Maggie Smith: A Biography by Michael Coveney

Most people know this lovely actress as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series. Or if they watch the program Downton Abbey, they will know her at Violet Crawley

-Maggie Smith was born Margaret Natalie Smith on 12/28/1934 in the city of Ilford, in the United Kingdom. Her father worked as a professor at Oxford University while her mother was a secretary. Her mother ran a strict household. As Smith grew up, she wanted to become an actress. Her first official film debut came in 1956 in A Child in the House. Most of the work she had done before film acting had been plays in the West End

-As time went on, she acted in more and more films. The film that would bring fame to her name is The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. After that, she appeared in more and more films. Nowadays, in addition to being known as the stern head of Gryffindor House, Professor Minerva McGonagall in the hugely successful Harry Potter series, she's also known as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham on Downton Abbey

Harry Potter

Downtown Abbey

-She was married twice. Once to a man named Robert Stephens, an actor and the other time to a man named Beverley Cross, who worked as a playwright. When she was married to Stephens, she had two children, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, who are now actors as well

-Overall, she was a very private person who stayed out of the limelight unless she was acting

Filmography

27 Cast Members of Harry Potter Who Have Passed Away

It's all over the news. Dame Maggie Smith, best known for playing Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, has passed away peacefully at the age of 89. According to MSN.com writer Sinead Butler, Greg Evans and Jake Brigstock, here are 27 actors and actresses from the Harry Potter films who have passed away

Even when I watch these films now, I get sad seeing all of the people who have passed. It's saddening and heartbreaking. Of course, my mother thinks I'm every bit as crazy as I look, doing the sign of the cross every time someone who I know has passed away comes up. But I do that out of respect. It's sad to know these actors and actresses are gone, no matter how big or small a role they played in the Harry Potter films

By the way, some of the dates of birth and death are listed as incorrect on this site. I have looked up the dates of birth and death and ensured they are entered correctly here.

1. Dame Maggie Smith (12/28/1934-9/27/2024)

-Professor Minerva McGonagall

-She taught Transfiguration, was the head of Gryffindor House and she was the first female role and only the second character to be introduced in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer''s Stone (In Europe, it was titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)

2. Michael Gambon (10/19/1940-9/27/2023)

-Professor Albus Dumbledore

-He took the role of the head of Hogwarts from Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban to the final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2. He took over the role from Richard Harris. Sometimes, when you hear Gambon's version of Dumbledore speak, you can hear his Irish accent

3. Richard Harris (10/1/1930-10/25/2002)

-Character: Professor Albus Dumbledore

-Richard Harris played the iconic Professor Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He appeared in the first two films of the highly successful Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. When he passed, Michael Gambon took on the iconic role

4. Robert Knox (8/21/1989-5/24/2008)

-Character: Marcus Belby

-He starred in the sixth film of the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. He was stabbed to death outside a bar in London while trying to protect his brother from a fight. He was only 18 years old

5. Elizabeth Spriggs (9/18/1929-7/2/2008)

-Character: The Fat Lady

-Acting as the guardian to Gryffindor House, she appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (In the US, it was titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone). After her passing, comedian Dawn French took over the role, starting off in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

6. Timothy Bateson (4/3/1926-9/15/2009)

-Character: Kreacher

-Appearing in the fifth film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Timothy Bateson played the house elf Kreacher, who lived in the house that once belonged to Sirius Black. His voice was used as the voice for Kreacher

7. Jimmy Gardner (8/24/1924-5/3/2010)

-Character: Ernie Prang

-This actor was also a veteran of the military. He served in the Royal Air Force during WWII and chose to pursue acting in the 1960s. He came to the knowledge of the younger crowds when he appeared in the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where he played Ernie Prang, the driver of the violently purple Knight Bus

8. Alfred Burke (2/28/1918-2/16/2011)

-Character: Armando Dippet

-In the second film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry opens a magical diary that transports him back into Hogwarts 50 years before his time. That was when a wizard named Armando Dippet was headmaster. Alfred Burke was also known for the role of Frank Marker in the television program Public Eye

