The Harry Potter universe is one of the most treasured creations in the world.

Whether in film or the books written by JK Rowling, the stories resonate with people due to their originality, excitement and characters.

On the big screen, the film series became an overwhelming success, which was partly down to the talent of those bringing the novels’ characters to life.

Sadly, as time has passed – with the last Potter film released more than a decade ago – some stars of the films are no longer with us.

Dame Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall)

Maggie Smith has died (Warner Bros)

Legendary British actress Dame Maggie Smith played the iconic role of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter universe.

Starring in seven of the eight films in the original run of films, the only film she didn’t appear in was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.

Dame Maggie’s death was announced on 27 September, 2024.

Her sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, said: “An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”

Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore)

Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore (Warner Bros)

The legendary British actor starred as headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films.

He died after the second film, The Chamber of Secrets, and was replaced in the role by Michael Gambon from The Prisoner of Azkaban onwards.

He died on 25 October, 2002, aged 72.

Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore)

Gambon as Dumbledore (Warner Bros)

As we just mentioned, Gambon took over from Richard Harris following his death.

He made the role his own after inheriting the role of the character that was so important to both the books and films.

Gambon died on 27 September last year at the age of 82.

Elizabeth Spriggs (The Fat Lady)

Elizabeth Spriggs as The Fat Lady (Warner Bros)

Spriggs appeared in just the first film in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which was released back in 2001.

A stage and film actress spanning more than half a century, she played the role of The Fat Lady.

This was a living portrait within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, guarding the Gryffindor common room.

Dawn French took over the role following her death.

Spriggs died on 2 July 2008, aged 78.

Timothy Bateson (Kreacher)

Timothy Bateson played Kreacher in Order of Phoenix (Warner Bros)

Bateson played the other house elf in the series. Not Dobby, but Kreacher.

Providing his voice for the role in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, it was his last work before he died on 15 September 2009, aged 83.

Kreacher appeared in Deathly Hallows – Part One where he was voiced by Simon McBurney.

Jimmy Gardner (Ernie Prang)

Jimmy Gardner as Ernie Prang (Warner Bros)

“Take her away Ern, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!”

A classic line from the third film in the series, Gardner starred as the driver of the magic Knight Bus.

His only footage in the film shows him erratically driving the vehicle, transporting Harry Potter to the Leaky Cauldron.

Gardner died on 3 May, 2010.

Robert Knox (Marcus Belby)

Robert Knox was murdered before he could feature in anymore movies (Warner Bros)

Rob Knox appeared in just one film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

He was meant to then show up in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part One but died before filming took place, having signed his contract for the film.

Knox was tragically murdered in a stabbing outside a London bar in May 2008, intervening in a fight that involved his brother.

The man who fatally stabbed Knox, Karl Norman Bishop, was given life in prison for the heinous crime. Knox was just 18 at the time of his death on 24 May, 2008.

Alfred Burke (Armando Dippet)

Alfred Burke as Armando Dippet (Warner Bros)

Burke starred as Armando Dippet in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

He appeared in flashback footage as headmaster of Hogwarts when Dumbledore was a student in the wizarding school.

Burke died at the age of 92 in February 2011.

Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley)

Richard Griffiths (Jemal Countess/WireImage for Tony Awards Productions)

An iconic role in the first few Potter films, Griffiths played Harry’s Uncle Vernon who took in the orphan after the death of his parents at the hands of Voldemort.

A hugely respected actor, Griffiths was also well known for roles in Chariots of Fire and The History Boys.

He died in 28 March, 2013.

Eric Sykes (Frank Bryce)

Eric Sykes played the gardener, Frank Bryce, who was struck down by Wormtail (TV Times / Getty Images)

Starring as Muggle Frank Bryce, Sykes played the role of gardener for the paternal grandparents of Voldemort.

His character is killed in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire after overhearing a conversation between Voldemort and his snake, Nagini, in the dilapidated house that used to be home to the Riddle family.

Sykes died on 4 July, 2012.

Roger Lloyd Pack (Barty Crouch Senior)

Roger Lloyd Pack was best known for his role as Trigger in Only Fools and Horses, but made a lasting impression on the HP franchise (Martin Doyle/FilmMagic)

Known throughout the UK for his time on Only Fools and Horses in the role of Trigger, Lloyd Pack moved into the Harry Potter universe in the role of influential Ministry of Magic official Barty Crouch Senior.

He died in 15 January, 2014.

Peter Cartwright (Elphias Doge)

Cartwright played the role of wizard Elphias Doge, who was a member of the Order of the Phoenix.

He starred in Order of the Phoenix where he helped escort Harry to Grimmauld Place.

Passing away on 18 November, 2013, he was replaced in later films by David Ryall.

David Ryall (Elphias Doge)

Ryall, who replaced Cartwright, also sadly died.

He started in Deathly Hallows – Part One in the role of Doge.

He died on 25 December, 2014.

Derek Deadman (Tom from The Leaky Cauldron)

Deadman starred as a character known only as Tom; a British wizard who was the landlord, innkeeper, and barman of every wizard’s favourite pub, The Leaky Cauldron.

He died from complications of diabetes on 22 November, 2014, after retiring to France.

Dave Legeno (Fenrir Greyback)

Dave Legeno as Fenrir Greyback (Warner Bros)

A terrifying character, Legeno played Fenrir Greyback – a werewolf and Death Eater who had a fixation on attacking unsuspecting children.

Legeno was found dead by hikers in Death Valley, California in July 2014.

He starred in three Potter films.

