Maggie Smith's Death Marks the 27th Passing of "Harry Potter" Actors

On Sept. 27, 2024, the world lost actress Maggie Smith, famous for not only her roles in “Downton Abbey” and “Death on the Nile,” but also for her role of Professor McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” movies. This marks the 27th actor from the series that has passed away since the movies began in 2001. Undoubtedly, this loss has affected fans and the three leads of the movies: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. 

Watson, who played Hermoine Granger in the series, paid her respects to Smith and said, “She was real, honest, and self-honouring. Maggie, there were a lot of male professors and by God you held your own.” Watson, a very outspoken feminist, ties this aspect of her nature into her message to Smith. Additionally, Grint, who played Ron Weasley, said, “I feel incredibly lucky to have shared a set with her and particularly lucky to have shared a dance. I’ll miss you Maggie.”

Smith’s death also marked roughly one year since the passing of Michael Gambon, who played Professor Dumbledore in the last six movies. Other notable actors who have passed include Richard Harris (first Dumbledore), Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley), Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), and Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid). 

While many of these deaths were attributed to factors associated with old age, one actor, Robert Knox, died tragically at the age of 18 years old. Knox was tragically stabbed to death after intervening in a fight to save his younger brother. Knox appeared as Marcus Belby in “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,” and had signed to appear in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” before his passing. 

The incredible performances of many actors over the years caused the “Harry Potter” series to rise to fame over the years. With seven of the eight main series movies being in the top 100 highest grossing movies of all time, it is hard to deny the success of the series. The deaths of so many of the contributors to these films make them hard to watch for many, but the nostalgic nature of the movies lets many fans remember and appreciate the time and effort people put into making them. 

Sources: People Magazine, Instagram, Box Office Mojo