There is no departure that is not painful and we fans of the Harry Potter saga know that well because in recent years several actors who gave life to the endearing characters we grew up with have died. That is why after the recent death of Michael Gambon, who masterfully played Dumbledore throughout seven films in the saga, we believe it is important also to remember other actors who are sadly no longer with us.
Join us as we remember all those whose actions made us delve, but above all, fall in love with the fascinating story of the boy who lived and fought against who must never be named.
Harry Potter actors who have died
Michael Gambon
Michael Gambon played the legendary Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third installment of the saga and until the last HP film. Gambon died at age 82, after contracting pneumonia. The actor spent the last moments of his life in the hospital always accompanied by his wife and his son. The actor also participated throughout his career in other productions such as The King’s Speech and The Headless Horseman, won five Baftas, and retired in 2015.
Richard Harris
Richard Harris played the headmaster of Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films, since he sadly died in October 2002. Throughout his life, Harris stood out as one of the most versatile and respected actors of his generation. He was known for his charismatic personality and his love for music and literature.
Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman gave life to the unforgettable Professor Severus Snape and it is probably one of the deaths that has hurt fans of the magical world the most, as he managed to capture the complexity and depth of the character in a masterful way. In addition to his work on the Harry Potter film series, Rickman appeared in numerous stage productions and films, including Die Hard and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Richard Griffiths
Richard Griffiths was the actor who played Uncle Vernon Dursley throughout the entire Harry Potter saga. However, his career spanned much more than that iconic role, as he even won a Tony Award for his performance in the play The History Boys.
Helen McCrory
Helen McCrory played Narcissa Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy’s wife and Draco’s mother. She passed away in 2021 at the age of 52 due to breast cancer. McCrory also played Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders.
Roger Lloyd Pack
Roger Lloyd Pack was Barty Crouch, an influential official in the Ministry of Magic and the father of Death Eater Bart Crouch Jr. He died in 2014.
Robbie Coltrane
Robbie Coltrane played the kind, friendly, beloved Hogwarts gamekeeper, Rubeus Hagrid. He died at the age of 72 in 2022.
Robert Hardy
Robert Hardy played Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic. He died in 2017.
John Hurt
John Hurt was in charge of giving life to Gerrick Olivander, the manufacturer and owner of the store where Hogwarts students bought their wands. He died in 2017.
Elizabeth Spriggs
Elizabeth Spriggs was the actress who played ‘The Fat Lady’, the painting that guarded the entrance to Gryffindor’s house.
Some other actors that you may not remember much, since their appearances were very short in the Harry Potter films were:
- Robert Knox: A wizard who attends Professor Slughorn’s meetings in the sixth film.
- Timothy Bateson: He voiced the house elf Kreacher, who served the Black family.
- Jimmy Gardner: Played the Knight Bus driver in The Prisoner of Azkaban.
- Eric Sykes: He gave life to Frank Bryce, a Muggle who lived in Little Hangleto.
- Hazel Douglas: Played Bathilda Bagshot.
This story was written in Spanish by Mariana Martell in Cultura Colectiva