Alan Rickman (Severus Snape)

Alan Rickman was the perfect actor to play Snape (Warner Bros)

Up there as one of the most iconic faces in the entire Potter universe, Rickman starred in every film as Severus Snape.

Snape was a teacher at Hogwarts before becoming headmaster following the death of Dumbledore in the books and films.

He died in January 2016 following on from a terminal cancer diagnosis that he had chosen not to make public.

Terence Bayler (The Bloody Baron)

Bayler played the mischievous ghost The Bloody Baron in the first Potter film.

The Kiwi actor played the role of the ghoul and is seen in the first film flying through the school.

He died on 2 August, 2016.

Hazel Douglas (Bathilda Bagshot)

Hazel Douglas as Bathilda Bagshot (Warner Bros)

Douglas starred in Deathly Hallows – Part One in the role of magic historian Bathilda Bagshot.

Bagshot was a well known author of A History of Magic.

In the film, she is murdered off-screen before appearing as a reanimated corpse containing Voldemort’s snake, Nagini.

Douglas passed away on 8 September, 2016.

Sam Beazley (Professor Everard)

Appearing in just Order of the Phoenix, Beazley played Professor Everard, a former Hogwarts headmaster who appeared in a moving painting.

He died aged 101 on 12 June, 2017.

Robert Hardy (Cornelius Fudge)

Robert Hardy (Dave Hogan / Getty Images)

Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge was portrayed in the Harry Potter films by Robert Hardy CBE.

He died on 3 August, 2017.

John Hurt (Garrick Ollivander)

John Hurt as Ollivander (Warner Bros)

A global legend of TV and film, Hurt made his name in numerous productions for decades before starring in the wizarding films.

He appeared in four films as Mr Ollivander, a wand-maker who ran a shop in Diagon Alley.

Hurt died on 25 January, 2017.

Verne Troyer (Griphook)

Verne Troyer (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

Verne Troyer was arguably most famous for playing Mini Me in the Austin Powers films.

He also starred as Griphook in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone before being replaced by Warwick Davies.

Troyer died on 21 April, 2018.

Paul Ritter (Eldred Worple)

Paul Ritter (Dave J Hogan / Getty Images)

Starring in just Half-Blood Prince, Ritter starred as wizard Eldred Worple.

Arguable though he is better known for his iconic role on Friday Night Dinner as well as Chernobyl.

Ritter sadly died from a brain tumour on 5 April, 2021.

Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy)

(Jon Furniss / Getty Images)

Like Ritter, McCrory is probably better known for her work elsewhere after starring as Polly in Peaky Blinders.

In Potter she starred as Draco Malfoy’s mother, Narcissa.

She sadly died on 16 April, 2021.

Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid)

Hagrid (Warner Bros)

Coltrane starred as Hogwarts groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid, best friend to headmaster Albus Dumbledore and a close mentor to Harry Potter.

The legendary Scot tragically died on 14 October 2022.

Leslie Phillips (The Sorting Hat)

Leslie Phillips (Radio Times / Getty Images)

As well as voicing The Sorting Hat in a number of Harry Potter movies, Phillips was well known for featuring in the Carry On films and the Grandad from the Parent Trap starring Lindsay Lohan.

After a long-running and successful acting career, he died on 7 November 2022.

His wife Zara described him as a ‘wonderful husband and national treasure’.

Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros

Topics: Books, Entertainment, Film, Harry Potter, JK Rowling, TV and Film, Health, Celebrity, Daniel Radcliffe

Beloved actress Dame Maggie Smith has died at the age of 89.

In a statement issued via their publicist, her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens said: “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.

“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.

“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.

Maggie Smith has passed away aged 89 (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.

“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”

The legendary actress was perhaps most well known for her role as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter – heartbreakingly, she has become the 26th cast member to have died since the movies first became so loved all the way back in 2001.

Smith was also a beloved name throughout her entire career, with her being well known for her time on Downton Abbey and Sister Act.

Tributes have begun pouring in from fans online, devastated by the death of the beloved actor.

rip to one of the greatest, maggie smith, may you continue to be cutthroat wherever you may be pic.twitter.com/MVyEUpRd37

— amy elouise (@foxgrove_) September 27, 2024

James Crooks, a film journalist, posted on Twitter saying: “An absolutely fantastic actress whose presence will be missed. So influential to British television and film too, what a shame.”

Gyles Brandreth posted a picture of the pair and said: “The saddest news: the death of Dame Maggie Smith marks the end of a golden era & a quite extraordinary life.

“She was a truly great actress, “one of the greats” & simply the best company: wise, witty, waspish, wonderful.

“One of a kind in every way & consequently irreplaceable.”

Another account posted on Twitter and said: “One of those news you think you’ll never hear because in your heart they’re just immortal.

“Rest in peace, Dame Maggie Smith. You’ll be deeply missed.”

Will always remember this as one of Maggie Smith’s most iconic scenes ❤️ #MaggieSmith #HarryPotter

pic.twitter.com/BXheUHvVbo

— Jack Proverbs (@JackProverbsPR) September 27, 2024

One fan posted on Twitter to say: “Heartbreaking news. An iconic actress that will be dearly missed.”

Another pointed to her role in Harry Potter, saying: “Will always remember this as one of Maggie Smith’s most iconic scenes”.

Smith’s role as Minerva McGonagall was an iconic one, with Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe crediting her for getting him the role.

He said in 2011: “Well she got me the job at Potter, practically, so for anyone who doesn’t know that story, I basically owe everything to Maggie Smith because I worked with her on David Copperfield and then she came over to Potter as McGonagall and said to the director, you need to audition this boy.”

Featured Image Credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage/Getty Images/Warner Bros.