos from their time together on Ahsoka. “Gone too soon from this world,” she wrote on Instagram following news of Stevenson’s death. “At a loss for words… just wanted to mark this moment and share your ever-ready and present smile. Love you forever.”
A tribute posted on the Star Wars website read: “We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of our dear friend Ray Stevenson. Ray was an incredible combination of talent, warmth, humor, and heart. His ability to play a villain, while being such a kind and caring person in reality, is a testament to his incredible talent.”
Ahsoka is the latest live-action Disney+ Star Wars series, joining the established lineup of The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Andor. Created by longtime Star Wars storyteller Dave Filoni, the series follows former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano as she “investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.”
The first two episodes of Ahsoka are now streaming on Disney+. In our review of those first two episodes, we said, “Dave Filoni’s new Disney+ series Ahsoka has plenty of action but still gets off to a slow start by getting viewers up to speed with the events of Star Wars Rebels.”
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.