The Wizarding World has been enchanting us for decades. First, as a book series that captured
our imagination, then as a movie franchise, having so many loveable and complex characters, so many
unique creatures, rituals, and traditions. They helped us learn how powerful love actually is,
and they keep us coming back time and time again. As heartbreaking as it is, the brilliant actors
who starred in the films have been plagued by tragedy over the years.
So many lives cut short. From being horrifically murdered to health scares and succumbing to the
elements. With two Harry Potter cast members tragically dying this month, let’s take a look at
the souls we lost so prematurely. And don’t forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell for
more stories that make you feel all the feelings. Recently, the world was shaken by the untimely
death of Helen McCrory, who graced us with her presence as the Voldemort ally Narcissa Malfoy.
Her husband and fellow actor Damian Lewis confirmed her passing on Twitter,
saying she went “peacefully at home” after a “heroic battle with cancer.”
Dying at the age of 52, she has been remembered in numerous tributes from fans and colleagues
alike. The most personal and candid story came from her husband, who revealed that his late
wife was rather frank and had quite a sense of humor when preparing her family for her death.
She told him to have lots of girlfriends, to love again, that all of them should love
again as love isn’t possessive, quote, “but you know, Damian, try at least to get through the
funeral without snogging someone.” She also added that she lived the life she wanted to.
To be as frank as Helen McCrory was in life is to send the ultimate message about living on
your own terms. When the Covid-19 hit, adding to her struggles, the actor not
only didn’t lose her grip, she founded a non-profit campaign with her hubby Damian,
comedian Matt Lucas and restaurant owner John Vincent to raise money to feed NHS workers.
McCrory’s death is a mournful occasion, but as her husband has proven in the tribute to the
woman he loved, there’s a lot of happiness to remember in this time of great sadness.
This woman indeed was a treasure. You wouldn’t believe what has happened just days
before that. How jarring is the fact that we also lost her fellow Harry Potter actor Paul Ritter?
The beloved British star played a wizard writer who offered to pen Harry’s biography for him.
He passed away on April 5 after battling a brain tumour, saddening his family, friends and fans.
The actor was just 54 at the time of his death. The actor’s agent said that Paul was an
exceptionally talented actor playing various roles on stage and screen with extraordinary skill.
“He was fiercely intelligent, kind and very funny. We will miss him greatly,” he added.
Indeed, any loss is a great loss. But when it comes up sneakily and takes away
a young life that’s barely started, it’s so much more heart-wrenching.
Robert Knox was just 18 when he died under tragic circumstances. Well before his time.
The young star was fatally stabbed in South East London while reportedly stepping into a fight to
protect his brother. Knox was with four friends at the time, who were all seriously injured.
One was left with permanent spine damage. Just a handful of days before his death,
Knox 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 Marcus Belby;
a Ravenclaw recruited to Professor Slughorn’s Slug Club because of his famous father.
Rob was also signed to star in the following film. They later dedicated the premiere to him with
David Yates, the director, reflecting on Knox’s tragic death, “He came in and wanted to do
brilliant work, he put his heart and soul into it, and you just think ‘what a terrible waste.”
His remorseless killer, Karl Bishop, ended up serving a life sentence for the crime,
but, understandably, the tragedy left a massive hole in the Harry Potter world and beyond.
As we all know, Voldemort has plenty of bad guys under his thumb, one of whom is
the dangerous werewolf Fenrir Greyback. Dave Legeno was definitely up to the task, being a
trained MMA fighter and having the ability to look terrifying without the nuances from the source.
No matter how prepared we might think we are, nature tends to win. Legeno died in tragic
circumstances at the age of just 50 while hiking in Death Valley. Due to the area being so remote,
a helicopter had to be called to retrieve his remains, and an inquest found that he died of
heat-related issues and may have been dead for three to four days before his body was discovered.
Luckily, even though it’s hard to say the actor was lucky, no foul play was suspected behind his
death. Though, this is our reminder that Death Valley temperatures can get up to 120 degrees
Fahrenheit. We must proceed with caution and tell someone where and when we’re going.
Suppose we think about heroes and villains alike. Who is the best representation?
Who was able to fool us for so long? An acclaimed actor, a genuine Hollywood
A-lister, immediately identifiable thanks to his purring voice and delightful delivery,
Alan Rickman was the perfect choice to play the mysterious and enigmatic, seemingly villainous
teacher, Snape. Rickman played one of the series’ most complex characters perfectly
right up until his emotional death, making the actor’s untimely passing that much harder.
