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Harry Potter Actors Who Have Died (24)

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In 1997, J.K. Rowling blessed us with one of the best fantasy book series ever. And in 2001, we got the first Harry Potter movie adaptation. The movie series was a huge success and is now considered a classic. But it’s now been over 20 years since the first Harry Potter movie hit the silver screen, and a number of actors who played our favorite Harry Potter character are no longer with us.  

Now, we are going to take the opportunity to pay a tribute to them and to remember their amazing performances in the Harry Potter movies. 

1. Alan Rickman (Severus Snape)

Alan Rickman is one of the most notable actors in the Harry Potter series, and in fact, he gave memorable performances in his roles in other movies too. He delivered a brilliant performance and left a mark in his role as Severus Snape, the cold teacher who disliked Harry because of a past rivalry with his father. 

Despite not being the cheeriest character in the movies, the fans’ love for both Rickman and Snape grew throughout the series. He became one of the most popular characters in the series, and we will never forget the moment when he showed his caring side and helped Harry beat Voldemort. 

Sadly, Alan Rickman died in 2016 when he was 69 years old. He passed away after battling cancer. This was a very sad and surprising death for all fans because the actor chose to keep his illness from the public. Aside from his role in Harry Potter, Rickman played other great roles in Love Actually, Die Hard, Robin Hood, and more.

2. Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy)

In 2021, the world lost yet another amazing actor. The fans got the sad news of the passing of Helen McCrory, known for her role as Draco’s mother, Narcissa Malfoy. While she was only in the final three movies of the series, it was enough for the actress to become a fan favorite.

Apart from her role in the Harry Potter movies, Helen played Aunt Polly, one of the most loved characters in Peaky Blinders. She was also featured in movies like Loving Vincent and The Count of Monte Cristo. 

3. Alfred Burke (Armando Dippet)

While many may not remember him, he Alfred Burke deserves to be a part of this list. He appeared in a flashback scene as Armando Dippet. He was a former headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the time when Tom Riddle was a student—around four decades before Dumbledore took the job.

Even if it was a minor role, this was maybe the actor’s most famous one. Burke died at the age of 92 in 2011.

4. Dave Legeno (Fenrir Greyback)

In a tragic death in 2014, the actor Dave Legeno’s body was found after he was lost while hiking across Death Valley. It’s said that the cause of his death was the unbearable heat and dehydration. He was only 50 years old.

In the Harry Potter series, he was known for his role as Fenrir Greyback, a werewolf that appeared in the last three movies. Dave also played roles in Batman Begins, and Snow White and the Huntsman. 

5. David Ryall (Elphias Doge)

David Ryall first appeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. He replaced Peter Cartwright as Elphias Doge. This was a side character that you may know as a dear friend of Dumbledore or a member of the Order.

David died in 2014 when he was 79 years old. The veteran actor had played many great roles and is known for his work in movies such as Around the World in 80 Days, Quartet, City of Embers, and Automata. 

6. Derek Deadman (Tom, a barman of Leaky Cauldron)

Derek Deadman had one of the shortest and most memorable roles in Harry Potter. He only appeared in the first movie as Tom, a barman and innkeeper of the Leaky Cauldron. This is a character most fans know and remember. 

The actor suffered from diabetes, and in 2014 at the age of 74, he died of complications from the disease. He was in another movie with Alan Rickman called Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and he was in the classic fantasy film Time Bandits. 

7. Elizabeth Spriggs (The Fat Lady)

Every Potterhead knows this one, especially the Gryffindor fans. Known for her high-pitched singing voice, The Fat Lady was a portrait that guarded the Gryffindor Common Room. Everyone who wanted to enter this room had to say two magic words: Caput Draconis. 

This iconic and fun character was played by Elizabeth Spriggs who is also known for her acting in The Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theater in England. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2008 at the age of 74 but will still be remembered by her fans. 

8. Eric Sykes (Frank Bryce)

Eric Sykes didn’t have much screen time in the Harry Potter series, but his character served a great purpose in showing us how cruel Lord Voldemort could be. 

