Harry Potter stars who have sadly died as franchise loses another actor

Over the years, the stars of the Harry Potter film series have become household names.

That has led to the loss of some actors being felt deeply across the fandom. While the film adaptations may have launched the careers of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, it also starred some already famous faces who have died since their films were released.

Legends such as Alan Rickman and Helen McCroy are among those who have died over the years since the films were released. Some stars sadly did not get to see out the end of the series, such as 18-year-old Robert Knox who was tragically murdered.

Here, as another cast member sadly passes away, we look back and remember those who are no longer with us.

Simon Fisher-Becker

Simon Fisher-Becker starred as Hufflepuff House’s resident ghost, the Fat Friar, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. He also played a role in Doctor Who, taking on the part of blue-skinned intergalactic Crespallion black marketeer, Dorium Maldovar.

Other credits on his CV included One Foot in the Grave, The Bill, Doctors, Love Soup, Getting On and Afterlife. He died in March 2025 aged 63.

Maggie Smith

Oscar winner Maggie Smith died last year on September 27. She was 89. She portrayed Professor Minerva McGonagall through the entire Harry Potter film series. Away from Harry Potter, she starred as Violet Crawley in the entire Downton Abbey series and also boasted roles in the likes of Sister Act, Hook, and The Miracle Club.

Richard Harris

The iconic British actor was cast as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the first two films, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. As well as the wizarding world Richard is known for his key roles in movies such as Gladiator, Unforgiven, Camelot and The Count of Monte Cristo.

He sadly passed away on October 25 in 2002, shortly after the second film was released. He was 72 years old.

Robert Knox

Robert Knox starred in the Half-Blood Prince film. He played the part of Marcus Belby. He had also signed a contract to appear in the Deathly Hallows, part one, but sadly in May 2008, Robert was murdered outside a bar in Sidcup, London. He was only 18 years old at the time of his death.

Timothy Bateson

Timothy Bateson voiced the other and not-so-popular house elf in the Harry Potter series – Kreacher. He was born in 1926 and was famous for roles in films and TV shows from as early as the 1950s. He also starred in Labyrinth in 1986. He played the part in the Order of the Phoenix film, which ended up being his final work before he died in 2009.

Michael Gambon

Following the death of Richard Harris, Michael Gambon took on the role of Dumbledore. He played the headmaster role up until the character’s end in the Half-Blood Prince. Before he joined the Harry Potter world, Michael was known as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre.

He became famous for appearing in several Shakespearean plays including Othello, Hamlet, Macbeth and Coriolanus. He passed away in September, 2023.

Derek Deadman

Derek Deadman starred as British wizard Tom who worked at The Leaky Cauldron. Included in his character’s job roles were being the landlord, innkeeper and the barman. He famously played Ringo in Never the Twain and also appeared in Jabberwocky, Time bandits and The Scarlet Pimpernel, before he died in 2014.

Elizabeth Spriggs

Elizabeth Spriggs only appeared in the first Harry Potter film. She took on the role of The Fat Lady – a living portrait and also the key to the Gryffindor common room dormitories. Characters had to state a password before she would open the door.

Other parts on Elizabeth’s CV included roles in Sense and Sensibility, Is Anybody There and Simon and the Witch. She died in 2008.

Roger Lloyd Pack

Roger Lloyd Pack played the Ministry of Magic official Barty Crouch Senior in the Goblet of Fire movie. He was most famous, however, for his roles in Only Fools and Horses, The Vicar of Dibley and Doctor Who. He passed away in 2014.

Richard Griffiths

Richard Griffiths played the horrible Mr Vernon Weasley, but an iconic character nonetheless. He appeared in five of the films in the series – he was not written in for Goblet of Fire and the Half-Blood Prince. Away from his parts in Harry Potter, Richard also starred in Chariots of Fire and The History Boys. He died in 2013.

Jimmy Gardner

Jimmy played the role of Ernie – the magic night bus driver. He was known for potentially one of the most famous lines from the series being spoken to him, which was “take it away Ern, it’s going to be a bumpy ride”. He appears just once in the Prisoner of Azkaban film, escorting Harry to the Leaky Cauldron.

Jimmy died in May 2010.

Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman had the huge role of Severus Snape in the franchise. Snape is one of the most iconic characters in Harry Potter, someone who is quite terrible but you also have a soft spot for. It isn’t until later when we find out how much depth the character has, and actually how much heartbreak he endeavoured.

Away from Potter, Rickman featured in other blockbuster movies, such as Love Actually and Sense and Sensibility Sadly, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died in 2016.

