The 28 Harry Potter actors who have died since the movies came out
The Harry Potter universe is among the most loved artistic franchises in the world. Hundreds of millions of us have spent countless hours reading the books, watching the movies, and playing the video games on repeat.
Written by British author JK Rowling - and with a new TV show on the way - the stories have resonated in every corner of the world as a result of their originality, excitement and characters. And once that emotional connection forms with the Potter universe, it's very hard for it to be severed.
On the big screen, the film series became an overwhelming success, which was partly down to the talent of those bringing the novels' characters to life.
Sadly, as time has passed - with the last Potter film released more than a decade ago - some stars of the films are no longer with us.
Michael Byrne (Gellert Grindelwald)
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The British star joined the franchise for 2010's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1.
Byrne of course played the elderly dark wizard Grindelwald who ended up ratting out his old pal Dumbledore.
He died on 20 June 2026 at the age of 82.
Simon Fisher-Becker (Fat Friar)
Appearing in just one of the films, the inaugural Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Simon Fisher-Becker played one of the ghosts that haunt Hogwarts.
A friendly one in that in the form of the Fat Friar, his role in the film was kept secret due to the hush hush nature around the first cinematic showing. Speaking of his role, he said: "I consider myself very lucky to have worked on Harry Potter. It was a brilliant experience."
Fisher-Becker died aged 63 in March 2025, survived by his husband Anthony Dugdale.
Dame Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall)
Legendary British actress Dame Maggie Smith played the iconic role of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter universe.
Starring in seven of the eight films in the original run of films, the only film she didn't appear in was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.
Dame Maggie's death was announced on 27 September, 2024.
Her sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, said: "An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother."
Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore)
The legendary British actor starred as headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films.
He died after the second film, The Chamber of Secrets, and was replaced in the role by Michael Gambon from The Prisoner of Azkaban onwards.
He died on 25 October, 2002, aged 72.
Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore)
As we just mentioned, Gambon took over from Richard Harris following his death.
He made the role his own after inheriting the role of the character that was so important to both the books and films.
Gambon died on 27 September last year at the age of 82.
Elizabeth Spriggs (The Fat Lady)
Spriggs appeared in just the first film in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which was released back in 2001.
A stage and film actress spanning more than half a century, she played the role of The Fat Lady.
This was a living portrait within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, guarding the Gryffindor common room.
Dawn French took over the role following her death.
Spriggs died on 2 July 2008, aged 78.
Timothy Bateson (Kreacher)
Bateson played the other house elf in the series. Not Dobby, but Kreacher.
Providing his voice for the role in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, it was his last work before he died on 15 September 2009, aged 83.
Kreacher appeared in Deathly Hallows - Part One where he was voiced by Simon McBurney.
Jimmy Gardner (Ernie Prang)
"Take her away Ern, it's going to be a bumpy ride!"
A classic line from the third film in the series, Gardner starred as the driver of the magic Knight Bus.
His only footage in the film shows him erratically driving the vehicle, transporting Harry Potter to the Leaky Cauldron.
Gardner died on 3 May, 2010.
Robert Knox (Marcus Belby)
Rob Knox appeared in just one film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
He was meant to then show up in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part One but died before filming took place, having signed his contract for the film.
Knox was tragically murdered in a stabbing outside a London bar in May 2008, intervening in a fight that involved his brother.
The man who fatally stabbed Knox, Karl Norman Bishop, was given life in prison for the heinous crime. Knox was just 18 at the time of his death on 24 May, 2008.
Alfred Burke (Armando Dippet)
Burke starred as Armando Dippet in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
He appeared in flashback footage as headmaster of Hogwarts when Dumbledore was a student in the wizarding school.
Burke died at the age of 92 in February 2011.
Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley)
An iconic role in the first few Potter films, Griffiths played Harry's Uncle Vernon who took in the orphan after the death of his parents at the hands of Voldemort.
A hugely respected actor, Griffiths was also well known for roles in Chariots of Fire and The History Boys.
He died in 28 March, 2013.
Eric Sykes (Frank Bryce)
Starring as Muggle Frank Bryce, Sykes played the role of gardener for the paternal grandparents of Voldemort.
His character is killed in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire after overhearing a conversation between Voldemort and his snake, Nagini, in the dilapidated house that used to be home to the Riddle family.