Eric played the role of Frank Bryce, a muggle from Little Hangelton who was the Riddle family gardener and a prime suspect in the Riddle murders. He was killed by You-Know-Who after the Dark Lord learned that Frank knew about his plan to kill Harry Potter.

At age 89, Sykes died in 2012 after leaving a mark with his roles in other movies such as The Others, The Plank, and Rotten to the Core.

9. Hazel Douglas (Bathilda Bagshot)

Do you remember the old lady who was the author of the book called “A History of Magic?” This lady appeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part One and was played by Hazel Douglas, a veteran actress who landed her most memorable role in the last years of her very long career.

Hazel died in 2016 at the age of 92 after playing roles in TV Shows like Poirot and movies like Love at First Sight and Asylum. 

10. Jimmy Gardner (Ernie Prang)

Jimmy is another actor who had a minor but unforgettable role in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This actor played the role of Ernie Prang, the crazy guy with huge glasses who drove the Knight Bus in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Throughout his career, Jimmy Gardner appeared in some great movies such as Finding Neverland (alongside Johnny Depp) and Frenzy. He died in 2010 at the age of 85. 

11. John Hurt (Garrick Ollivander)

As all Potterheads know, Ollivander’s is the best place to buy a wand in Diagon Alley. This is the place where Garrick Ollivander, played by John Hurt, sold Harry his first wand in one of the most iconic scenes in the whole franchise. 

This actor was nominated for two Academy Awards for his performances in

The Elephant Man (as the leading role) and Midnight Express (as a supporting actor). Sadly, the actor passed away in 2017 at the age of 77. 

12. Leslie Phillips (Sorting Hat)

This is another actor who played one of the most iconic characters in movie history. Leslie Phillips’ role as the Sorting Hat will forever be remembered and cherished by fans, and we will always be thankful to him for not choosing Slytherin! 

Besides the Harry Potter movies, Phillips is well known for his performance in the Carry-Onmovies, and he has worked with some of the best names in Hollywood. The actor died at the age of 98 in November 2022.

13. Paul Ritter (Eldred Worple)

The fans of the Wizarding World know Paul for his role as the wizard called Eldred Worple, a wizard, writer, and the favorite student of Horace Slughorn. This character appeared in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. 

While he had a minor role in this movie, the actor also appeared in the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, and he had a bigger role in the series Friday Night Dinner. After battling a brain tumor, Ritter died in 2021 at the age of 54.

14. Peter Cartwright (Elphias Doge)

We recognized David Ryall previously in this tribute for his role as Elphias Doge. Well, before he played the role of Dumbledore’s friend, it belonged to Peter Cartwright. He appeared in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix before having to leave the franchise due to illness. 

Cartwright died in 2013 when he was 78 years old. He left his mark with some great performances in movies such as Gandhi, Wimbledon, and The Fourth Protocol.

15. Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon Dursley)

Everyone remembers Harry’s mean uncle who hated taking care of the boy. Uncle Vernon was a character that every fan hated at the start of the franchise because of his bad manners and the fact that he didn’t allow Harry to go to Hogwarts.

After having heart surgery, Richard had complications and died in 2013 at the age of 65. Despite having a hate-love relationship with his character, the fans will always love and remember the actor. Griffiths is also known for his roles in Sleepy Hollow and The History Boys. 

16. Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore)

And now we come to the great Dumbledore. Richard Harris perfectly embodied the wise and caring headmaster of Hogwarts who loved Harry as his own child. Harris was the first actor to portray this iconic character. He appeared in the first two Harry Potter movies and delivered one of the best performances.

Unfortunately, he had Hodgkin’s disease, and shortly after filming Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, he died at the age of 72. Dumbledore was not his only great role. The actor gave some amazing performances in Gladiator, Camelot, and The Field. 

17. Robert Hardy (Cornelius Fudge)

The Minister of Magic himself, Cornelius Fudge, was played by the amazing Robert Hardy. This was surely one of the most memorable characters in the Harry Potter series. Apart from these movies, the actor had other notable roles such as Winston Churchill in a TV show focused on the politician’s life, and many more.

After a successful and long career, Hardy peacefully passed away surrounded by his loved ones in 2017 at the age of 91.

