EastEnders and Game of Thrones star Ian Gelder dead at 74 following cancer battle

Actor Ian Gelder has died at age 74 after a battle with cancer. His husband, fellow actor Ben Daniels, announced his tragic passing on Tuesday evening (May 7) in a statement published on Instagram.

Ian had graced many stage productions, TV shows and movies in hundreds of roles during his glittering career spanning over five decades. He is well known for his role as Kevan Lannister in Game of Thrones. After an absence of three years, Gelder reprised his role in Season 5 and Season 6.

Fans will also remember him for the part of Mr Dekker in Torchwood: Children of Earth. In 2019, he guest-starred as Librarian Scholar Charles in the BBC TV series His Dark Materials and in 2020 guest-starred as Zellin in Doctor Who. He also portrayed Dr. Adam Gorman in EastEnders in 2016.

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Ian and Ben had been together since 1993 after meeting during a production of Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr Sloane. However, The Crown star confirmed his adored husband Ian had died on Monday. In a statement Ben wrote: “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.

“Ian was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in December and yesterday he passed at 1.07pm. I’d stopped all work to be his carer but neither of us had any idea that it would all be so fast.

“He was my absolute rock and we’d been partners for more than 30 years. If we weren’t together we spoke to each other everyday. 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.

“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. 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. Rest well my sweet Chianni. Xxxx.”