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. So, on what would have been his 49th birthday, Daily Star takes a look at the tragic death of Robbie Rotten.
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.
In 2017, as Stefán.
