Harry Potter stars gone too soon - murder, deaths and devastating diseases

04 November 2023 , 17:00

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Harry Potter stars gone too soon - murder, deaths and devastating diseases

Since the wizarding world of Harry Potter was first created in 1997, hundreds of talented actors have been cast to star in the legendary film series, but heartbreakingly several have succumbed to tragic deaths and mishaps over the years.

Family, friends and Potterheads have mourned the loss of their favourite people on and off screen, from Alan Rickman to Richard Griffiths. Here we take a look at the stars that left us too soon, and celebrate the lives of actors who brought the magic to life. Sir Michael Gambon, who famously played the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore from 2004 until 2008 - taking over from Richard Harris following his death - is the latest Hogwarts actor to tragically pass away, at the age of 82.

Robbie Coltrane played Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter series (Warner Bros)

Irish-born Sir Michael died in hospital in September after contracting pneumonia, his family shared in a statement. "We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon," it read. "Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia."

Sir Michael was forced to retire from the stage in 2015 after suffering "frightening memory loss". He described it a "heartbreaking" decision at the time and explained that he was no longer able to remember his lines. "There was a girl in the wings and I had a plug in my ear so she could read me the lines. After about an hour I thought, 'This can't work'. It's a horrible thing to admit but I can't do it. It breaks my heart," he said.

His passing came nearly a year after the death of Hagrid actor Robbie Coltrane, who died aged 72 in October 2022. The screen icon, who won three consecutive Best Actor Baftas, spent his final days in Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Scotland. His agent said in a statement at the time: "He will probably be best remembered for decades to come as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, a role which brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world, prompting a stream of fan letters every week for over 20 years."

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Alan Rickman was Severus Snape in the wizarding film franchise (Warner Bros)

In April 2021, Narcissa Malfoy actress Helen McCrory sadly died from breast cancer at the age of 52. Her husband Damian Lewis said in a statement: "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."

Helen had originally been cast as Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter films, but had to pull out when she first fell pregnant. The role went to Helena Bonham Carter instead, but Helen was later cast as Bellatrix's sister Narcissa Malfoy for the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2 films. She was awarded an OBE in the 2017 honours list for services to drama.

Severus Snape legend Alan Rickman died in 2016 from terminal cancer, and was believed to be part of a tragic 'curse' after a number of iconic stars passed away that year. The British actor played Severus Snape right up until the character's emotional death, and was also famed for his roles in Love Actually, Die Hard and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Richard Griffiths played the character of Vernon Dursley, Harry's uncle (Warner Bros. Pictures)

In 2013, Vernon Dursley star Richard Griffiths died from complications following heart surgery. At the time, Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter alongside him, led tributes to Richard whose "encouragement, tutelage and humour" made work "a joy". He said of his 'Uncle Dursley': "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."

In 2008, actor Rob Knox, 18, was horrifically stabbed to death, just three days after wrapping up filming on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Rob, who played Marcus Belby in the film, was stabbed by Karl Bishop five times outside a bar in Sidcup, Kent. His little brother Jamie, then just 17, said the images of the murder were still etched into his mind in 2018.

"It happened in front of me, I didn't see a knife go in, but I saw Rob go up to get the knives off the boy," he told the Jeremy Kyle Show. "This kid was just swinging his arms around with knives towards people. I'll never forget it. I turned around and screamed and when I turned back I saw Rob slumped around him, holding himself with his arms. He was saying, 'I've been stabbed, I've been stabbed."

Rob Knox sadly died before his role as Marcus Belby made it to screens (Warner Bros. Pictures)

His devastated mum Sally Knox described the pain of attending the Harry Potter premier after her son's murder. "All he wanted to do was get his dinner suit and walk up that red carpet at Leicester Square," she said. "He was a joker, he was a lovely normal kid, didn't mix with the wrong people. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

The family has since set up The Rob Knox Foundation to help young people get into acting, and Sally said she hopes sharing their story will help prevent further knife deaths. She also revealed Warner Brothers made her a film of outtakes of her son, which she described as her 'happy place'. Bishop got a life term for Rob's murder and three others for wounding Dean Saunders, 23, Nicky Lee Jones, 20, and Charlie Grimley, 17.

Other Harry Potter actors who have died since their scenes in the films include Elizabeth Spriggs, Timothy Bateson, Jimmy Gardner, Alfred Burke, Eric Sykes, Peter Cartwright, Roger Lloyd Pack, Dave Legeno, Derek Deadman, David Ryall, Terence Bayler, Hazel Douglas, Sam Beazley, Robert Hardy, Verne Troyer, Paul Ritter and Leslie Phillips.

Nia Dalton