Fans of multiple generations dove into the pages and blockbuster films of the Harry Potter saga, filled with memorable moments among well-written narratives. It is heartbreaking for all fans, but as we travel to new generations of this magical world we come back to remember the great actors who brought this universe alive are no longer with us. From passionate mentors to dastardly villains, these stars made a lasting mark on cinema, and in the hearts of Potterheads everywhere. In remembrance, here are 20 Harry Potter actors we have lost along the way and who will be remembered forever.
1) Dame Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall)
Dame Maggie Smith played the role of Prof. McGonagall since her first iconic scenes in the Harry Potter films. She appeared in all the installments except for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. Dame Maggie — bloody, courageous giant-ess of British acting, untouchable on the battlefield and loved the world over — left us September 27, 2024.
2) Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore)
The British actor who portrayed the wise and good Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets left an unforgettable mark of his own on this film series. He died on October 25, 2002, at age 72. Michael Gambon took over from The Prisoner of Azkaban onwards.
3) Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore)
Sir Michael Gambon took up the role of Albus Dumbledore after Richard Harris died. He exhaustively enacts the essence of the role in the movies. His on-screen presence was personal, thus continuing the heritage of the wise old headmaster of Hogwarts. Sadly, Gambon passed away last year on September 27, 2023. He was 82 years old. His fans and fans around the globe hold dear to themselves the memories he left behind.
4) Elizabeth Spriggs (The Fat Lady)
Spriggs's most remembered work was The Fat Lady in the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. That portrait came alive to guard the entrance to the Gryffindor common room at Hogwarts. With over 50 years of experience on stage and screen, her performance would forever be associated with the birth of the series. On her death, the show was taken over by another British female comedian by the name of Dawn French. Spriggs died on July 2, 2008, aged 78.
5) Alan Rickman (Severus Snape)
One of the most recognizable faces and voices in the Harry Potter series is Alan Rickman playing the complex and mystical Severus Snape throughout the eight films. As a character in the books, Snape turns out to be a Hogwarts professor who later becomes the school's headmaster after Dumbledore's death. Rickman depicted this role and made it unforgettable. In January 2016, Rickman passed away from cancer, which he had not publicly disclosed. His death was a big loss, and his memory lives on in the series as the most iconic character.
7) Timothy Bateson (Kreacher)
Another house elf serving the Black family in the Harry Potter series, Kreacher, was loaned his voice to by Peter Cartwright. Different from Dobby, Kreacher's first appearance was in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Cartwright passed away three days before its release, on September 15, 2009, aged 83. In Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Simon McBurney voiced Kreacher to carry on the character's involvement with the plot.
8) Robert Knox (Marcus Belby)
Rob Knox was also part of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as Marcus Belby and was booked to appear in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. He signed the contract but never made it to shoot his scenes. In May 2008, when he was only 18, Knox was stabbed to death while trying to defend his brother in a fight outside a London bar during a mugging. Karl Norman Bishop was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for committing this crime. Knox's death came too early for the fans and the cast members as well.
9) Jimmy Gardner (Ernie Prang)
Jimmy Gardner played the role of the driver of the magical Knight Bus, brought into Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The wild ride of high speeds with Harry Potter in turmoil had him transported to the Leaky Cauldron. Although he had little screen time, he seemed to leave a memorable impression on fans of the series. He died on May 3, 2010, but his contribution to the magical world of Harry Potter shall always be remembered.
10) Alfred Burke (Armando Dippet)
Another actor who played a role in the film was Alfred Burke, who portrayed Armando Dippet, the headmaster of Hogwarts when Dumbledore was a student. He appeared in flashback scenes that shed light on the long history of Hogwarts School. Burke is part of a limited but vivid tapestry of Hogwarts' past. He died in February 2011, at the age of 92. This man has an incredible legacy as one of the great performers of cinema and on the stage.
11) Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley)
Richard Griffiths portrayed Harry's reluctant and comedic strict guardian Uncle Vernon Dursley in early Harry Potter films after the young wizard was orphaned by Voldemort. Outside of his magical work, Griffiths is best known for his standout roles in Chariots of Fire and The History Boys. He had a long career that spanned several decades and left a mark on both stage and screen. Griffiths died on March 28, 2013, with a legacy characterized by versatility of performance.
12) Eric Sykes (Frank Bryce)
Eric Sykes played Frank Bryce, the Muggle gardener who tended Voldemort's paternal grandparents' house. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, his character has a sad end when he listens in on a conversation Voldemort has with his snake, Nagini, in the dilapidated Riddle house. The fine actor and comedian added meaning to the ill-fated character. He died on July 4, 2012, and left behind a rich legacy of film, television, and comedy that fans continue to cherish.
13) Roger Lloyd Pack (Barty Crouch Senior)
Roger Lloyd-Pack was indeed an underrated talent that went unmissed in the UK. There is a fine line between the eccentric Trigger whom he portrayed in Only Fools and Horses and Barty Crouch Sr, the influential official at the Ministry of Magic in the Harry Potter universe. However, his portrayal of the above character left an undeniable impact on the fans in the series. Lloyd-Pack died on January 15, 2014. He died leaving behind an unwritten legacy of producing the most memorable performances in comedy and drama.
14) Dave Legeno (Fenrir Greyback)
The fearsome Fenrir Greyback was brought to life by Dave Legeno in the Harry Potter series when he played a sadistic werewolf as well as a Death Eater with a penchant for targeting innocent children. His chilling portrayal left an indelible mark on fans' minds. Three consecutive films in the series starred Legeno, which added to the darker and menacing atmosphere created. Tragically, he was found dead by hikers in Death Valley, California, in July 2014. The death of Steve Callan turned out to be a significant loss for the world of films.
15) Hazel Douglas (Bathilda Bagshot)
She played the role of magic historian Bathilda Bagshot in the movie Deathly Hallows - Part One. Bagshot is widely known as the author of A History of Magic. In the film, she is shot off-screen and appears as a reanimated corpse in which Voldemort's snake, Nagini, resides. Douglas died on September 8, 2016.
16) Robert Hardy (Cornelius Fudge)
Robert Hardy CBE was Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic and ambitious yet misguided, in several of the Harry Potter films. Such a powerful yet flawed figure was Hardy's achievement with Fudge, who played such an important part in the wizarding world's political landscape. A leading actor for five decades, he died on August 3, 2017.
17) John Hurt (Garrick Ollivander)
John Hurt is a global icon both in the world of television and films. He maintained a luminous career spanning several decades before his introduction into the Harry Potter universe. He appeared as enigmatic Mr. Ollivander, the wandmaker of Diagon Alley, in four films. Hurt's addition to the character brought out the mystery and depth of the series. Hurt departed this life on January 25, 2017, leaving behind a legacy fans cannot forget.
18) Verne Troyer (Griphook)
Verne Troyer is best known for the Austin Powers films, but as if that isn't cool enough, he also brought Griphook, the goblin, to life in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Of course, that role was always memorable with his rendition before Warwick Davis took it on. The actor died on April 21, 2018, and had left a mark on comedy as well as fantasy genres.
19) Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy)
Helen McCrory, who played Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders, was also featured in the Harry Potter series, as Narcissa Malfoy, the devoted and complicated mother to Draco. Her character added a lot of depth to Malfoy's family dynamics. The talent was so incredible that she became a favorite on TV and films. She died from cancer on April 16, 2021.
20) Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid)
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Robbie Coltrane, who enchanted audiences with the lovable and loyal Rubeus Hagrid, breathed warmth and wisdom into the Harry Potter series, playing the role of Hogwarts groundskeeper and mentor to Harry. He was quite a favorite due to his towering yet tender character. The legendary Scottish actor left behind unforgettable performances and died on October 14, 2022.
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