Frontier Partisans

The Adventurers, Rangers and Scouts Who Fought the Battles of Empire

Death Of A Swashbuckler

May 23, 2023, by JimC

The British actor Ray Stevenson died suddenly at age 58. No word on cause of death — he was hospitalized after a sudden illness while shooting a movie in Italy.

Stevenson delivered two iconic Frontier Partisan roles — as Roman Legionary Titus Pullo in HBO’s Rome and as Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard, in STARZ Black Sails. He had a knack for humanizing homicidal swashbucklers. His Teach was not only a fearsome pirate — he was a man who poignantly wished for a son. While he was not a main character, he was a massive presence.

The Season 3 cold open introduced Teach as a mighty menace…

Clan Cornelius first encountered Stevenson as Titus Pullo, hunting for a stolen Roman Eagle on the frontiers of Gaul. Pullo was a simple man, content to fight, gamble and fornicate — redeemed by his loyalty to his dour comrade Lucius Vorenus.

Somehow, Stevenson rendered these rough rogues lovable — perhaps because he carried more than a little of the lovable rogue in him.

I’d like to think there’s a rowdy party going down in Davy Jones’ Locker, with tumbling dice and willing women, all to welcome a swashbuckler whose voyage is done.

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Comments

  1. John Maddox Roberts says

    May 23, 2023 at 8:31 am

    He had so many great roles left in him and now we will never see them. He’s earned his place in Valhalla or wherever,.

    Reply
  2. Brian J English says

    May 23, 2023 at 7:40 pm

    This was brutal news. Great actor. He was pitch perfect as Pullo.

    RIP big man.

    Reply
  3. John Maddox Roberts says

    May 24, 2023 at 4:12 pm

    I was really hoping to see him play Pete Bondurant in an adaptation of James Ellroy’s “Underworld USA” trilogy. I can think of no actor more suited to the role.

    Reply
    • JimC says

      May 24, 2023 at 4:28 pm

      Oh, man. Right on the money.

      Reply
  4. Aaron says

    May 25, 2023 at 10:05 am

    My favourite film of his is “Outpost” where he plays a war weary mercenary.

    Reply

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