Actor Rio Del Valle Hackford, who appeared in Star Wars spin-off show The Mandalorian, has died at the age of 52.
His brother Alex Hackford confirmed the performer, who was also a club owner, died after an illness on Thursday in California, Variety reports.
His friend, screenwriter D.V. DeVincentis paid tribute to the Treme actor, who was son of An Officer and a Gentleman director Taylor Hackford, and stepson of British actress Helen Mirren.
“Not simply obsessed with movies and how they mirrored and compelled, he was something more: a superfan of innumerable scenes, of particular gestures of unsung actors, weird career turns, roaring comebacks, cinema swan songs,” DeVincentis wrote on Instagram.
In The Mandalorian, Rio was the on-set performer of the droid IG-11, who was voiced by Free Guy actor Taiki Waititi.
Recently, he played a manager in Pam & Tommy, which chronicled the release of the infamous sex tape between married couple Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee in the 1990s.
Hackford also had appearances in movies Jonah Hex, Strange Days and Julia Roberts rom com Pretty Women.
He played a character called Toby for several episodes in HBO New Orleans-set Treme,
The multi-talented actor also directed music videos for acts such as Josh Homme’s Desert Sessions and Corrosion of Conformity.
According to Variety, Hackford was known embracing artists at his three clubs in New Orleans.
As well as New Orleans, he owned a bar in San Francisco and one in Los Angeles.
“He was a great magnet to creative people, with a Zelig-like path that could make a page-turner of a biography. He loved the alchemy of personalities and talents, and was one of the great facilitators in this respect,” DeVincentis added.
Many people commented on D.V's post, expressing their sadness.
One person said: "I miss him so much already", while another said: "I'm so sorry for your loss. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him."
He is survived by his wife and two children.
