Broken-hearted Gerard Butler posts emotional and touching tribute to Hunter Killer co-star Michael Nyqvist claiming he ‘stole his heart’
Tragedy struck after filming last year when the actor lost his battle with lung cancer at the age of 56. The pair had become good friends off-screen
HOLLYWOOD A-lister Gerard Butler has posted a heartfelt tribute to Hunter Killer co-star Michael Nyqvist - revealing him as the man who "stole his heart".
Tragic Swedish star Nyqvist lost his battle with lung cancer at the age of 56 after filming the flick last year.
The actor played Captain Sergi Andropov, who battles Butler’s character Joe Glass throughout the film.
But Butler and Nyqvist were great friends off-screen and the Scot posted an emotional message in remembrance of his pal.
Accompanying a scene from the movie in which the pair trade verbal jousts, Butler wrote: "To Michael Nyqvist, a great man who stole my heart, the young cast’s heart, as well as the hearts of audiences who watch this movie.
"You are missed in so many ways.
"Thank you for the brilliance you shared with us. It was an honour to work with you."
Many fans of the pair were also quick to share messages of condolence for the Swede in response to the upload.
One said: "A great actor. RIP Mr. M. Nyquist."
Another commented: "Ditto. Michael Nyqvist was a gem of a human being. Made a big impact on me in the short time I knew him."
One replied to the post: "So nice of you @gerardbutler. Mikael was a fantastic actor and we all miss him a lot".
Shattered Scots actor Gerard Butler left ‘broken hearted’ by devastating death of Hunter Killer co-star Michael Nyqvist
A fourth said: "A great loss for us all. It’s going to be nice to see his brilliance once more.
"I wish you all the best with Hunter Killer."
We told you how Butler listed Hunter Killer as one of his favourite movies he's made during his career - in no short part because of Nyqvist.
He said: "Of all the movies I’ve made he’s right up there as one of my favourites, if not my favourite, in terms of somebody who just had such incredible talent, childlike qualities and playfulness.
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“But more than anything had such an incredible humility, and warmth, and this cheeky kind of glint in his eyes.
"It breaks my heart. And it breaks my heart that we’ll never get to sit together to watch this movie."
The film documents the ‘invisible’ war between US and Russian submarines who play ultra high-stakes rounds of hide and seek.
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