The late Maggie Smith is another Harry Potter star who has died.
Dame Maggie Smith, who starred in the Harry Potter franchise, ‘passed away peacefully’ on Friday, aged 89.
The acclaimed late actor is known by many for her portrayal of the steely-faced yet tender-hearted Hogwarts teacher, Professor McGonagall, across eight Harry Potter films from 2001 to 2011.
During this decade she acted as, not only a mentor for the younger cast members such as Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, but also shared the screen with fellow British acting titans such as Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter.
The movies featured an expansive breadth of the acting industry from rising stars to industry stalwarts.
It remains a snapshot of the powerhouse talent the UK and Ireland have nurtured over the years.
But sadly, as the years have gone by, more and more of the actors who made the film franchise so memorable have died but their legacies remain larger than life.
Richard Harris
Richard Harris played Professor Dumbledore in the first two movies (Picture: Getty)
Irish actor Richard Harris played Professor Dumbledore in the first two movies – Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets and immediately captured hearts for his wonderful portrayal of the mysterious Hogwarts headmaster.
According to early reports, Harris was initially planning to turn down the role due to his declining health but was convinced by his granddaughter to go ahead, per the Guardian.
In 2002, Harris was hospitalised and diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and sadly died aged 72. He was also known for his roles as Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator and King Arthur in 1967 movie Camelot.
British actor Michael Gambon was eventually recast in the role and played the powerful wizard for the rest of the series.
Richard Griffiths
Richard Griffiths played Vernon Dursley (Picture: Warner Bros Pictures)
Richard Griffiths – who also appeared in Alan Bennett’s The History Boys and as Uncle Monty in Withnail and I – starred as the odious Vernon Dursley, one of Harry Potter’s horrid muggle guardians in the Harry Potter films.
Daniel starred alongside Richard again in his first major break post-Potter, the stage show Equus, and praised his veteran co-star.
‘It was my first time doing a play but, terrified as I was, his encouragement, tutelage and humour made it a joy.
‘In fact, any room he walked into was made twice as funny and twice as clever just by his presence. I am proud to say I knew him,’ he said at the time.
The actor died in 2013 aged 65 from complications following heart surgery.
Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman opened up about his time playing Snape in posthumously published diaries (Picture: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Beloved British actor Alan Rickman brilliantly brought to life the regret-filled double agent Professor Snape in all eight movies.
The actor – who has also starred in Love Actually, Die Hard, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves – once shared that author JK Rowling famously revealed his character’s fate before it was public knowledge.
In August 2015, Rickman suffered a minor stroke and was later diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died in January 2016, aged 69.
Terence Bayler
Terence Bayler made a brief appearance as the Bloody Baron (Picture: Pat Larkin/ANL/REX/Shutterstock)
The late Monthy Python star Terence Bayler had one of the lesser known cameo in the movies, but portrayed Slytherin’s resident ghost, the Bloody Baron in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The New Zealand actor – who also played Gregory in Life of Brian – enjoyed a six-decade long career which also included a guest feature in Doctor Who.
He died aged 86 in 2016.
John Hurt
John Hurt as Mr Ollivander (Picture: Warner Bros)
Actor John Hurt had an acclaimed career, appearing in several major TV shows and films including Alien, 1984 and, in his later years, took up the role of the War Doctor in Doctor Who.
He played eccentric wandmaker Mr Ollivander in the Harry Potter series and features in one of the most memorable early scenes where he proclaims ‘the wand chooses the wizard, Mr Potter.’
The Bafta winner was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died aged 77 in 2017.
Robert Hardy
Robert Hardy played Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
Robert Hardy was the actor behind the misguided and willfully ignorant Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix.
The prolific screenstar is also acclaimed for his role in the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and the TV series, All Creatures Great and Small.
He died in 2017 aged 91.
Helen McCrory
Helen McCrory starred as Narcissa Malfoy (Picture: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Screenstar Helen McCrory starred as Draco Malfoy’s protective mother, Narcissa, in the Harry Potter series and later became beloved for her role as matriarch Polly Gray in the Peaky Blinders series.
The actor died in April 2021 after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
She was remembered fondly by her onscreen family with Tom Felton saying it was a ‘real treat to work with her’ and Jason Isaacs recalling his first impression that she was ‘met the best actress I’ve ever seen in my life.’
Robbie Coltrane
Robbie Coltrane played the lovable half-giant Hagrid (Picture: Julian Makey/REX/Shutterstock)
Robbie Coltrane played the loveable Hagrid, a Hogwarts professor and the golden trio’s confidante throughout the movies.
‘The great thing about Hagrid was that he was a thoroughly good man. It was the first time in my entire career I’ve played a thoroughly good man,’ the actor once said about the role, per Insider.
The Scottish actor – who died aged 72 in October 2022 due to multiple organ failure, among other health issues – is also known for starring in James Bond film, The World Is Not Enough and winning several Bafta awards.
Michael Gambon
Michael Gambon replaced Richard Harris as Dumbledore (Picture: Warner Br/Everett/Shutterstock)
In September 2023, Dumbledore star, Sir Michael Gambon, died aged 82.
The longstanding British actor started his career on the stage and over his time scooped up several Bafta and Olivier awards – appearing in everything from Gosford Park to Paddington 2.
On playing Dumbledore, he once spoke about how effortless it was to embody the iconic character.
‘Well, I don’t have to play anyone really. I just stick on a beard and play me, so it’s no great feat,’ the late actor told Future Movies.
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