Stargate SG-1 actor Cliff Simon has died, according to news posted by wife on his Facebook page. The actor was killed in a kiteboarding accident at Topanga Beach in Malibu, California on Tuesday.

A native of South Africa, Simon played the fan-favorite Goa’uld System Lord Baal on Stargate SG-1. After his introduction in the fifth-season episode “Summit” in 2002 he went on to appear in a total of 15 episodes of the show, and to co-star in the 2008 movie Stargate: Continuum.

Simon was an avid outdoorsman and athlete, and recently hosted the Into the Unknown for Travel Channel.

Cliff Simon as Baal in Stargate: Continuum

Simon’s television credits also include NCIS, Castle, Days of Our Lives, 24, and more.

He was an actor and so much more, his wife Colette wrote: “a true original, an adventurer, a sailor, swimmer, dancer, actor, author. There is a gaping hole where he once stood on this earth. He was loved by too many to mention and had a great impact on so many lives. He was an amazing and much loved brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend.”

“A small saving grace to this tragedy is that he was doing one of the things he loved most and passed away on the beach near the water, which was his temple.”

He was also a man who loved his fans, and was actively engaged with them on social media and through regular convention appearances around the globe.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Simon and his family immigrated to the United Kingdom when he was 15 years old. As a young man he trained in swimming with the goal of competing in the 1984 Olympic Games — but chose to leave his swimming career behind and return to South Africa. There he joined the Air Force, and later began a career as a performer when he joined a resort stage show. He studied drama and began modeling, and soon he and his wife moved to the United States to continue pursuing his acting career.

He fulfilled a personal dream of becoming an American citizen in 2005.

Into the Unknown / Discovery Networks

Simon’s long career has spanned stage and television, film, non-fiction writing, and a self-help audio release.

His family has asked for privacy during this time of grief.

GateWorld had the pleasure of interviewing Cliff Simon about his work six times over the years, including this in-person conversation in California in 2009, following the success of Stargate: Continuum.

Cliff Simon was set to appear with host David Read on “Dial the Gate,” GateWorld’s live interview show this weekend, on March 14. Instead we hope fans will join us on Sunday for a special conversation remembering his work on Stargate and celebrating his life.