Whether we choose to accept it or not, Harry Potter is now older than Harry was when he left Hogwarts to fight Lord Voldemort.
The first film, Philosopher’s Stone was released on November 16, 2001, and the last, the second part of Deathly Hallows was released in July 2011.
In those 10 years, eight films were captured and hundreds of actors were cast to bring the magical characters to life on the big screen.
And now, almost 20 years later many of those actors have sadly died.
From being horrifically murdered, to health scares and succumbing to the elements, this is who out of the cast has died and how.
Rob Knox – Marcus Belby
Rob Knox played Marcus Belby in the Half Blood Prince (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
Rob was murdered on May 24, 2008, when he was just 18-years-old after he was stabbed outside the Metro Bar in Sidcup, South East London.
His murder came just three days after he wrapped filming for his first appearance in the Harry Potter films which was said to be the young actor’s “big break”.
He starred in The Half-Blood Prince as the Marcus Belby, a Ravenclaw who was recruited to Professor Slughorn’s Slug Club because of his famous father.
Rob was signed to star as the character in the following film but sadly died before filming began.
During the trial following his murder, his remorseless killer, Karl Bishop, ended up serving a life sentence for the crime.
Dave Legeno – Fenrir Greyback
Dave Legeno played Fenrir Greyback (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
On July 6, 2014, Dave’s body was found by a pair of hikers in Death Valley, California, United States.
Due to the area being so remote, a helicopter has to be called to retrieve his remains and an inquest found that he died of heat-related health problems and may have been dead for three to four days before his body was discovered.
No foul play is suspected behind his death.
The film didn’t see much of Fenrir Greyback but in the books, he was featured a lot more.
Roger Lloyd-Pack – Barty Crouch Sr
Roger Lloyd-Pack played Barty Crouch Sr (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
On January 16, 2014, the iconic actor died at the age of 69 following his battle with cancer.
In Goblet of Fire, he appeared as Bartemius Crouch Senior, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation.
Later he is eventually murdered by his Death Eater son, Barty Crouch Jr, who despised him.
Alan Rickman – Severus Snape
Alan Rickman played Severus Snape (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
The British actor’s death was believed to be part of a “curse” after a number of iconic stars died in 2016.
One of the major deaths which shocked the showbiz world in 2016 was Alan’s after he died of cancer at the age of 69.
He played Severus Snape perfectly right up until the character’s emotional death and the revelation of who his character, who appeared to be evil, really and truly was a good guy.
Richard Harris – Albus Dumbledore
Richard Harris played Albus Dumbledore (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
During the films, there were two actors who played the great Albus Dumbledore who was the headmaster of Hogwarts.
First was Richard Harris who starred as the bearded wizard for the first time films before he died on October 25, 2002, at the age of 72.
His version of Dumbledore was softer than his replacement Michael Gambon’s performance who made the chapter for wise-eyed and stern.
Richard Griffiths – Vernon Dursley
Richard Griffiths played Vernon Dursley (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
On March 28, 2013, the actor died at the age of 65 after complications during heart surgery at University Hospital Coventry.
He played Uncle Vernon Dursley was Harry’s abusive uncle who was a bit of a monster to the poor young lad before he became a wizard.
Richard previously said he ignored the temptation to soften the character and instead made him more into a foolish oaf.
Rik Mayall – Peeves
Rik Mayall played Peeves (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
He played the rather irritating but friendly ghost who was stuck in the halls of Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry.
On June 9, 2014, Rik died tragically after he suffered a sudden heart attack after jogging and died at the age of 56.
The star died at his home in Barnes, Richmond-upon-Thames, London.
Elizabeth Spriggs – The Fat Lady
Elizabeth Spriggs played The Fat Lady (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
On July 2, 2008, Elizabeth died at the age of 78 after playing the iconic, The Fat Lady.
She played the friendly guardian of the Gryffindor common room as the portrait who lets students pass when they say the correct password out loud.
Following her death after The Philosopher’s Stone, The Fat Lady had to be recast, and she was replaced by Dawn French.
Robert Hardy – Cornelius Fudge
Robert Hardy played Cornelius Fudge (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
On August 3, 2017, Robert died at the age of 91 at Denville Hall, a home for retired actors.
In the films, Cornelius Fudge was painted differently to how J.K Rowling wrote his character in the books.
In the books he was a snivelling and manipulative wretch, however, in the films, the Minister of Magic was portrayed more by his desperation to avoid his biggest fear, the rise of Voldemort.
John Hurt – Ollivander
John Hurt played Ollivander (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
On January 25, 2017, died after announcing on June 16, 2015, that he had been diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer.
