Ian Gelder, the British actor who capped his half-century career by appearing in the hit series “Game of Thrones” as Kevan Lannister, brother of feared patriarch Tywin Lannister, died Monday. He was 74.
His death was announced by his husband, fellow actor Ben Daniels, who said in a social media post that Gelder had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer in December.
Over his long career in television, film and theater, Gelder appeared in the beloved British sci-fi show “Doctor Who” and its spinoff, “Torchwood,” as well as in “His Dark Materials,” a television adaptation of the trilogy of fantasy novels by Philip Pullman.
He appeared in 12 episodes of “Game of Thrones” as Kevan Lannister, starting in the first season when his character was a military adviser to his older brother, Tywin (Charles Dance), as the House Lannister battled House Stark.
He reprised the role in the fifth season as a player in the power struggle that resulted from Tywin’s death. Kevan Lannister was killed off at the end of the sixth season alongside many other characters when Cersei Lannister, Tywin’s daughter (Leana Heady), blew up the cathedral-like Sept of Baelor.
Born June 3, 1949, Gelder began appearing in television shows in the 1970s, including “New Scotland Yard” and “Edward the King.” He also starred in theater productions such as “Gods and Monsters” and, at London’s Globe Theater, “Titus Andronicus.”
He and Daniels started dating in 1993, when they were both cast in the play “Entertaining Mr. Sloane,” according to IMDb.
In addition to Daniels, Gelder is survived by his brother, Keith White, according to Daniel Albert, Gelder’s agent.
Gelder made his final TV appearance this year, in an episode of the British detective series “Father Brown.”