Mad Max: Fury Road’s Star Hugh Keays-Byrne Passes Away At 73

In yet another piece of sad news that we’ve had to bring you in 2020, here’s some more for you. It’s been revealed that Mad Max and Mad Max: Fury Road star Hugh Keays-Byrne has sadly passed away at the age of 73.

He famously played Toecutter in the original Mad Max film, and then he played the iconic villain Immortan Joe in the brilliant film, Mad Max: Fury Road. However, he had a long and illustrious career on the stage and screen, in the UK, Australia and in Hollywood.

Keays-Byrne will be most well-known for starring in many of George Miller’s movies. He was also originally cast as Martian Manhunter in Miller’s Justice League Mortal movie which was sadly never made.

Keays-Byrne was born in India in 1947 and he then moved over to the UK as a young child. He ended up becoming a member of The Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s and 70s and again in 1973. Whilst being a part of the acting company, he went on tour with their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Hugh Keays-Byrne has sadly passed away at the age of 73

“Return my treasures to me, and I myself will carry you through the gates of Valhalla. You shall ride eternal. Shiny, and chrome!”
Rest in peace, Hugh Keays-Byrne. pic.twitter.com/1N7NxnHfU1

— Mad Max Movie (@MadMaxMovie) December 3, 2020

Read more: Mad Max: Fury Road Director George Miller Confirms His Next Movie Will Be A Mad Max Sequel

This is how he ended up going to Australia. He fell in love with the country and ended up relocating there permanently when the tour ended. Fans of Keays-Byrne might also know the actor for playing Grunchlk in cult 2000s sci-fi show Farscape.

Some people were hoping that he might get to star in George Miller’s upcoming Furiosa spinoff, which is going to star Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy as a younger version of Charlize Theron’s character in Mad Max: Fury Road. Fans were hoping that Keays-Byrne might return as Immortan Joe, however, if the character were to feature in the movie, I think they would have recast him as opposed to having Keays-Byrne play the role.

What do you make of this sad news? Which was your favourite Hugh Keays-Byrne performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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