The Mandalorian’s IG-11 actor Rio Hackford has died

Just as the death of IG-11 was shocking to the viewers of The Mandalorian, the death of Rio Hackford was a shock to most around the world. Rio Hackford was a 51-year-old man who was an actor and club owner. His previous acting roles include IG-11 from The Mandalorian, Toby in Treme, and Pat Mckenna in American Crime Story.

His death was reported by his surviving brother Alex, and he informed the press that he died in Huntington Beach, California. This is what his friend screenwriter D.V. DeVincentis wrote about it on his Instagram.

Rio Hackford, who was the son of the director Taylor Hackford, was remembered by friends for being a “connector of all sorts of people. 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”

His parents Taylor Hackford and Helen Mirren issued a statement to People disclosing the reasoning behind his death. “Rio died of uveal melanoma, a very aggressive and rare form of cancer. We would beg everyone reading this to get their eyes tested at least once a year, which might save their loved ones from this cancer.”

Taylor Hackford is a director who is well known of Against All Odds, An Officer and a Gentlemen, as well as La Bamba. He married Helen Mirren in 1997, and they had two children. Rio and his brother Alex.

It is sad to see any member of the Star Wars pass away, but especially one of the newer faces is a tragedy. As remembered by D.V. DeVincentis, “Rio was more attuned to experience than anyone I’ve ever known. He would stop what was happening to point it out, compel you to pay attention.” So let us cherish and pay attention to those we still have in life, both stars and family alike.

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