18. Robert Knox (Marcus Belby)

All deaths are sad, but the passing of this young and talented boy is one of the saddest and most tragic on this list. Robert was known for his role as Marcus Belby who was a Ravenclaw student. His first appearance was in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and the movie creators were ready to cast the actor again. 

Unfortunately, that wish couldn’t come true because, in 2008, Robert died after trying to intervene in a bar fight involving his brother. 

19. Roger Lloyd Pack (Barty Crouch Senior)

Roger Lloyd Pack played the role of Barty Crouch Senior, an employee of the Ministry of Magic and one of Dumbledore’s dearest friends. If you can’t remember this character, maybe you can remember his son—a Death Eater disguised as Professor Moody.

In 2014, Roger died at the age of 69. He leaves behind memorable performances for the fans to enjoy in movies and series such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Dr. Who.

20. Sam Beazley (Professor Everard)

Same Beazley wasn’t a very famous actor, but he had some brilliant minor roles in great movies such as Johnny English and the classic comedy, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. He played Professor Everard, one of the most celebrated former heads of Hogwarts, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

After living happily for 101 years, he died peacefully in his home in 2017.

21. Terence Bayler (The Bloody Baron)

Terence had a spooky and funny role in the Harry Potter series—even if it was minor. Bayler, who is one of the most famous actors from New Zealand, played the Bloody Baron. If you don’t remember, this is a ghost from Hogwarts that appeared in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Terence had a career full of great roles in movies and TV series such as Life of Brian and Time Bandits. The actor has passed away in 2017 at the age of86.

22. Timothy Bateson (Kreacher)

“Kreacher is what he has been made by wizards, Harry. Yes, he is to be pitied. His existence has been as miserable as your friend Dobby’s. He was forced to do Sirius’s bidding because Sirius was the last of the family to which he was enslaved, but he felt no true loyalty to him.”

Timothy voiced Kreacher, the house elf who served the Black family. After the actor died in 2009 at the age of 83, the character lived on as Simon McBurney replaced him in the Deathly Hollows movies.

Timothy Bateson was also known for his roles in The Italian Job, Merlin, and Midsomer Murders. 

23. Verne Troyer (Griphook)

Everybody remembers Griphook, the goblin who worked at Gringott’s. He worked at the wizard bank where Hagrid and Harry went in the first movie. A very interesting fact is that this notable character was played by Verne Troyer but voiced by Warwick Davis—an actor who took the full role in the later movies.

Verne was loved for his portrayal of Griphook. Unfortunately, the actor passed away in 2018 due to alcohol poisoning. He was just 49 years old. 

24. Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid)

“You are a wizard, Harry!”

We end this list with one of the saddest deaths for all Potterheads—and movie buffs in general. Robbie Coltrane was an iconic actor who played one of the most widely-known characters ever:

Hagrid. Robbie appeared as Hagrid in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and reprised the role for the rest of the series. 

Everybody loved Hagrid. He was a huge person (in every sense of the word) who was like a father figure to Harry and helped the boy start his wizarding journey. 

After dealing with health issues that had been kept from the public, Robbie passed away on the 14th of October, 2022 at the age of 72.

Final Words

No one can deny the greatness of the Harry Potter movies. The 8-movie series just kept getting better and better, and it left a mark as one of the best fantasy series of all time. 

The world-building, characters, relationships, magic, unique creatures, and amazing soundtrack were all crucial to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter we’ve grown to love.

All of the actors had impeccable performances and made sure to add even more magic than the author of the books, J.K. Rowling, could have hoped. We as fans are grateful for all of them, and we’ve tried to show our respect in this article by remembering the ones who have sadly left this world.

We hope that by reading this article, you took a trip down memory lane and learned more about the actors who will forever be loved by all Potterheads. Now, the only right way to end this article is with a very touching quote by the actor who played Hagrid, the great Robbie Coltrane: 

Jack is an avid anime enthusiast with a passion for all things Japanese culture. He spends his days watching the latest series, reading manga, and discussing the merits of his favorite characters with his friends. When he's not writing (or debating) about manga and anime, Jack can be found playing video games or practicing Ju-Jitsu. Despite his nerdy interests, Jack is confident and outgoing. He's always eager to share his enthusiasm with others.