Star Wars: Ahsoka's Touching Tribute to the Late Star Ray Stevenson You Won't Want to Miss

Highlights

Star Wars: Ahsoka finally premiered on Disney Plus, but it's bittersweet as one of the stars, Ray Stevenson, passed away before the release.

Stevenson's portrayal of Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka has garnered immense acclaim for its subtle yet powerful presence, serving as a poignant swan song for his remarkable acting career. The inaugural episode of Ahsoka concludes with a heartfelt homage to Stevenson, dedicating not only the episode but also, possibly, the entire series to him, affectionately labeled as "For our dear friend, Ray."

The first two episodes of Star Wars: Ahsoka premiered on Disney Plus, but it was a bittersweet occasion as Ray Stevenson, one of the stars of the spinoff series, had passed away before its release. As a tribute to him, the first episode ended with a simple yet touching dedication.

Stevenson portrays Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka, one of the two new villains who wield striking orange lightsabers and work as mercenaries for Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) in her search for Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen). Even in his limited appearances so far, Stevenson's performance has garnered immense praise in the Star Wars show for its quiet intensity. While it may not be his ultimate legacy as an actor, it serves as a fitting final display of his talent on the screen. Therefore, a dedication from the show itself seems particularly appropriate.

Just before the credits roll at the end of Ahsoka's first episode, there is now a short tribute honoring the episode (and likely the show itself) dedicated to Stevenson, which reads "For our friend, Ray." It's a nice gesture to acknowledge an actor who has undeniably left a lasting impact on Star Wars, even though he won't be able to see it. It will be thrilling to see the direction his character takes as the season progresses. However, even at this moment, he has already emerged as one of the standout elements of the show, a true testament to Stevenson's remarkable talent as an actor.

Ahsoka witnesses Stevenson's portrayal of a former Jedi-turned-mercenary, while Ivanna Sakhno acts as his apprentice, Shin Hati. However, it may be easy to overlook Stevenson's previous involvement in the Star Wars franchise. He was once the voice behind the traitorous Mandalorian, Gar Saxon, in both The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. In the former series, Saxon's radical beliefs led him to participate in a coup against Mandalore's current leadership, under the influence of the former Sith Lord Maul. Eventually, Saxon aligned himself with the Galactic Empire and assumed the role of Governor of Mandalore, answering directly to Emperor Palpatine. Sadly, he met his demise after a defeat in a duel against the young Mandalorian, Sabine Wren.

Beyond his Star Wars endeavors, the Northern Irish actor, Stevenson, has enjoyed a successful and diverse career. His repertoire includes portraying Governor Scott in the upcoming 2022 film RRR, as well as embodying the character Volstagg in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Thor films. Throughout his professional life, he has managed to maintain a range of roles, going from historical dramas like 2004's King Arthur and the HBO series Rome to more imaginative appearances, such as playing mobster Isaak Sirko in Dexter season 7 and even taking on the role of Blackbeard in the Starz series Black Sails, a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's famous Treasure Island. Notably, he also portrayed The Punisher in Punisher: War Zone prior to the inception of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Stevenson's acting career was already worth celebrating prior to Ahsoka, and he will be remembered for much more than just being an intimidating villain wielding a lightsaber. Nevertheless, it is gratifying that he had one last well-received appearance as a final tribute to his life and achievements. Rest in peace, legend.

New episodes of Ahsoka are available on Disney Plus on Tuesdays.

Source: Disney Plus