Renowned for his portrayal of Kevan Lannister in HBO’s epic series ‘Game of Thrones’, actor Ian Gelder has passed away at the age of 74. The news of Gelder’s demise was confirmed by his husband, Ben D.els, who shared the heartbreaking announcement on social media.
In a post on Instagram, D.els expressed his profound grief, stating, “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.”
D.els revealed that Gelder had been battling bile duct cancer since December, and his passing came swiftly.
Describing Gelder as his “absolute rock,” D.els reminisced about their three-decade-long partnership, emphasising Gelder’s kindness, generosity, and unwavering love.
“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 wrote.
He added, “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, 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.”
Tributes began pouring in from fellow actors and industry peers, offering condolences and sharing fond memories of Gelder.
Matt Lanter extended his love and prayers to D.els, while Richard E. Grant expressed sorrow over the loss of Ian. Leslie Bibb and Missi Pyle also conveyed their heartfelt condolences, reflecting on Gelder’s immense light and compassion.
Ian Gelder’s talent and warmth endeared him to audiences worldwide, particularly his portrayal of Kevan Lannister in ‘Game Of Thrones’, a character that earned him admiration from fans and colleagues alike.
