Hugh Keays-Byrne, who played the villain Toecutter in Mad Max and came back as Immortan Joe in Mad Max: Fury Road, has passed away at 73. Born May 18, 1947, in Srinigar in Kashmir, two years before the formation of India, to British parents, Keays-Byrne grew up in England. He began acting in the 1960s, appearing in several productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company. While he appeared in A Midsummer Night's Dream in Australia for the company, he decided to stay in the country, a decision that led directly to his film career. His movie debut was in 1974's Stone, where he played Toad, a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang.
The next year he starred in The Man From Hong Kong, a James Bond parody starring former Bond George Lazenby. He appeared in several other so-called "Ozploitation" films throughout the 1970s, culminating in his breakout role as Toecutter, the deranged villain in George Miller's Mad Max. Keays-Byrne ate up the screen opposite the movie's lead, Mel Gibson, and returned to the franchise for Mad Max: Fury Road. He once again played the villain, Immortan Joe, putting in a terrifying turn as the masked, massive breathing monster hunting down his stolen wives. In between, Keays-Byrne starred in many Australian movies and TV series and featured in the cult hit 2000s sci-fi show Farscape as Grunchlk.
Today, filmmaker Ted Geoghegan revealed via Twitter that Keays-Byrne had passed away on Tuesday, at the age of 73. Geoghegan paid tribute to the actor's performances in the Mad Max franchise, adding that he was a committed environmentalist and humanitarian. The news was also confirmed on Facebook by Brian Trenchard-Smith, the British director who cast Keays-Byrne in The Man From Hong Kong. Trenchard-Smith paid tribute to Keays-Byrne's sense of humor and also mentioned his social conscience. You can see their tributes in full below:
While he had a wide and varied career, there's no doubt Keays-Byrne will be remembered for his dual roles in the Mad Max franchise. The fact he could return to star in Mad Max: Fury Road 35 years after his first appearance in the series is a testament to his ferocious longevity as an actor. Playing very different roles, Keays-Byrne managed to make both Toecutter and Immortan Joe terrifying in their own ways. There's no doubt his performances played a large part in the enduring popularity of both movies.
Miller enjoyed working with the actor, having cast him in his abandoned Justice League: Mortal movie, reportedly as Martian Manhunter. While he wasn't able to put his mark on the DC Universe, Keays-Byrne still managed to play a role in cinema history, crafting two of the most memorable villains ever to be committed to film. He will be greatly missed.
Source: Ted Geoghegan/Brian Trenchard-Smith/Twitter/Facebook