As Michael Gambon’s passing leaves Harry Potter fans heartbroken, a look at the late stars of the Wizarding World including Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane and Richard Griffiths
Harry Potter fans were left brokenhearted on Thursday when it was revealed Sir Michael Gambon, who played Albus Dumbledore, has passed away.
His family announced that the star of six of the eight movies in the franchise had died peacefully in hospital aged 82 following a bout of pneumonia.
Michael’s passing is the latest in a number of heartbreaking deaths from stars of the wizarding world of JK Rowling, including Robbie Coltrane’s death last year and Hollywood legend Alan Rickman’s 2016 death.
We take a look at the stars of the Wizarding World who have sadly passed away…
Devastating: Harry Potter fans were left brokenhearted on Thursday when it was revealed Sir Michael Gambon, who played Albus Dumbledore, has passed away
Here they are: Late Harry Potter stars Robbie Coltrane and Michael Gambon are seen together in 2011
Alan Rickman – 2016 – Severus Snape
Alan Rickman – 2016 – Severus Snape
Alan passed away in January 2016 aged 69.
He starred as villain turned hero Severus Snape in all eight of the films.
His death came after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He died at a London hospital, surrounded by friends and relatives including his wife Rima, after waging a secret fight with the illness.
He apparently concealed his diagnosis from all but close confidants, and kept an upbeat demeanour even weeks before his death. It was claimed that the star had a suspected stroke in August 2015, which led to his cancer diagnosis.
Writing on Showbiz 411, Mr Friedman said that Rickman told a select few friends about the disease during a visit to New York in December 2015, when he was pictured at the musical Hamilton in what is the last known photograph of him.
The charity Pancreatic Cancer Action said in a statement: ‘We were very sad to hear that one of Britain’s most popular actors, Alan Rickman, passed away after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
‘Our thoughts are with all this friends and family at this very sad time.’
Robbie Coltrane – 2022 – Hagrid
Robbie passed away in October 2017 aged 72
Robbie passed away in October 2017 aged 72.
The Scottish star, whose real name is Anthony Robert McMillan, was best known for playing the beloved Hogwarts gamekeeper Hagrid and starring as criminal psychologist Dr Eddie ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald in the 90s ITV drama.
Shortly after his death, it was confirmed that he died from multiple organ failure his death certificate. At the time of his death, he was reportedly suffering from sepsis, a lower respiratory tract infection, Type 2 diabetes, heart block and obesity.
Robbie was rumoured to have had serious health issues earlier this year after he was forced to pull out of London’s Comic Con in June due to medical reasons.
He left behind his former wife Rhona Gemmell who he married in 1999, sister Annie Rae and his children Spencer, who was born in 1992 and Alice, born in 1998.
Robert Hardy – 2017 – Cornelius Fudge
Robert Hardy passed away in August 2017 aged 91
Robert Hardy passed away in August 2017 aged 91.
The actor was best known for his roles as vet Siegfried Farnon in the BBC show, which was popular in the Seventies and Eighties, and as Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter franchise.
In a statement announcing his death this afternoon, Hardy’s children, Emma, Justine and Paul, described their father’s life as ‘tremendous’. He had a career in stage, television and film which spanned more than 70 years.
Richard Griffiths – 2013 – Vernon Dursley
Richard Griffiths passed away in 2013 at the age of 65
Richard Griffiths passed away in 2013 at the age of 65.
The theatrical, television and film actor died after suffering complications related to heart surgery at the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire.
He starred in Alan Bennett’s play The History Boys and appeared in cult classic Withnail and I as the comic Uncle Monty, after getting his start with a small role in Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi – but he found a new audience of fans as Vernon Dursley in Harry Potter.
Daniel, who played the title role and also performed with Griffiths in the play Equus, led tributes to the actor, as Withnail’s Richard E. Grant said: ‘Chin chin dear friend.’
Helen McCrory – 2021 – Narcissa Malfoy
Helen McCrory passed away in April 2021 aged 52.
Helen McCrory passed away in April 2021 aged 52.
She died after a secret ‘heroic battle’ with cancer, her husband Damian Lewis revealed in a heartbreaking statement.
The ‘beautiful and mighty’ actress, who played Polly Gray in the Birmingham-based BBC show Peaky Blinders and Narcissa Malfoy in the blockbuster wizard films, died ‘peacefully’ at home surrounded by friends and family.
