Stefan has died aged 43 (Picture: LazyTown)

Actor Stefan Karl Stefansson, who played Robbie Rotton on the hit kids’ TV show LazyTown, has died from cancer.

Fans have been flocking to Twitter to pay tribute to the actor, who brought joy to many in the hit kids’ TV show.

A spokesperson for his family confirmed the sad news to TMZ, explaining he died surrounded by friends and family after succumbing to the disease. He had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer two years previously.

Following his diagnosis, the 43-year-old underwent surgery which appeared to have been successful, but the cancer returned earlier this year.

Stefan played Robbie Rotten

Revealing to his fans that the cancer was inoperable, he said in a statement in March: ‘It’s not until they tell you you’re going to die soon that you realize how short life is. Time is the most valuable thing in life because it never comes back. And whether you spend it in the arms of a loved one or alone in a prison cell, life is what you make of it. Dream big.’

The Icelandic star’s wife, Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir, also gave a statement at the time of his diagnosis.

She wrote: ‘Last Friday [2 March] we got confirmed after a trip to Köben in Jáeindaskan that there are new metastases in Stefán that can not be removed by surgery. Even though I knew for a long time that this day would come, it’s a difficult turning point. There is no cure for this.

Stefan learned his cancer was inoperable earlier this year (Picture: LazyTown)

‘Now he will have to undergo chemotherapy to try to prolong his life and we hope that this will go as well is possibly can, to improve how he feels and to prolong his life. The first medication was yesterday.’

Stefan starred as Robbie Rotten on LazyTown between 2004 and 2007 and again from 2013 to 2014. LazyTown, which originally debuted in 2004, followed the efforts of pink-haired girl Stephanie and superhero Sportacus to liven up the town and encourage its residents to lead more active lifestyles.

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However, Robbie Rotten would regularly concoct schemes in a bid to outwit them and restore the town to its former lazy self.

The actor leaves behind his wife and four children.