This Friday (14/10) “Harry Potter” fans greeted one of the franchise’s most beloved performers: Robbie Coltrane, who brought Hagrid’s character to life in every film of the little wizard, who died at the age of 72.
Although the Warner production is best remembered for its young cast, the majority of the cast was made up of veteran actors and Coltrane is just the latest loss among them.
Some of the major names in the franchise, which ended in theaters 11 years ago, are no longer alive. Remember below the actors who materialized famous characters and also the supporting actors who left their memories immortalized in the eight Harry Potter films.
| RICHARD HARRIS |
Although actor Michael Gambon has played the character of Albus Dumbledore longer, it was Richard Harris who first brought the famous wizard to life. He was also the first main cast member to die while the franchise was still ongoing.
Harris played the principal of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the franchise’s first two films, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001) and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” (2002).
He retired after being diagnosed with lymphatic cancer and died in October 2002 at the age of 72.
| ALAN RICKMAN |
Alan Rickman played Severus Snape with all the ambiguity the character deserved and needed throughout the eight films.
Throughout his career, Rickman presented Snape as a menacing presence, a tough teacher and even a villain, to reveal him, surprisingly, in his ultimate sacrifice as the true secret hero of the story.
Rickman died of cancer in January 2016 at the age of 69. It was recently announced that his memoir will be published in book form.
In the diary, Rickman says he nearly abandoned the “Harry Potter” franchise, but eventually learned to appreciate his work in the movies.
| ROBBIE COLTRANE |
Died this Friday (14/10), at the age of 72, Robbie Coltrane played Hagrid in all eight films in the franchise, as well as voicing the character in some short films.
With his innocence and lanky ways, Hagrid is a half-giant who works as a gamekeeper at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and who was one of the title character’s main allies in his battle against Voldemort.
Robbie Coltrane had been ill for two years, but still attended the “Harry Potter” reunion, produced by HBO streaming service Max. His speech at the end of the special was foreboding.
“The legacy of movies is that my children’s generation will show them to their children. So you could watch movies in 50 years, easily,” he said. “I won’t be there, unfortunately. But Hagrid will be there,” she added.
| RICHARD GRIFFITHS |
Richard Griffiths played Valter Dursley, Harry Potter’s uncle who disapproved of the use of magic and turned the protagonist’s life into hell while spoiling his son Dudley too much.
It was usually seen at the beginning of the movies, when Harry Potter was still living with the Dursleys, before leaving for another school year at Hogwarts.
Griffiths experienced the character in a deliberately caricatured way, and in his moments of anger he was so red that he looked like he was about to explode.
The actor died in March 2013, due to complications from coronary surgery.
| JOHN MALE |
Award-winning John Hurt made little appearance in the “Harry Potter” franchise, but his involvement was essential. In the role of Garrick Ollivander, it was he who sold the first wand to the young wizard, in “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (2001).
Subsequently, he was absent from the franchise until the end, being seen again briefly in the films “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” (2010) and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” (2011).
John Hurt died in January 2017, aged 77, of pancreatic cancer.
| VERNE TROYER |
Comedy fans may remember Verne Troyer as the Mini-Me villain in the 1999 and 2002 “Austin Powers” films. However, Troyer also appeared in “Harry Potter”. With heavy makeup, he played Griphook, a Gringotts bank employee, in the movie “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (2001).
The actor, known as one of the shortest men in the world (81 centimeters), committed suicide in April 2018 at the age of 49.
| HELEN MCCRORY |
Known for playing the character Narcissa Malfoy, Draco Molfoy’s mother, in a few films in the franchise, McCrory almost played the villain Bellatrix Lestrange, but stepped down from the role after discovering she was pregnant.
Thus, he was able to debut in the franchise only after the birth of his second child, in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (2009).
She also appeared in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” (2010) and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” (2011), and is also known for playing Aunt Polly from “Peaky Blinders”.
McCrory died in April 2021, aged 52, of cancer.
| ROGER LLOYD-PACK |
Roger Lloyd-Pack played the role of Minister of Magic Barty Crouch in the movie “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (2005).
Although his participation in the franchise was small, it was essential. In a thrilling flashback scene, Crouch has his son arrested after discovering he has allied himself with the forces of darkness.
The actor died of pancreatic cancer in January 2014, at the age of 69.
| DAVE LEGENE |
You may not recognize Dave Legeno’s name, but you will certainly remember his role in the franchise, the werewolf Fenrir Greyback, who drew attention for his dark appearance.
He has appeared in the last three films of the saga, as well as having lent his voice to the games based on the films.
Legeno died in July 2014, at the age of 50. His body was found in a region known as Death Valley in California’s Mojave Desert. It is possible that the cause of death was heat stroke and dehydration.
| ROBERT KNOX |
Robert Knox played the character of Marcus Belby, a Ravenclaw student, in the film “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (2009).
He was killed even before the film was released in 2008, at the age of 18, by a boy who showed up at a bar door carrying two knives and threatened people drinking on the sidewalk.
Belby tragically died while trying to defend his younger brother.
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Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