Tragically, the star said that both he and the medical team treating him were “more than optimistic about a satisfactory outcome”.
Following treatment, the actor who played the wizard who owned the wand shop in Diagon Alley stated that his cancer was in remission on October 12, 2015.
However, he died at home in Cromer, Norfolk, just three days after his 77th birthday.
Hazel Douglas – Bathilda Bagshot
Hazel Douglas played Bathilda Bagshot (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
On September 8, 2016, Hazel died at the age of 92 after portraying arguably the creepiest Harry Potter character of them all.
Her part was small, with just one scene in Harry Potters and the Deathly Hallows as Bathilda Bagshot.
The creepy performance saw her melting back to reveal Voldemort’s snake Nagini within the deathly shell of Bathilda’s body.
Derek Deadman – Tom The Barman
Derek Deadman played Tom The Barman (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
In 2014 Derek died aged 74 of complications from diabetes in Frespech, France, where he moved upon his retirement.
He was the first actor to play Tom the barman for the franchise before it was taken over by Jim Tavare in The Prisoner of Azkaban.
In the books, the barman is described as “quite bald” and resembling a “toothless walnut” which Derek very much did not.
Terence Bayler – The Bloody Baron
(Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
On August 2, 2016, the actor died at the age of 86.
He played The Bloody Baron in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as the host who like Peeves ended up mostly on the cutting room floor of Hogwarts.
His ghost appeared briefly and was captured to be more of a comic rascal than a spooky ghost.
Timothy Bateson – Kreacher
Timothy Bateson played Kreacher (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
On 16 September 2009, the voiceover actor of Kreacher died at the age of 83.
He played the miserable house-elf, who belonged to the Black family including Sirus Black, in The Order of the Phoenix.
Following his death, he was replaced by Simon McBurney for Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1.
Eric Sykes – Frank Bryce
Eric Sykes played Frank Bryce (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
On July 4, 2012, the actor who played a small yet extremely moving part in the films died at the age of 89 after suffering a short illness.
He played Frank Bryce, who was just a truly innocently man merely doing his job as a caregiver of the Riddle estate when he unluckily stumbled upon Lord Voldemort in his creepy embryo-state talking to Barty Crouch Jr and Wormtail.
He was then brutally murdered by the dark lord just for walking in on them.
David Ryall – Elphias Doge
David Ryall played Elphias Doge (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
Tragically the actor died on Christmas Day in 2014 at the age of 79.
He was the second actor to play Order Of The Phoenix member Elphias Doge, taking over from Peter Cartwright when the plot of The Deathly Hallows called for more of a performance.
Elphias was a member of the Order of the Phoenix in both the First and Second Wizarding Wars, and also a close friend of Albus Dumbledore.
Peter Cartwright – Elphias Doge
Peter Cartwright played Elphias Doge (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
Before David starred as Elphias, Peter did before he died from cancer on November 13, 2013, at the age of 78.
Peter played the silent Order Of The Phoenix member when he turns up for the first time in the season to help shepherd Harry to Grimmauld Place.
From the Dursley’s house, he helps Harry get to the secret place via broomsticks.
Alfred Burke – Armando Dippet
Alfred Burke played Armando Dippet (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
On February 16, 2011, Alfred died from a chest infection just twelve days before his 93rd birthday.
The star played Armando Dippet, the Headmaster of Hogwarts prior to Albus Dumbledore.
As such, he appears in The Chamber Of Secrets during the flashback sequences taking the film back to Tom Riddle’s time at the school.
Alfred’s face can actually only be glimpsed for a brief moment, and he wasn’t as bald as the book description suggested he should have been.
Jimmy Gardner – Ernie Prang
Jimmy Gardner played Ernie Prang (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
On May 3, 2010, the actor behind the iconic purple Knight Bus driver died at the age of 85.
He played Ernie Prang who was the idiosyncratic driver of The Knight Bus which picked up troublesome wizards from the street.
The crazy character drives with the assistance of Sir Lenny Henry’s shrunken head dangling over his dashboard.
Margery Mason – Honeyduke’s Express Lady
Margery Mason played Honeyduke’s Express Lady (Image: Warner Bros/Getty Images)
Aged 100, Margery died on January 26, 2014, peacefully at her home in Swiss Cottage.
She played the sweet Honeyduke’s Express lady who provides the kids with sweets on their journey to Hogwarts at the start of every term.
At the age of 92, Margerywas the second woman to be cast for the role after she replaced Jean Southern as the Honeydukes’ trolley witch.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