Dave Legeno

Actor Dave Legeno was cast as the scary Fenrir Greyback, a werewolf and Death Eater. The character appeared in the Half-Blood Prince on the night of Dumbledore’s death. In 2014, the star’s body was found in Death Valley, California. Dave Legeno was found to have died of heat-related health problems.

Death Valley is California’s hottest and driest National Park and is said to be extremely dangerous for hikers.

Eric Sykes

Eric Sykes played Frank Bryce, the gardener for Voldermort’s grandparents. His character is killed in the fourth movie – the Goblet of Fire – after overhearing a conversation between The Dark Lord and his snake Nagini. He was most famous for his work on the cult comedy The Goon Show, although he first began writing for radio.

Eric died in July 2012.

Terence Bayler

New Zealand actor Terence Bayler was cast as The Bloody Baron, the naughty ghost in the Philosopher’s Stone. Prior to his Potter days, he was also famous for starring in Monty Python’s Life of Brian, but passed away in 2016.

Alfred Burke

Alfred starred as Armando Dippet in the second Harry Potter film, The Chamber of Secrets. He appeared as the headmaster of Hogwarts during a flashback scene showing Dumbledore as a student. He died in 2011.

Peter Cartwright

Peter Cartwright played Elphias Doge, a member of the Order of the Phoenix. In the film, his character helped Harry get to Grimmauld Place in the fifth film. Sadly, Peter died in 2013, shortly before the final films were completed. The character was then played by David Ryall.

David Ryall

David Ryall replaced Peter Cartwright as Elphias Doge and appeared in the Deathly Hallows, part one before passing away in 2014. David also appeared as Grandad in the BBC sitcom Outnumbered.

Robert Hardy

Robert Hardy played Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. He appeared as Fudge in the Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix. He had a successful career which spanned over 70 years. He was also famous for his portrayals of Winston Churchil and his appearance in All Creatures Great and Small. He died in 2017.

Hazel Douglas

Hazel Douglas played Bathilda Bagshot in the first part of the Deathly Hallows – a character who was the famous author of A History of Magic. Her character is killed and appears again as a corpse containing Voldermort’s snake. Hazel died in 2016.

John Hurt

An epochal character in the first Harry Potter, John Hurt played the wonderful Garrick Ollivander, the famous wand-maker. Ollivander had a shop in Diagon Alley but the character was captured and tortured by Lord Voldemort. John Hurt was famous for his roles in 1984, Alien and the Elephant Man. He died in 2017.

Helen McCrory

Helen McCrory took on the role of Draco Malfoy’s mother Narcissa. Over the course of the series, the British-born actress ‘ character becomes warmer, and in the end you sort of have sympathy for her.

Helen is probably even more famous for playing Polly Shelby in Peaky Blinders, an iconic and powerful female lead in the TV show. She also played powerful roles for the National Theatre before she died in 2021.

Paul Ritter

Paul Ritter was an English actor and was probably most famous for playing Martin, the dad in Friday Night Dinner in the years leading up to his death. But Paul also starred in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, playing Eldred Worple, a wizard and writer. The character meets Harry at Slughorn’s Christmas Party where he tries to convince him to write an autobiography. Paul passed away from a brain tumour in 2021.

Robbie Coltrane

Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane started famously as Hogwarts groundskeeper and giant Rubeus Hagrid. He appeared in all of the franchise’s films. Hagrid and Harry had a special friendship but he was also close to Dumbledore and other Hogwarts students.

Away from Harry Potter, Robbie appeared in ITV detective drama Cracker as well as the James Bond films Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough. Robbie died in 2022.

Leslie Phillips

While Leslie Phillips didn’t appear on the screen visibly, his voice is recognisable as he played The Sorting Hat. He voiced the character in a number of the films and appeared mostly in the first film when sorting Harry and his peers into houses. The Sorting Hat’s famous line is probably triumphantly shouting “Gryffindor!” when choosing for Harry.

Leslie also played the grandpa in The Parent Trap with Lindsey Lohan but he was also known for his roles in the Carry On and Doctor Who series. He died in 2022.

Vern Troyer

American actor Vern Troyer played Griphook the Goblin in the first Harry Potter movie. He was later replaced by Warwick Davies in the films that followed. Other roles Vern was notably famous for his role included beingMini Me in Austin Powers movies. He died in 2018.

Sam Beazley

This actor played Professor Everard and appeared in the Order of the Phoenix. Everard was a past Hogwarts headmaster and showed up in the moving portraits. Sam Beazley appeared in productions of Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet in the 1930s before serving in World War II. He died in 2010 at the ripe age of 101.

A version of this article was first published on July 11, 2024.

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Source: Mirror