Stefan Karl Stefansson, the Icelandic actor best known for his role as Robbie Rotten on “LazyTown,” has died at 43 from an aggressive bile duct cancer, his family has confirmed.
Stefansson played the villain on the children’s show from 2004 to 2014. The show filmed in Iceland and aired in over 180 countries.
Stefansson was first diagnosed with cancer in 2016. In March, he announced his cancer had returned and was considered inoperable.
Stefansson’s wife, Steinunn Olina, said the family would honor her husband’s wishes and scatter his remains at sea.
In a now-deleted tweet posted on March 10, he encouraged his fans to dream big:
“It’s not until they tell you you’re going to die soon that you realize how short life is. Time is the most valuable thing in life because it never comes back. And whether you spend it in the arms of a loved one or alone in a prison cell, life is what you make of it. Dream big.”
