Mad Max actor Hugh Keays-Byrne dies aged 73

Hugh Keays-Byrne has died at age 73.

Byrne was famously known for his role as "Immortan Joe" in Max Max: Fury Road in 2015. He was also in the original Mad Max movie in 1979 where he played Toecutter.

Filmmaker Ted Geoghegan confirmed the news in a Twitter post on December 2.

"Hugh Keays-Byrne, an unsung hero of Aussie cinema, has passed away at age 73," he said. "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."

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Byrne was the only actor to appear in both the original Mad Max trilogy and the fourth film.

The film scored 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Keays-Byrne was also nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.

His other acting credits included parts in Sleeping Beauty (2011), the Moby Dick TV mini-Series (1988), and Stone (1974).

He was born to British parents and made the move to Australia in 1973 to begin his career in film and TV.

Prior to moving, he'd starred in the UK programme Boys Meets Girl, and had several parts in Royal Shakespeare Company productions.