Game of Thrones actor Ian Gelder dies aged 74 as husband pays emotional tribute-Kitty Chrisp-Entertainment – Metro

Ian Gelder has died aged 74 after being diagnosed with cancer (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for SOLT)

Ian Gelder, who starred as Kevan Lannister in Game of Thrones, has died at the age of 74.

His husband, actor Ben Daniels, announced the news this evening.

The actor – who also played Mr Dekker in Torchwood: Children of Earth – was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in December, Ben revealed in the emotional announcement.

Alongside a picture of the pair, Ben took to social media and wrote: ‘It is with huge huge sadness and a heavy heart broken into a million pieces that I’m leaving this post to announce the passing of my darling husband and life partner Ian Gelder.

‘Ian was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in December and yesterday he passed at 13.07. I’d stopped all work to be his carer but neither of us had any idea that it would all be so fast.

‘He was my absolute rock and we’d been partners for more than 30 years. If we weren’t together we spoke to each other everyday. He was the kindest, most generous spirited and loving human being.

Gelder’s partner Ben Daniels announced his death on social media alongside this picture, taken this Christmas just gone (Picture: Ben Daniels/Instagram)

He starred as Kevan Lannister in Game of Thrones (Picture: HBO)

‘He was a wonderful wonderful actor and everyone who worked with him was touched by his heart and light.

‘I honestly don’t know what I’ll do without him by my side. He coped with his dreadful illness with such bravery, with no self pity. Ever.

‘He was remarkable and will be so missed. This pic was taken at Christmas time after I’d got him out of hospital and even though he’d gone through the worst three weeks there you can still see his joy and love shining through. Rest well my sweet Chianni. Xxxx’

DMJ Consultancy, who represented Gelder, took to X and wrote: ‘I am heartbroken by the news that the wonderful Ian Gelder has passed away. Ian was one of the loveliest men you could ever wish to meet.

‘Unfailingly kind, and a true gentleman who will be sorely missed by all whose lives he touched. Rest In Peace, dear friend.’

Gelder enjoyed a successful career on stage and screen (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Gelder’s husband Ben Daniels has described him as ‘remarkable’ (Picture: HBO)

As well as his roles on the HBO show and Torchwood, in 2019 Gelder guest-starred in the BBC TV series His Dark Materials.

A year later he also appeared as Zellin in the seventh episode of the twelfth season of Doctor Who, Can You Hear Me?.

Gelder met Ben in 1993 during a London stage production of Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr Sloane.

Fans have taken to X paying tribute to the late actor, as @corellianjedi2 wrote: ‘Ian Gelder was an incredibly lovely man. May he rest in peace,’ while @jason_fromm said: ‘A true gent and all round beautiful human, RIP Ian Gelder.’

Actor Toby Hadoke said: ‘Very sad to see the passing of that terrific actor Ian Gelder confirmed. Great in so much but I’ll always love his Mr Dekker in Torchwood: Children of Earth. An enigmatic character who came out of nowhere and quietly unsettled the whole thing with a disquieting, subtle menace.’

Donmar Warehouse theatre in Covent Garden shared pictures of him performing, and said: ‘We’re sad to hear that Ian Gelder has died. Our thoughts are with his husband, family and all that knew him.

‘He appeared at the Donmar in Arnold Wesker’s Roots (2013), CP Taylor’s Good (1999) and The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles Macarthur (1997).’

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