Actors from the Harry Potter films who have sadly passed away

Sad deaths of 'Harry Potter' stars
More than two decades ago
We will always remember them
Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore)
He wasn't the first choice
Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore) 
Alan Rickman (Severus Snape)
Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid)
John Hurt (Garrick Ollivander)
Roger Lloyd-Pack (Barty Crouch Sr.)
Helen McCrory (Narcisa Malfoy)
Paul Ritter (Eldred Worple)
Verne Troyer (Griphook)
Rob Knox (Marcus Belby)
Robert Hardy (Cornelius Fudge)
Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley)
Jimmy Gardner (Ernie Prang)
Derek Deadman (Tom from The Leaky Cauldron)
David Ryall (Elphias Doge) 
Sad deaths of 'Harry Potter' stars

'Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone' was released in November 2001. More than two decades later, the saga is still a tremendous success.

More than two decades ago

Over the course of eight movies, hundreds of important and talented actors and actresses participated in the J.K. Rowling universe.

We will always remember them

Sadly, by now, some of those incredible actors have already passed away. But we'll make sure they never are forgotten.

Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore)

He passed away at the age of 82 due to pneumonia, however, his legacy will live on in history, especially for his starring role as 'Albus Dumbledore' in the Harry Potter saga.

He wasn't the first choice

He was not a first choice, but due to the death of Richard Harris in 2002, the production of Harry Potter had the need to look for another actor to play the role of 'Dumbledore' and, although the role was offered to Ian McKellen (who turned it down), finally it was Michael Gambon who took the baton and played the rest of the films in the saga, a total success that is proven in each of the films in which he participated.

Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore) 

The actor was 72 years old when he passed away due to Hodgkin's disease. It was two weeks before 'Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets' was released, so we only had the actor as Dumbledore in the first two movies of the saga.

Alan Rickman (Severus Snape)

Saying that Alan Rickman's death is the most painful one of the saga is an understatement. The evolution of his character as well as the charismatic behavior of the actor made him one of the most beloved characters for the fans. Alan Rickman passed away in January 2016 at 69 years old due to pancreatic cancer. The actor was a reference for the film and theater industry.

Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid)

Robbie Coltrane played one of the kindest characters of the saga: Hagrid. Sadly, the actor passed away in October 2022 at 72 years old due to a multiorgan failure.

John Hurt (Garrick Ollivander)

The iconic wands seller of Diagon Alley, Ollivander, was played by the iconic English actor John Hurt. Unfortunately, he passed away in January 2017 due to pancreatic cancer at the age of 77.

Roger Lloyd-Pack (Barty Crouch Sr.)

It was also due to cancer that the actor who played Barty Crouch passed away in 2014 at 69 years old. The actor appeared in the fourth installment of the saga: 'Harry Potter and The Globet of Fire'.

Helen McCrory (Narcisa Malfoy)

At just 52 years old, this talented London actress passed away in April 2016. In the movies, she played the role of Narcissa Malfoy, Draco Malfoy's mother.

Paul Ritter (Eldred Worple)

Just 11 days before Helen McCrory's passing, the actor Paul Ritter who participated in 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' also passed away at 54 years old due to brain cancer.

Verne Troyer (Griphook)

The actor was just 49 years old when his excessive lifestyle cost him his life. He appeared in the first movie of the saga playing the goblin Griphook, but he will always be remembered as Mini-me in 'Austin Powers'.

Rob Knox (Marcus Belby)

The young actor passed away just a few days before the premiere of 'Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince', the only movie of the saga where the actor participated as one of the guests in the Slughorn's Slug Club. Rob Knox was stabbed at 18 years old during a fight in London.

Robert Hardy (Cornelius Fudge)

He was in charge of the Ministry of Magic and was convinced Voldemort couldn't return. The actor was part of four movies of the saga and was 91 years old when he passed away in 2017.

Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley)

It only took five minutes of the first Harry Potter movie for everyone to hate his character. However, Richard Griffith was said to be one of the kindest actors on set. He was part of 5 movies in the saga and passed away in March 2013 at the age of 65 after a complication during a coronary intervention.

Jimmy Gardner (Ernie Prang)

He was the driver of The Knight Bus in 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban', but that was his only appearance in the saga. The actor died in 2010 at 85 years old.

Image: Guneet Jassal / Unsplash

Derek Deadman (Tom from The Leaky Cauldron)

Another actor that only appeared in one movie of the saga was Derek Deadman, who played the role of Tom, the barman of The Leaky Cauldron, in 'Harry Potter and The Philosopher's stone'. Due to complications from his diabetes, the actor passed away at 74 years old in 2014.

David Ryall (Elphias Doge) 

The actor played one of Dumbledore's friends and a member of the Order of the Phoenix in 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows- Part 1'. He passed away on Christmas day in 2014 at 79 years old. Two years later, the actress who played Bathilda Bagshot in that same movie, Hazel Douglas, passed away due to natural causes in 2016 at 92 years old.