Hugh Keays-Byrne, the English-Australian actor and film director and former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, will always be remembered for playing the main antagonist in two films from the Mad Max franchise: Toecutter in Mad Max, and Immortan Joe in Mad Max: Fury Road.
His passing was announced by filmmaker Brian Trenchard-Smith, who directed the actor in The Man From Hong Kong in 1975. Taking to Facebook Trenchard Smith paid tribute saying: "Hugh had a generous heart, offering a helping hand to people in need, or a place to stay to a homeless teenager,"
The filmmaker said Keays-Byrne had died in hospital on Tuesday but did not give any more details.
Charlize Theron was one of the first to pay tribute, posting a picture of the two of them together on set she wrote: "RIP Hugh Keays-Byrne. It's amazing you were able to play an evil warlord so well cause you were such a kind, beautiful soul.
"You will be deeply missed my friend."
RIP Hugh Keays-Byrne ???? It’s amazing you were able to play an evil warlord so well cause you were such a kind, beautiful soul. You will be deeply missed my friend. pic.twitter.com/kXDhNs5jEU
— Charlize Theron (@CharlizeAfrica) December 2, 2020
