Rio Hackford, known for roles in The Mandalorian, Swingers, and Treme, has died at the age of 51.
The actor died last week in Sunset Beach, California, after a lengthy, unspecified illness, his brother, Alex, confirmed to Variety.
Hackford was the son of Taylor Hackford, director of films like An Officer and a Gentleman and Ray, and the stepson of Dame Helen Mirren. “El Rio,” Mirren simply wrote in tribute to Hackford on Instagram, accompanied by a picture of the actor (see below).
His friend and screenwriter D.V. DeVincentis also paid tribute to the late actor on Instagram. “Rio was more attuned to experience than anyone I’ve ever known,” he wrote. “He would stop what was happening to point it out, compel you to pay attention. He would order you a must-have experience from a beloved menu and hold your eye as you paid attention to what was happening in your mouth. ‘Right, Guy? I mean… right?’
He would put an experience for you on the stereo, then start it over and play it again for you because we were talking over it the first time and ‘Pal, you really have to listen to it.'”
Hackford’s film career started in 1990 with an uncredited role in Pretty Woman. He continued working in film and TV over the next few decades while also owning several bars and clubs in L.A., San Francisco, and New Orleans. He had several small roles in films like Safe, Treasure Island, Sherrybaby, Jonah Hex, and Swingers.
On TV, Hackford had a recurring role as Toby in HBO’s acclaimed New Orleans drama Treme. He also appeared in American Crime Story, When Nature Calls (narrated by Mirren), and Togetherness.
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He was the on-set performance artist for IG-11, the assassin droid voiced by Taika Waititi in The Mandalorian. He also made a cameo as bounty hunter Riot Mar in the show’s first season. Hackford’s most recent TV credit came in an episode of Pam & Tommy.
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