It is almost six years since the iconic actor who played Robbie Rotten died.
The panto-esque villain of Icelandic kids’ TV show LazyTown was a loveable character for many, as he attempted to make the residents of the show more lethargic. However, the gang of young people – under the guidance of Sportacus – would always be able to foil his dastardly plans.
But in 2018, actor Stefán Karl Stefansson sadly lost his life to a deadly illness, triggering an outpouring of grief and sadness. A far cry from his character, Stefán was a shy and reserved man, garnering a huge fanbase for his iconic role.
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So, on what would have been his 49th birthday, Daily Star takes a look at the tragic death of Robbie Rotten.
Incurable cancer
(Image: Lazy Town Entertainment.)
Stefán’s health woes began in October 2016 when he revealed that he had been in hospital for a mysterious illness. However, after tests were run on the actor, it was soon discovered that he had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
The disease, which was named bile duct cancer, sees the condition begin in the liver, where bile is produced – causing a range of symptoms including abdominal pain and jaundice. The illness is incredibly rare in the Western world, with just two people per 100,000 developing the disease year.
During treatment, Stefansson was told that his condition was incurable due to the nature and location of the tumour. Treatments to help reduce pain – including surgery – can be used, though typical survival rates are low in such cases.
A chance of hope
(Image: Getty Images)
In 2017, as Stefán bravely fought his illness, he soon began to feel the effects of his condition, as it slowly rendered him unable to work. To give his co-star a chance at a comfortable life, LazyTown head writer Mark Valenti launched a GoFundMe to cover Stefán’s living costs.
The GoFundMe initiative was picked up by a number of young YouTubers, who had grown up watching the TV show and wanted to pay Stefansson back for the memories he had given them.
(Image: BBC)
As a result, Robbie Rotten’s track We Are Number One became an Internet meme and raised tens of thousands of pounds to allow him to live a normal life as best he could.
By the end of the year, Stefán delighted friends, family and fans alike by revealing that he was in remission, following successful surgeries in June of that year. However, he was quick to clarify that he still had cancer, and that he would need to continue to receive treatment.
Paying tribute
(Image: Getty Images)
Things soon took a turn for the worse in March 2018, when Stefán was told his cancer was inoperable. He went on to reveal he was having rounds of chemotherapy in order to prolong his life as much as he could.
However, this would prove to be futile, and just one month after the announcement, Stefansson said he would be stopping with the chemo, before taking himself off social media. He would continue to remain radio silent to the public for the rest of his life.
The actor tragically succumbed to his illness on August 21, 2018 – at the tender age of 43. His wife, Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir, confirmed that Stefán himself had asked that no funeral would take place, and that his ashes would be scattered “in secrecy in a distant ocean”.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
