Stuart Black

Star Wars And Skyfall Actor Dies During London Play Rehearsal

Photo via Olivia Bell Management.

Prolific stage and screen actor Kan Bonfils died yesterday during a rehearsal for a new production of Dante’s Inferno which was set to start tomorrow at Brick Lane’s Rag Factory.

Bonfils came to Craft Theatre’s new production after recent supporting roles in Skyfall and two of the Star Wars prequels in which he played a Jedi Master.

According to the company’s spokesman Chris Hislop attempts were made to resuscitate Bonfils after he collapsed on set. He said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Kan Bonfils. The cast and director performed CPR on scene before the ambulance arrived, but he couldn't be resuscitated. His sudden loss is a tragedy, and he will be sorely missed.”

The exact cause of death is not yet known.

UPDATE: The company has confirmed that the show will go ahead. A statement said: "In honour of Kan Bonfils, CRAFT Theatre will continue with plans to stage their production of Dante’s Inferno, which Mr Bonfils was due to perform in and would have opened on January 8th 2015. Actor Ryan Prescott, a close friend, will be stepping in to represent Mr Bonfils’s work, alongside other company members yet to be confirmed. Director Rocky Rodriguez Jr says: “We’ve been through a bit of a trauma, it’s all very difficult to stomach. The only thing we know how to do is continue to do what we do. We need to finish the journey that Kan was on.”

The production will open on January 10 2015 at 8pm at the Rag Factory.