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Paul Bettany Says Stan Lee’s Life Was Lived To Its Fullest

In the wake of Stan Lee’s passing, an overwhelming array of heartfelt tributes surfaced on social media from fans and celebrities alike, and among these many reverent messages is a tweet from Paul Bettany, an actor known for his run as JARVIS/Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In the wake of Stan Lee’s passing, an overwhelming array of heartfelt tributes have surfaced on social media from fans and celebrities alike, and among these many reverent messages is a tweet from Paul Bettany, an actor known for his run as JARVIS/Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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The Avengers: Infinity War star’s post is short and respectful, reflecting on the extraordinary life lived by the 95-year-old comic book creator:

“Now that was a life well lived and lived to its fullest. Excelsior! 1922-2018

Thank you Stan Lee, from all your fans”

Though Bettany’s voice work as JARVIS in 2008’s Iron Man technically makes him one of the original cast members of the MCU, it was only in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron that the actor got to step in front of the camera.

Earlier this year, the star reflected on the moment he found out that he’d landed the role of Vision, saying that he thought his career was over before he got that call from director Joss Whedon:

“I had just got done with a meeting with a producer who told me my career was over. That it was done, and that I should pack my bags and go home. And I kind-of stood up to him and I said, ‘Listen, you know, in this town actors have second and third acts, and you should mind your fucking manners.’ And I walk out and then my legs give way, because I think maybe my career’s over.

“Then I sit down on the sidewalk on Sunset and I went, ‘Wow, maybe my career’s over.’ My phone rang; I answered it, and it was a number I didn’t recognize. I went ‘hello.’ [He said] ‘It’s Joss Whedon.’ I went,’ Oh hi Joss.’ He says, ‘You want to play the Vision in The Avengers?’ I went, ‘Yes I do, thank you very much.’”

Since then, the actor has appeared in several MCU outings, culminating in this year’s Infinity War, and while it remains to be seen whether his run in the role ends here, it’s easy to see why Bettany would be feeling thankful for the part Lee played in shaping this comic book world.

Bettany is far from the only member of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to pay their respects to the late writer, of course, with Chris Hemsworth also taking to Twitter to thank Lee “for the incredible adventures your stories took all of us on.” Chris Evans, meanwhile, praised the publisher for how he “provided both young and old with adventure, escape, comfort, confidence, inspiration, strength, friendship and joy,” and Mark Ruffalo tweeted that Lee’s work “let us be extra human… superhuman even,”

These are just a few examples of the displays of gratitude for the late Stan Lee that have been flooding social media since his passing, and so long as new stories keep being told in the world he helped create, it’s clear that his presence in our pop culture will continue to endure and evolve.