For anyone who grew up with ‘Harry Potter,’ the cast never felt like “just actors”. They were the faces we welcomed into our living rooms year after year, and made Hogwarts feel almost real.
And, even though we have lost some of the gems along the way, remembering each of them feels like finding a piece of our childhood. Let’s take a look at some of the ‘Harry Potter’ stars we have lost along the way.
1. Maggie Smith
There was something unforgettable about Maggie Smith’s McGonagall in ‘Harry Potter‘ that only she could pull off. She passed away on September 27, 2024, at 89, with her family saying she died peacefully surrounded by loved ones. With over 50 films to her name, including her iconic role as Violet Crawley in ‘Downton Abbey,’ she has had a career most actors can only dream of.
Related: 5 Times Minerva McGonagall Proved She Was The Greatest ‘Harry Potter’ Character
2. Richard Harris
Before anyone else wore the robes, Richard Harris introduced us to a gentle, kind, book-accurate Dumbledore that hooked fans from the start. He died in 2002 at age 72 after battling Hodgkin’s disease and passed away at University College London Hospital. Even though he appeared in just the first two movies, his soft, grandfatherly take on the headmaster left such a strong impression that many fans still see him as the truest version of the character.
3. Michael Gambon
Dumbledore took on a whole new energy when Michael Gambon stepped into the role in Prisoner of Azkaban. In fact, many fans grew up knowing him as the only Dumbledore. He died in September 2023 at age 82 after pneumonia, and his family shared that he passed peacefully in the hospital with his wife, Anne, and son, Fergus, beside him. He had a long, respected career, but Potter fans especially remember the mystery, humour, and authority he gave Dumbledore.
4. Alan Rickman
Snape wouldn’t be the character we obsess over today without Alan Rickman; he made every line and every reveal hit so differently. He died in 2016 at age 69 after a private battle with pancreatic cancer, with close friends and family by his side. Emma Watson shared how heartbroken she felt when he passed and said she remembered how warm and thoughtful he always was during their conversations.
5. Robbie Coltrane
We all could feel Robbie Coltrane’s heart in every Hagrid scene; he made the character feel like a friend you’d actually want in your life. Robbie passed away in October 2022 at 72. Earlier that same year, in the Return to Hogwarts special, he got emotional and said something fans still talk about: that he wouldn’t be here forever, but Hagrid would live on for generations.
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6. Helen McCroy
Narcissa Malfoy became more than just a “Death Eater’s wife” because Helen McCrory played her with elegance, fear, and protective love that felt real. She died in April 2021 at the age of 52 from cancer at her home in London. Her husband, Damian Lewis, shared a deeply emotional tribute saying she was brave, brilliant, and surrounded by love, and that she filled their lives with bright energy and strength.
7. Robert Hardy
It wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea to capture the frustrating stubbornness of Cornelius Fudge, but Robert Hardy did. You could practically feel your blood pressure rising every time he denied the truth. He passed away in 2017 at 91, and his family described his long career as “tremendous,” spanning more than 70 years in theatre, television, and film.
8. Elizabeth Spriggs
The very first Fat Lady we ever saw came to life thanks to Elizabeth Spriggs. She died in 2008 at age 78, leaving behind a long theatre legacy with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. Even with limited screen time, her over-the-top flair instantly made an impression on the fans and made Gryffindor Tower’s entrance one of the most memorable ones.
Related: 10 ‘Harry Potter’ Characters Who Led The Most Tragic Lives
9. Hazel Douglas
One of the creepiest scenes in the entire series wouldn’t have been the same without Hazel Douglas as Bathilda Bagshot in Deathly Hallows: Part 1. She passed away in 2016 at age 92. Despite being in her late 80s during filming, she brought an intensity to that scene that fans still mention today.
10. Dave Legeno
Fenrir Greyback might have terrified us on-screen, but Dave Legeno, the man behind the vicious werewolf, brought a level of intensity that made the character unforgettable. He died in 2014 at just 50 after suffering heatstroke while hiking in California’s Death Valley. Hikers discovered his body in a remote area, and authorities later confirmed there was no foul play involved.
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