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20+ The Deaths Of Harry Potter Cast Members That Broke The Millions Of Hearts Over The Years

As a result of the series' longevity, the "Harry Potter" books and Movies enthralled audiences of all ages. Indeed, the magnificent Harry Potter film series lasted over ten years, with the first movie debuting in 2001 and the last in 2011. The films featured a great set of characters that many of the cast members and characters will always be remembered by fans of wizardry.
But sadly, some of the movie stars have actually passed away in real life, which has been widely mourned over the years. Over the course of the ten-year period, some cast members died unexpectedly and new actors stepped into their roles. Other actors passed away after the filming was finished, but Potterheads and other movie lovers will never forget or stop loving them. Here is a list of all the Harry Potter actors who passed away, listed in alphabetical order, without further ado.

#1 Alan Rickman

Source: EVAN AGOSTINI/INVISION/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK; EVERETT

In 2016, Rickman's family gave BBC the news that the actor who portrayed Severus Snape had passed away. At the age of 69, the actor died after his battle with pancreatic cancer.
"He was surrounded by family and friends," the family stated in a statement to the media outlet.

#2 Alfred Burke

Source: People

Armando Dippet served as the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry before Albus Dumbledore. Before his death in 2011 at the age of 92, Burke played Dippet in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

#3 Dave Legeno

Source: SHUTTERSTOCK; JESS MESA/WARNER BROS.

Legeno, who played werewolf Fenrir Greyback, died of heatstroke in California's Death Valley. He was 50 years old when hikers discovered his body in a remote area of the desert park, according to the Inyo County Sheriff's Department. Rick Bassman, Legeno's manager, confirmed his death and there was no evidence of wrongdoing.

#4 Derek Deadman

Source: WARNER BROS. PICTURES

According to Seventeen, Tom, the landlord of the Leaky Cauldron, was played by Deadman in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone before dying in 2014 from diabetes complications. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, he was replaced by Jim Tavaré, who had a completely different look.

#5 Elizabeth Spriggs

Source: SHUTTERSTOCK; WARNER BROS. PICTURES

To enter Gryffindor Tower, you must get past the Fat Lady (played by Spriggs) with the correct password. Spriggs, a veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theater, died in 2008 at the age of 78.

#6 Hazel Douglas

Source: ITV/SHUTTERSTOCK; JAAP BUITENDIJK/WARNER BROS.

Douglas, who was in her 80s at the time, received the role of Bathilda Bagshot in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. Bagshot, the author of A History of Magic, a textbook used at Hogwarts, was one of Douglas' most prominent roles until her death in 2016 at the age of 92.

#7 Helen McCrory

Source: JEFF SPICER/GETTY IMAGES; EVERETT

McCrory, best known for her portrayal of Narcissa Malfoy, wife of Lucius Malfoy and mother of Draco Malfoy, died of cancer at her London home. She was 52 years old. Damian Lewis, the star's husband, and fellow actor broke the sad news on Twitter.

#8 Jimmy Gardner

Source: WARNER BROS. PICTURES

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the English actor played Ernie Prang, the driver of the double-decker Knight Bus. Gardner died in 2010 at the age of 85.

#9 John Hurt

Source: CHRIS JACKSON/GETTY; WARNER BROS. PICTURES

In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, he played wand shop owner Garrick Ollivander, and he returned to the series for Deathly Hallows and Goblet of Fire, though his character was ultimately cut from the third film. J.K. Rowling, the author, paid tribute to Hurt on Twitter after his death in 2017 at the age of 77.

#10 Leslie Phillips

Source: STAFF/THE PEOPLE/MIRRORPIX/GETTY

Leslie Phillips, who played the Sorting Hat in Harry Potter, died in November 2022 at the age of 98. According to his agent, the beloved actor passed away peacefully in his sleep.

#11 Paul Ritter

Source: DAVE J HOGAN/GETTY IMAGES

According to Ritter's representatives, who confirmed the news to PEOPLE on April 6, the British actor who played Eldred Worple in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince passed away from a brain tumor. They added that Ritter "died peacefully at home with his wife Polly and sons Frank and Noah by his side." He was 54.

#12 Peter Cartwright

Source: WhatCulture.com

Before passing away in London in 2013, the veteran actor played Elphias Doge, a member of the Order of the Phoenix and good friend of Albus Dumbledore, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Cartwright was replaced in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 by British actor David Ryall, who died a year later on Christmas Day, 2014, at the age of 79.

#13 Richard Griffiths

Source: FERDAUS SHAMIM/WIREIMAGE; EVERETT

The British actor who played Harry Potter's evil uncle Vernon Dursley died in 2013 due to complications from heart surgery at University Hospital in Coventry, England. He was 65.

#14 Richard Harris

Source: J. VESPA/WIREIMAGE; EVERETT

Harris played Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the first two films, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. He died at the University College London Hospital in 2002, at the age of 72, after a battle with Hodgkin's Disease. After his death, Michael Gambon took over as Dumbledore for the rest of the series.

#15 Robbie Coltrane

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Coltrane, who played Rubeus Hagrid in all eight Harry Potter films, died in October 2022. He was 72.

#16 Robert Hardy

Source: IAN GAVAN/GETTY; EVERETT

In 2017, the renowned British actor passed away at the age of 91. Hardy portrayed Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, in four Harry Potter films: Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, and Order of the Phoenix.
According to BBC News, the actor's family said he lived a "tremendous life" with a "giant career in theatre, television, and film spanning more than 70 years."

#17 Robert Knox

Source: WARNER BROS. PICTURES

Before the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Knox, then 18, was stabbed to death outside of a London bar in 2008.
The actor played Marcus Belby in Half-Blood Prince and was set to play it again in the remaining Harry Potter films before his death.

#18 Sam Beazley

Source: SensaCine.com

Before his death in 2017, the British actor played Professor Everard in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. According to the London newspaper The Times, Beazley died in his sleep. He was 101.

#19 Terence Bayler

Source: WARNER BROS. PICTURES

The celebrated New Zealand actor, who died in 2016, played the Bloody Baron, one of the ghosts who haunt Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. He was 86.

#20 Timothy Bateson

Source: HALLMARK ENTERTAINMENT; WARNER BROS. PICTURES

Before his death in 2009, the British actor played Kreacher the house elf in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. He was 83. Simon McBurney took over the role of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 after Bateson died.

#21 Verne Troyer

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Griphook was played by Troyer in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. According to a media release obtained by PEOPLE from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner's office, Troyer, who was 49 at the time, died from the consequences of alcohol intoxication.
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