‘Game of Thrones’ Star Ian Gelder Dies at 74 Following Cancer Battle

The British actor was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in December.
‘Game of Thrones’ Star Ian Gelder Dies at 74 Following Cancer Battle
Ian Gelder attends The Olivier Awards 2022 with MasterCard in London, England, on April 10, 2022. Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for SOLT
Audrey Enjoli
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British actor Ian Gelder, known for portraying Kevan Lannister on the popular HBO series “Game of Thrones,” has died at the age of 74 following a short battle with bile duct cancer.

Mr. Gelder passed away Monday afternoon, just five months after being diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. The aggressive disease develops in the bile ducts, a network of tubes that carry fluid from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine to aid digestion, per the Mayo Clinic.

Mr. Gelder’s longtime partner, “The Crown” star Ben Daniels, confirmed the actor’s untimely passing in an Instagram post shared on Tuesday.

“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,” the 59-year-old captioned alongside a photo of the two smiling.

“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,” Mr. Daniels explained.

“He was my absolute rock,” he penned. “If we weren’t together, we spoke to each other everyday [sic]. 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.”

Mr. Daniels continued: “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.”

The “House of Cards” actor noted that he took a break from acting to care for Mr. Gelder in his time of need. However, he and his partner, who had been married for more than 30 years, did not expect the illness to progress so quickly.

According to the National Cancer Institute, bile duct cancer is quite rare, affecting approximately 6 in 100,000 people globally each year. The disease is categorized into two primary types: extrahepatic bile duct cancer, which forms outside the liver, and intrahepatic bile duct cancer, which develops inside the liver. Cholangiocarcinoma is most commonly diagnosed in people over the age of 65 and is more prevalent in men compared to women.

Tributes Pour In

In the wake of Mr. Gelder’s passing, Mr. Daniels’ tragic announcement elicited an outpouring of supportive messages and touching tributes from fellow actors. Matt Lanter, known for roles on “90210” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” commented on the Instagram post, noting that he was at a loss for words. “All of my love to you today. Praying for your peace and comfort,” he wrote. “Love you buddy.”

Actress and singer Alicia Witt expressed great sorrow over Mr. Gelder’s passing, commenting: “My heart breaks into a million pieces alongside yours. Wrapping you in love. I’m so very sorry for your immeasurable loss.”

“Masters of the Air” actor James Murray, who also starred in the Netflix series “The Crown,” conveyed a similar sentiment. “Thanks for sharing these heartfelt & beautiful words that I’m sure don’t even touch the sides of your grief, but certainly communicate the deep love you shared,” he wrote. “Such an inspirational relationship lights up the sky for all of us.”

Actor Matt Biedel, known for his role in “The Fall of the House of Usher,” also reflected on Mr. Daniels’ emotional post. “Reading your message and all the others paint such a beautiful picture of who Ian was,” he offered. “What a wonderful human being and what a loss for you and for the world.”

Born on June 3, 1949, Mr. Gelder’s illustrious acting career spanned more than 50 years, with his first on-screen credit being the 1972 television drama “New Scotland Yard,” per his IMDb. The veteran actor went on to find great success on the small screen, landing a slew of roles in various television shows, including “Poirot” (1993), “Fist of Fun” (1995), “McCallum” (1998), “Torchwood” (2009), and “EastEnders” (2016), starring in the hit series “Game of Thrones” from 2011 to 2016.

More recently, Mr. Gelder was cast in an episode of the British television series “Father Brown,” which aired this year. Prior to his death, the actor had been working on a documentary, “Benoit,” which is currently still in production.