Ahsoka star Rosario Dawson as well as other members of the Star Wars community offered heartfelt tributes to Ray Stevenson following his passing on Sunday, May 21, 2023. Stevenson, who was recently at Star Wars Celebration 2023 promoting the upcoming Ahsoka series along with Dawson and other co-stars, had a long history with the Star Wars universe. The Ahsoka series, which reportedly wrapped at the beginning of 2023, will feature one of Stevenson’s final performances.

Ray Stevenson’s death at the age of 58 is being felt by co-stars, creators, and fans all over the world, leading to reactions and tributes.

Rosario Dawson, who worked with Stevenson in the upcoming Ahsoka show, described the actor as “so vivacious, unbelievably present, and vibrant.” Kevin Kiner, long-time Star Wars composer who scored Ahsoka, described Stevenson’s performance as Baylan Skoll for the show as “haunting.” Diana Lee Inosanto (Morgan Elsbeth in Ahsoka) and Ivanna Sakhno (Shin Hati in Ahsoka), also shared their memories of Stevenson. Speaking to the official Star Wars website, Lucasfilm’s Dave Filoni commented how Stevenson’s “kindness and generosity were felt by our entire team on Ahsoka,” and that the actor’s “memory will live on through his family, friends, and the many characters he created.”

Ray Stevenson’s Star Wars Legacy Explained

Ray Stevenson joined the Star Wars universe in 2016 for Star Wars Rebels season 3. Stevenson voiced Gar Saxon, a Mandalorian warrior from Clan Vizsla who aligned himself with the Galactic Empire and commanded the Imperial Super commandos. Gar Saxon had a key role in Rebels season 3’s Mandalorian plot, especially in the story of Sabine Wren. While Gar Saxon died in Rebels season 3, the character would be revisited in Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 7, during which Stevenson reprised his role as the ruthless Mandalorian soldier.

Stevenson had recently returned to the Star Wars universe, now in a live-action role. As described by Stevenson during Star Wars Celebration 2023, he believed that Dave Filoni wanted to discuss a live-action Gar Saxon appearance. However, the actor was surprised with a new role, Ahsoka’s Baylan Skoll. While not much is known about Baylan, the character is Force-sensitive, wields a unique orange lightsaber, and is presumably one of the show’s villains.

From a Mandalorian warrior to a mysterious Force-sensitive character who may tie into Grand Admiral Thrawn, Ray Stevenson left his mark on the Star Wars universe. Not many actors can say they played two completely different Star Wars characters, let alone a Mandalorian and a lightsaber-wielding villain. Seeing Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka, one of Stevenson’s final performances, will be extremely bittersweet. That said, Ray Stevenson’s contribution to Star Wars and his fascinating, decades-long career as a whole will forever be remembered.