Who is Ray Stevenson's Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka? Star Wars character explained
He plays a big part in Ahsoka.
With Ahsoka out now, fans are remembering the late, great Ray Stevenson, who played Baylan Skoll in the Star Wars series.
The actor died in May this year at the age of 58, with Skoll in Ahsoka being one of his final roles. A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
With Ahsoka cast and crew paying tribute, fans were also moved to see that the first episode of the show was dedicated to him, with a message reading: "For our friend, Ray."
Read on for everything you need to know about Stevenson’s role in Ahsoka.
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Who is Ray Stevenson's Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka?
Skoll is a former Jedi who survived Order 66 by fleeing into the Unknown Region. He is now the master of his apprentice Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno) and an ally to Grand Admiral Thrawn.
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The first impression we get of Skoll is when he and Shin Hati free the villainous Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) from prison after fighting with lightsabers but declaring: "We are no Jedi."
It's clear the pair are force sensitive and that Skoll at least was once part of the Jedi order, with the droid professor Huyang (voiced by David Tennant) identifying his lightsaber.
The pair later deliver the map leading to Grand Admiral Thrawn's location to Elsbeth, with Skoll on a mission to wipe out Ahsoka - although he seems reluctant to kill her, leading Elsbeth to brand him "sentimental".
Stevenson attended the 2023 Star Wars Celebration event in April where he spoke about his excitement to be part of Ahsoka and said "getting to wield the lightsaber is just the best feeling in the world", CBS News Atlanta reported.
Stevenson previously voiced Star Wars character Gar Saxon in animated series The Clone Wars and Rebels.
Who has paid tribute to Ray Stevenson?
Rosario Dawson, who is set to appear alongside Stevenson in Ahsoka, tweeted: “Sharing in grief with you all. What a Ray of light. Been calling cast/crew & the rest of my family to say how much I love them. Let this be your reminder to love on your people’s in real time while you can. Ray was so vivacious & unbelievably present & vibrant. He truly lived!”
James Purefoy, who starred with Stevenson in Rome, said: “So sad to hear the news that Ray Stevenson, our Pullo in ‘Rome’, has passed away. A brilliant, gutsy, larger-than-life actor who filled every part he played right up to the brim."
He added: “My thoughts are with his family, his lovely wife Betta and their beautiful kids. What a loss.”
Former child star Matthew Lewis, who appeared with him in TV film Some Kind of Life, also paid tribute to Stevenson following the tragic news of his passing.
“This is so sad,” wrote Lewis, who is best known for portraying Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter franchise.
He continued alongside a picture of them together on set: “Ray played my dad in the first thing I ever did on TV. Almost 30 years ago. A proper actor with a fascinating career and I couldn’t have dreamed of a better first experience in this ridiculous industry.
Ahsoka will premiere on Disney Plus in August 2023. Sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 per year.
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