Helen Mirren, Taylor Hackford Break Silence On Son Rio's Passing, Confirm Cause Of Death

KEY POINTS

Rio Hackford, Helen Mirren's stepson and her husband Taylor Hackford's son, died Thursday in California
The couple said they were "inspired" by Rio's life and "heartbroken" by his loss
Mirren and her husband revealed that Rio died of uveal melanoma

Helen Mirren and her husband Taylor Hackford have released a statement following the death of Taylor's son and Mirren's stepson, Rio Hackford.

On Tuesday, Mirren, 76, and Taylor, 77, who have been married since 1997, broke their silence for the first time following the passing of Rio, who died Thursday in Huntington Beach, California. He was 51.

In a statement shared with People, the couple said they "are both inspired by the life of our son and stepson, Rio Hackford, and heartbroken by his loss."

"His life showed us how to live in generosity and community," they added. "He shared his life's journey with so many who now mourn him, and at the same time, celebrate their fortune in knowing him."

Mirren and her husband also revealed Rio's cause of death. "Rio died of uveal melanoma, a very aggressive and rare form of cancer," the couple said. "We would beg everyone reading this to get their eyes tested at least once a year, which might save their loved ones from this cancer."

Rio made his first on-screen appearance in 1990 in "Pretty Woman" and appeared over the years in such films and TV shows as "Swingers," "Raising Helen," "Deja Vu," "Fred Claus," "Jonah Hex," "Treme," "American Crime Story," "The Mandalorian" and "True Detective." Most recently, he played a manager in "Pam & Tommy."

He is survived by his wife Libby Grace, two children, brother Alex, his father Taylor and stepmother Mirren.

Following news of his death, Mirren shared on Instagram a throwback photo in remembrance of her late stepson Saturday. "El Rio," she wrote in the caption.

Rio's friend, screenwriter D.V. DeVincentis, also shared on Instagram a moving tribute, recounting how "life is experience" for the late actor. He described Rio as the "apex curator of experience."

"Not simply obsessed with movies and how they mirrored and compelled, he was something more: a superfan of innumerable scenes, of particular gestures of unsung actors, weird career turns, roaring comebacks, cinema swan songs," DeVincentis wrote alongside a photo of Rio.