Acclaimed Swedish actor Michael Nyqvist, best known for his roles in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and John Wick, passed away on June 27, 2017 following a battle with lung cancer. He was 56 years old.

His representative confirmed his passing in a statement that read, “It is with deep sadness that I can confirm that our beloved Michael, one of Sweden’s most respected and accomplished actors, has passed away quietly surrounded by family after a year long battle with lung cancer. Michael’s joy and passion were infectious to those who knew and loved him. His charm and charisma were undeniable, and his love for the arts was felt by all who had the pleasure of working with him.”

Michael Nyqvist was born on November 8, 1960 in Stockholm, Sweden. While spending a year as an exchange student in Nebraska, Nyqvist took his first acting classes. As a senior in high school he starred in several productions including the drama Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. At the age of 24, Nyqvist was accepted to the Malmö Theatre Academy, one of Sweden’s leading theaters. Initially, Nyqvist worked mainly in theater, before landing smaller parts in different film productions. His breakout role came in 2000, when he starred in the Swedish comedy-drama Together. Additional credits for Nyqvist include The Guy in the Grave Next Door, As It Is In Heaven, Suddenly, and The Black Pimpernel.

Nyqvist later gained international attention after starring as Mikael Blomkvist in the original Swedish Dragon Tattoo trilogy, which includes The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest. He later appeared in action thrillers such as Abduction, John Wick, and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. More recently, Nyqvist appeared in Frank & Lola, as well as the BET miniseries Madiba, about the life of Nelson Mandela. Before his passing, Nyqvist filmed roles in the thriller, Hunter Killer, with Gerard Butler and the submarine disaster flick, Kursk, with Colin Firth. He will appear posthumously in these films, set for release later this year and in 2018.

Butler took to Twitter to pay tribute to Nyqvist in a video, saying in part, “It feels important to send my condolences because of all the movies I’ve made, he was right up there. He’s one of my favorites, if not my favorite, in terms of somebody who just had such incredible talent and childlike qualities and playfulness. But more than anything, just incredible humility and warmth and this cheeky kind of glint in his eyes.”

Nyqvist is survived by his wife Catharina Ehrnrooth, a production designer, and his two children, Ellen and Arthur.