In Memoriam: Harry Potter Cast Members Lost Over Time

The passing of Harry Potter cast members prompts fans to raise their wands in tribute. These actors shaped our childhoods, and to honor them, we list the Harry Potter stars we’ve lost.

Chronological Losses of Harry Potter Cast Members

Since the first Harry Potter film debuted in 2001, over two decades have passed, bringing us to Hogwarts’ magical world. Sadly, this time has also seen the loss of many actors who brought that world to life.

Richard Harris – Original Dumbledore

Harris, who portrayed Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films, succumbed to Hodgkin’s Disease in 2002 at age 72.

Robert Knox – Marcus Belby

Knox played Marcus Belby, a Slug Club member, in The Half-Blood Prince. Tragically, he was fatally stabbed in 2008 at just 18. His minor role was not recast for later films.

Elizabeth Spriggs – Original Fat Lady

Spriggs brought the Gryffindor Tower guardian, the Fat Lady, to life. Her role was recast for The Prisoner of Azkaban with a new look for the portrait. She passed away in 2008 at 78.

Timothy Bateson – Kreacher

Bateson voiced Kreacher, the Black family house-elf, in The Order of the Phoenix. He died in 2009 at 83, before the series ended. Simon McBurney took over the role for later Harry Potter films.

Jimmy Gardner – Knight Bus Driver Ernie

Gardner’s brief but memorable role as the Knight Bus driver Ernie in Prisoner of Azkaban featured his iconic big glasses and wild driving. He passed away in 2010 at 85.

Alfred Burke – Armando Dippet

Burke played former Hogwarts headmaster Armando Dippet in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. He passed away in 2011 at age 92.

Richard Griffiths – Uncle Vernon Dursley

Griffiths, known for the iconic “No post on Sundays” line as Vernon Dursley in all Harry Potter films, died in 2013 from heart surgery complications at age 65.

Peter Cartwright – Original Elphias Doge

Cartwright played Elphias Doge, an Order of the Phoenix member, in Order of the Phoenix. He passed away in 2013 at 78, before The Deathly Hallows: Part I, leading to the role being recast.

Dave Legeno – Fenrir Greyback

Legeno portrayed the fearsome werewolf Fenrir Greyback. He died of heatstroke while hiking in 2014 at age 50.

Derek Deadman – Original Leaky Cauldron Landlord Tom

Deadman played Tom, the Leaky Cauldron’s landlord, in the first Harry Potter film. He died in 2014 from diabetes complications, and the role was recast for later films.

David Ryall – Elphias Doge (Deathly Hallows)

Ryall took on the role of Elphias Doge in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. He passed away in 2014 at 79.

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Alan Rickman – Professor Severus Snape

Rickman portrayed the complex Severus Snape across all eight Harry Potter films. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2016 at age 69.

Terence Bayler – The Bloody Baron

Bayler played the eerie Slytherin ghost, the Bloody Baron. He passed away in 2016 at age 86.

Hazel Douglas – Bathilda Bagshot

Douglas portrayed A History of Magic author Bathilda Bagshot in The Deathly Hallows: Part I. She died in 2016 at 92.

John Hurt – Ollivander

Sir John Hurt brought wandmaker Ollivander to life in the Harry Potter films. He passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2017, shortly after turning 77.

Sam Beazley – Portrait of Professor Everard

Beazley played Professor Everard’s portrait, briefly seen in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. He passed away in 2017 at age 101.

Robert Hardy – Cornelius Fudge

Hardy portrayed the bumbling Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. He died in 2017 at age 91.

Verne Troyer – Griphook

Troyer played Griphook the goblin in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, with Warwick Davis providing the voice. Davis later took over the role after Troyer’s death in 2018 from alcohol intoxication complications, ruled a suicide.

Paul Ritter – Eldred Worple

Ritter played Eldred Worple, a minor character and former student of Horace Slughorn, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. He died of a brain tumor in 2021 at 54.

Helen McCrory – Narcissa Malfoy

McCrory portrayed Draco’s mother, Narcissa Malfoy. She succumbed to cancer in 2021 at age 52.

Robbie Coltrane – Hagrid

Coltrane brought the beloved half-giant Hagrid to life in all eight Harry Potter films. He died of organ failure in 2022 at age 72.

Leslie Phillips – The Sorting Hat

Phillips lent his voice to the Sorting Hat at Hogwarts, never appearing on screen. He passed away in 2022 at age 98.

Michael Gambon – Dumbledore (Prisoner of Azkaban onwards)

Sir Michael Gambon took over as Professor Albus Dumbledore from the third Harry Potter film. He died of pneumonia in 2023 at age 82.

Maggie Smith – Professor McGonagall

Dame Maggie Smith portrayed Professor McGonagall in all eight Harry Potter films. She passed away in September 2024 at age 89.

Simon Fisher-Becker – Fat Friar

Fisher-Becker played the Fat Friar, a Hogwarts ghost, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. He passed away in March 2025 at age 63.

This lists all Harry Potter cast deaths in chronological order.

The Harry Potter movies are streaming now on Peacock.

This article was updated on 3/10/2025 by Escapist Editorial to include an additional Harry Potter cast member.