The Disney+ premiere of Ahsoka, "Master and Apprentice," left off with a title card reading "For our friend, Ray." But who was this tribute dedicated to?
Ahsoka Pays Tribute to Ray Stevenson After Death
Ahsoka's Episode 1 "For our friend, Ray" tribute was included to honor Ray Stevenson who plays Baylan Skoll - a former Jedi Knight that switched career paths to become a mercenary after surviving the Order 66 attack.
The Irish-born actor tragically passed away on May 21, 2023, not long before the series premiere, after production wrapped on Ahsoka in October 2022.
As such, the team behind Ahsoka included the tribute to honor the memory of Stevenson, who is expected to play a key villain role across the series.
The Disney+ series wasn't Stevenson's first go-around in the galaxy far, far away, having voiced Gar Saxon in The Clone Wars and Rebels too.
The actor also appeared in the MCU as The Warriors Three's Volstagg across the first three Thor movies, with some of his other filmography including Vikings and Dexter.
The Thrawn loyalist Morgan Elsbeth hired Stevenson's Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka to free her from New Republic capture and assist in finding the Empire's last Grand Admiral alongside his apprentice Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno)
The first two episodes of Ahsoka are streaming now on Disney+.
