Why Kozlow From Abduction Looks So Familiar

Michael Nyqvist might be best known for his role in 2014's "John Wick" as Viggo, a Russian mob boss whose son was targeted by the titular hitman played by Keanu Reeves. As the film's antagonist, he also had a large influence on the events in the sequel and remains one of the action film series' most popular villains, with some fans on Reddit taking his side against the title character.

One of Nyqvist's last films was the 2018 thriller "Hunter Killer." Here, he played Sergei Andropov, a Russian captain of a submarine destroyed through sabotage. It was another complex role in which audiences were uncertain of Andropov's motivations until the end of the film, where he proved himself to be a noble authority figure to whom his crew was loyal. Before that movie's release, Nyqvist died from lung cancer at age 56, according to The Hollywood Reporter, cutting short a burgeoning career.

In a heartfelt video posted to his Facebook page, his "Hunter Killer" co-star Gerard Butler remembered Nyqvist as one of his favorite co-stars for his "incredible humility and warmth" and his talent as an actor, adding, "It breaks my heart we're never going to sit together and watch this movie."