Sykes died on 4 July, 2012.
Roger Lloyd Pack (Barty Crouch Senior)
Known throughout the UK for his time on Only Fools and Horses in the role of Trigger, Lloyd Pack moved into the Harry Potter universe in the role of influential Ministry of Magic official Barty Crouch Senior.
He died in 15 January, 2014.
Peter Cartwright (Elphias Doge)
Cartwright played the role of wizard Elphias Doge, who was a member of the Order of the Phoenix.
He starred in Order of the Phoenix where he helped escort Harry to Grimmauld Place.
Passing away on 18 November, 2013, he was replaced in later films by David Ryall.
David Ryall (Elphias Doge)
Ryall, who replaced Cartwright, also sadly died.
He started in Deathly Hallows - Part One in the role of Doge.
He died on 25 December, 2014.
Derek Deadman (Tom from The Leaky Cauldron)
Deadman starred as a character known only as Tom; a British wizard who was the landlord, innkeeper, and barman of every wizard's favourite pub, The Leaky Cauldron.
He died from complications of diabetes on 22 November, 2014, after retiring to France.
Dave Legeno (Fenrir Greyback)
A terrifying character, Legeno played Fenrir Greyback - a werewolf and Death Eater who had a fixation on attacking unsuspecting children.
Legeno was found dead by hikers in Death Valley, California in July 2014.
He starred in three Potter films.
Alan Rickman (Severus Snape)
Up there as one of the most iconic faces in the entire Potter universe, Rickman starred in every film as Severus Snape.
Snape was a teacher at Hogwarts before becoming headmaster following the death of Dumbledore in the books and films.
He died in January 2016 following on from a terminal cancer diagnosis that he had chosen not to make public.
Terence Bayler (The Bloody Baron)
Bayler played the mischievous ghost The Bloody Baron in the first Potter film.
The Kiwi actor played the role of the ghoul and is seen in the first film flying through the school.
He died on 2 August, 2016.
Hazel Douglas (Bathilda Bagshot)
Douglas starred in Deathly Hallows - Part One in the role of magic historian Bathilda Bagshot.
Bagshot was a well known author of A History of Magic.
In the film, she is murdered off-screen before appearing as a reanimated corpse containing Voldemort's snake, Nagini.
Douglas passed away on 8 September, 2016.
Sam Beazley (Professor Everard)
Appearing in just Order of the Phoenix, Beazley played Professor Everard, a former Hogwarts headmaster who appeared in a moving painting.
He died aged 101 on 12 June, 2017.
Robert Hardy (Cornelius Fudge)
Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge was portrayed in the Harry Potter films by Robert Hardy CBE.
He died on 3 August, 2017.
John Hurt (Garrick Ollivander)
A global legend of TV and film, Hurt made his name in numerous productions for decades before starring in the wizarding films.
He appeared in four films as Mr Ollivander, a wand-maker who ran a shop in Diagon Alley.
Hurt died on 25 January, 2017.
Verne Troyer (Griphook)
Verne Troyer was arguably most famous for playing Mini Me in the Austin Powers films.
He also starred as Griphook in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone before being replaced by Warwick Davies.
Troyer died on 21 April, 2018.
Paul Ritter (Eldred Worple)
Starring in just Half-Blood Prince, Ritter starred as wizard Eldred Worple.
Arguable though he is better known for his iconic role on Friday Night Dinner as well as Chernobyl.
Ritter sadly died from a brain tumour on 5 April, 2021.
Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy)
Like Ritter, McCrory is probably better known for her work elsewhere after starring as Polly in Peaky Blinders.
In Potter she starred as Draco Malfoy's mother, Narcissa.
She sadly died on 16 April, 2021.
Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid)
Coltrane starred as Hogwarts groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid, best friend to headmaster Albus Dumbledore and a close mentor to Harry Potter.
The legendary Scot tragically died on 14 October 2022.
Leslie Phillips (The Sorting Hat)
As well as voicing The Sorting Hat in a number of Harry Potter movies, Phillips was well known for featuring in the Carry On films and the Grandad from the Parent Trap starring Lindsay Lohan.
After a long-running and successful acting career, he died on 7 November 2022.
His wife Zara described him as a 'wonderful husband and national treasure'.
Topics: Books, Celebrity, Film, Harry Potter
Tom Earnshaw