LONDON, UK β Actor Ian Gelder, known for playing Kevan Lannister on the popular HBO series "Game of Thrones," has died at age 74, five months after a cancer diagnosis.
His husband, actor Ben Daniels, shared news of Gelder's death in a post on Instagram.
"It is with huge huge sadness and a heavy heart broken into a million pieces that Iβm leaving this post to announce the passing of my darling husband and life partner Ian Gelder," he wrote.
He said Gelder was diagnosed in December with bile duct cancer and while Daniels had become his full-time caregiver, "neither of us had any idea that it would all be so fast."
Daniels called Gelder his "absolute rock" through their relationship of more than 30 years.
"He was a wonderful wonderful actor and everyone who worked with him was touched by his heart and light. I honestly donβt know what Iβll do without him by my side."
Gelder's management team called him a "lovely person and wonderful actor" on social media.
"The world will be a lesser place without him in it," DPA Management wrote.
Gelder was a veteran character actor whose career includes credits on both stage and screen over many decades. He is perhaps best known for playing Kevan Lannister, the brother of Tywin Lannister, in "Game of Thrones." On stage, his credits include Antonio in "The Merchant of Venice" and Clarence in "Richard III" with the Royal Shakespeare Company, among others.
He also appeared in roles on television shows such as "Torchwood," "Doctor Who," "Fifteen-Love" and "His Dark Materials." Gelder's most recent role was in an episode of the BBC detective series "Father Brown."