It was tragically reported that actor Hugh Keays-Byrne has passed away. The Australian actor died on December 2, 2020. He was 73 years old at the time of his death. News of the actor’s death was tweeted out by filmmaker Ted Geoghegan, who described what a wonderful person Keays-Byrne was and how the actor cared and worked for environmental and humanitarian causes. The tweets did not mention the cause of Keays-Byrne’s death, and his official cause of death has not yet to be reported.

Hugh Keays-Byrne, an unsung hero of Aussie cinema, has passed away at age 73. I’m continually floored that he played Toecutter, the central antagonist of 1979’s MAD MAX *and* Immortan Joe, the central antagonist 2015’s MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. Thanks for all the entertainment, sir. pic.twitter.com/55W99w3wzq

— Ted Geoghegan (@tedgeoghegan) December 2, 2020

Keays-Byrne was born in India in 1947 and eventually moved to Australia where he began his film career. Keays-Byrne is, of course, best known for his two iconic villainous roles in the Mad Max film series. In 1979 Keays-Byrne starred in the original Mad Max, he played the Toecutter, who is the main villain in the movie. He also played the main villain Immortan Joe in the 2015 Oscar-Winning sequel, Mad Max: Fury Road.

Though his involvement in the Mad Max movies remains an important part of his legacy, Keays-Byrne also is known for being a respected theater and television actor as well as an accomplished director. Keays-Byrne directed the 1992 movie Resistance and the TV movie Madness of Two.

While it is sad that we have to say good bye to such a talented and amazing human being, hopefully Keays-Byrne will find peace and glory in Valhalla!!! Witness him!!