Four years after filming wrapped, Alan was struck by tragedy when diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
He died just weeks before his 70th birthday, and fans, fellow actors, and co-stars alike
paid their tributes, from heartfelt messages to shrines at important Potter-related sites.
Daniel Radcliffe shared a tribute on Twitter. “As an actor, he was one of the first of the
adults ... to treat me like a peer rather than a child,” he wrote. “I will carry the lessons he
taught me for the rest of my life and career.” Many people believed the British actor’s death
was part of a “curse” after several iconic stars like Muhammad Ali, Prince,
David Bowie, and Harper Lee died in 2016. This January, fans have been fondly
remembering the actor on the fifth anniversary of his death. “We raise
our wands to you, Alan Rickman. Always.” When John Hurt died, the world was robbed
of one of the greats — the finest actor of all time, paraphrasing another great one, David Lynch.
The actor played our beloved wandmaker, and such was his class that a minor role like Ollivander,
became completely compelling in his hands. Four years after the last time he appeared
on the franchise, Hurt confirmed he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Tragically, the star said that the medical team treating him was “more than optimistic about a
satisfactory outcome”. Following treatment, the actor stated that his cancer was in remission.
Sadly, he died two years later at his home, just three days after his 77th birthday.
Hurt’s wife described him as a man known for bringing “joy and magic” to those around him,
a very fitting description given his role in the wizarding world.
Harry Potter faces plenty of hardship throughout his life,
especially with a trio of extended family members with whom Harry spends a miserable childhood.
Uncle Vernon may be one of the most despised characters within the series,
but the role was brought to life by the beloved actor Richard Griffiths.
He sadly died at the age of 65 after suffering complications from heart
surgery and was remembered by many as a wonderful man with talent beyond measure.
Besides Harry Potter, Griffiths teamed up with Daniel Radcliffe to appear on London’s West End
and Broadway; unfortunately, their working relationship ended far too soon.
After losing his friend and co-star, Radcliffe led a touching tribute to the legendary actor,
saying he was “proud” to say he knew him. “Before official production had even begun
on Potter, we filmed a shot outside the Dursleys’, which was my first ever shot
as Harry. I was nervous, and he made me feel at ease,” Radcliffe said.
With the next one, we are painfully familiar for almost 20 years.
The world of magic wouldn’t be nearly the place it is without the headmaster of Hogwarts.
Dumbledore serves as Harry’s father figure, sharing his boundless wisdom with the boy
wonder as he gets older, and, of course, he delivers some of the best one-liners.
Dumbledore doesn’t lose his life until the sixth film, but unfortunately,
audiences lost the first Dumbledore after only the second one. Richard Harris died
after fighting an aggressive form of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is essentially a blood cancer.
Chris Columbus, the director behind the first two films, said in a press conference
just hours before he died that the actor had every intention of returning despite his illness.
“He did threaten to kill me if I recast [Dumbledore],” Columbus said.
“I cannot even repeat what he said. He still has got that fight inside of him.”
Even in death, he shaped the franchise. According to Sir Ian McKellen,
Harris had been so vocal about his disdain for his acting ability that when the studio approached
him to follow the actor as Dumbledore, he flatly refused. Somehow, it just didn’t seem fair to him.
Harris’ legacy lives on through his sons — one of whom is the actor Jared Harris,
who starred in the acclaimed drama series Chernobyl alongside the late Paul Ritter.
Before we say goodbye till the next video, we’d like to remember a few more tragically lost souls.
Rick Mayall played the rather irritating but friendly ghost Peeves,
who wandered the halls of Hogwarts. The actor suffered a sudden heart attack after returning
home from a morning run. He was only 56. Roger Lloyd-Pack, the iconic actor who
played Barty Crouch Sr., and a veteran actor Peter Cartwright, who played the
Order of The Phoenix member Elphias Doge, died following their battles with cancer.
Verne Troyer battled alcoholism and depression for many years. Sadly,
he was defeated when he was just 49. Derek Deadman passed away in 2014
from complications from diabetes, leaving the Leaky Cauldron permanently unmanned.
Margery Mason played the lady who provides the kids with sweets on their journey to
Hogwarts at 92. She went on to live eight more years and died aged 100.
We wish the rest of the cast at least to get close to this number and enjoy their lives’ journeys.
You know how we must end this, right? They will continue to live on as characters for
as long as fans have love in their hearts. That is to say, always.