Game of Thrones actor Ian Gelder dies aged 74
Ian Gelder as Kevan Lannister in Game of Thrones. Photograph: HBO/Home Box Office
The British actor Ian Gelder, who played Kevan Lannister in the hit fantasy series Game of Thrones, has died aged 74.
During a career spanning decades, he was a familiar face on screen with roles in Torchwood, His Dark Materials, Doctor Who, Snatch, and The Bill.
He died five months after being diagnosed with bile duct cancer, his husband and fellow actor, Ben Daniels, announced on Instagram.
“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,” Daniels posted on Tuesday.
“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 every day.
“He was the kindest, most generous spirited and loving human being. 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 and no self pity. Ever. He was remarkable and will be so missed.”
Posting a photograph of himself with Gelder, Daniels added: “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.”
A stalwart of the screen and stage, Gelder appeared in Game of Thrones as Kevan Lannister, the younger brother of Lord Tywin (Charles Dance), for the first season and reprised the role in the later seasons of the HBO series, meeting his demise in the final episode.
He appeared most recently earlier this year in an episode of the BBC One period detective series Father Brown.
He is also known for playing Mr Dekker in Torchwood: Children of Earth. In 2019, he guest-starred as the Librarian scholar Charles of Jordan College in the BBC TV series His Dark Materials and in 2020 he made an appearance as Zellin in Doctor Who.
His other credits included roles in the TV series London’s Burning and Agatha Christie’s Poirot, while he had roles in productions in London’s West End and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.