Homeland star Lewis tweeted: ‘I’m heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family.
‘She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.’
McCrory, who was awarded the OBE for services to drama in the 2017 New Years Honours, was best known for playing the matriarch Polly in Peaky Blinders and Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.
Paul Ritter – 2021 – Edred Worple
Paul Ritter passed away in April 2021 aged 54
Paul Ritter passed away in April 2021 aged 54.
The Friday Night Dinner and Chernobyl star died of a brain tumour at home with wife Polly and sons Frank and Noah at his bedside.
He was best known to thousands of TV viewers as the affable father Martin Goodman in the Channel 4 sit-com, alongside Tamsin Greig, Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal.
His turn in HBO drama Chernobyl saw him as one of the Ukrainian disaster’s villains, chief engineer Anatoly Dyatlov, a world away from the light-hearted patriarch.
He was in films including Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince and Quantum of Solace, as well as the lauded mini-series about the Ukranian nuclear power station meltdown.
Dave Legeno – 2014 – Fenrir Greyback
David Legeno passed away in July 2014 aged 50.
The actor, who portrayed werewolf Fenrir Greyback in three movies in the wizard film franchise, died while hiking in Death Valley in California.
He was found by two hikers in the area on Sunday. Authorities said Dave died of heat stroke, after an autopsy was performed by the Inyo County Coroner.
At the time, insiders revealed it was thought his body may have been there for three or four days before he was found. Temperatures in Death Valley are known to reach more than 120 degrees.
A representative for the actor told MailOnline in a statement: ‘We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dave Legeno. Dave was an absolute pleasure to work with; talented, funny and intelligent…
‘He had a storied career in many fields, and a fantastic reputation throughout the film industry. We’ve lost a true gentleman, and our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time.’
County Deputy Coroner Jason Molinar says Legeno’s body was partially decomposed and may have been lying for days in triple-digit heat. There was no sign of foul play.
He played the werewolf in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as well as the final two movies in the film franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.
Leslie Phillips – 2022 – The Sorting Hat
Leslie Phillips passed away in November 2022 aged 98
Leslie Phillips passed away in November 2022 aged 98.
The actor – best known for his ‘Ding Dong’, ‘Well, Hello’ and ‘I Say’ catchphrases – had been battling a long illness.
Younger fans however may have recognised his voice from the Harry Potter films, in which he did the voiceover for the Sorting Hat.
Phillips, who acted in 150 films, suffered a life-threatening stroke in 2015, and had been recovering at his home over the last few years.
Roger Lloyd Pack – 2014 – Barty Crouch, Sr.
Roger Lloyd Pack passed away in January 2004 aged 69
Roger Lloyd Pack passed away in January 2004 aged 69.
His agent Maureen Vincent said he had suffered from pancreatic cancer and had died at home surrounded by his family.
The star, who was known to millions as the dim-witted Trigger in Only Fools And Horses, played Barty Crouch, Sr. in The Goblet Of Fire.
Rob Knox – 2008 – Marcus Belby
Rob Knox passed away in May 2008 aged just 18
Rob Knox passed away in May 2008 aged just 18.
He was stabbed to death outside the Metro Bar in Sidcup, Kent, by Karl Bishop, who had only recently been released from prison after another stabbing.
He was knifed five times as he tried to protect his younger brother Jamie after hearing Bishop had threatened him with a knife.
Rob was taken to hospital but pronounced dead. Bishop was jailed for a minimum 20 years for his murder.
Following his passing, Daniel wrote an emotional tribute to the murdered actor. The pair worked together on the Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince.
Radcliffe was one of many of the Potter cast and crew to pen a personal message in the aftermath of Robert’s death.
He wrote: ‘Dear Rob, We are all proud to have known you and devastated to have lost you. It is terrible just to write this note. Rest in peace, Dan xxx.’
Hazel Douglas – 2016 – Nagini
Terence Bayler – 2016 – The Bloody Barron
Paul Grant – 2023 – Gringott’s Goblin
David Ryall – 2014 – Elphias Doge
Sam Beazley – 2017 – Professor Everard
Elizabeth Spriggs – 2008 – The Fat Lad
Jimmy Gardner – 2010 – Knight Bus driver Ernie Prang
Casting director: Mary Selway – 2004
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