9. Eric Sykes (5/4/1923-7/4/2012)

-Character: Frank Bryce

-Eric Sykes appeared in the fourth film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. He played a Muggle (non-magical person) named Frank Bryce, who acted as caretaker for the Riddle family home. He was the prime suspect when it was discovered the Riddle family was murdered, but he was innocent. In the fourth film, he discovers Lord Voldemort plotting something dangerous and, as a result, is killed

10. Richard Griffiths (7/31/1947-3/28/2013)

-Character: Vernon Dursley

-This veteran British actor has held a wide array of roles over the years, including Chariots of Fire, Sleepy Hollow, The History Boys and, most notably, the Harry Potter series. He played Harry's uncle Vernon Dursley. He certainly made the role of Harry's uncle iconic, showing a disdain for his nephew and all things related to magic

11. Peter Cartwright (8/30/1935-11/18/2013)

-Character: Elphias Doge

-He first appeared in the fifth film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, playing Elphias Doge. When he died in 2013, the role was taken over by actor David Ryall

12. Roger Lloyd Pack (2/8/1944-1/15/2014)

-Character: Barty Crouch Senior

-Anyone who has watched the program Only Fools and Horses will recognize this man as the character Trigger. But anyone who has seen Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire will recognize this man as Barty Crouch Senior, one of the organizers for the Triwizard Tournament and also a Ministry of Magic official.

13. Dave Legeno (10/12/1963-7/6/2014)

-Character: Fenrir Greyback

-In the books, Fenrir Greyback was a dangerous werewolf and supporter of Lord Voldemort, known as a Death Eater. He had a preference for attacking children. In real life, he acted in other films and practiced mixed martial arts. In 2014, hikers going through Death Valley, California had found him, deceased from heatstroke

14. Derek Deadman (3/11/1940-11/22/2014)

-Character: Tom, bar keep for The Leaky Cauldron

-This veteran British actor had appeared in various films and on various British television programs for 38 years. He came to the fame with the younger crowd as Tom, the barkeep for The Leaky Cauldron in the first film of the highly successful Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US. It was Philosopher's Stone in many parts of Europe and other parts of the world)

15. David Ryall (1/5/1935-12/25/2014)

-Character: Elphias Doge

-First and foremost, how sad would it be for someone to pass away on Christmas Day? That had to be hard for his family

-He replaced Peter Cartwright as the role of Elphias Doge. He appeared in part one of the final and seventh film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. I (2010). He passed away four years later on Christmas Day

16. Alan Rickman (2/21/1946-1/14/2016)

-Character: Professor Severus Snape

-Alan Rickman is perhaps best known for playing Head of Slytherin House and Potions professor Severus Snape, despite appearing in other films. His character was a sort of anti-hero, who was sarcastic with a seemingly cold-hearted attitude. As the films progressed, there would be additional layers revealed about him, causing him to be much loved by the fans. It was heartbreaking news in January 2016 when it was revealed that Rickman had been suffering from terminal cancer. Fans were sad to hear that he had chosen to keep his battle with cancer private and in January 2016, had lost his battle with cancer

17. Terence Bayler (1/24/1930-8/2/2016)

-Character: The Bloody Baron (Slytherin House ghost)

-Phillip Strenger, better known as The Bloody Baron, was the house ghost for Slytherin House. In the books, he was the only one who could control the school poltergeist, Peeves. The actor who plays this ghost, Terence Bayler, who was originally from New Zealand, had passed away in 2016

18. Hazel Douglas (11/2/1923-9/8/2016)

-Character: Bathilda Bagshot

-This character was the author of A History of Magic in addition to other books. She was a witch and a historian. Her only screen time within the Harry Potter universe was in 2010's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. I. Hazel Douglas passed away at the age of 93

19. John Hurt (1/22/1940-1/25/2017)

-Character: Garrick Ollivander

-This name is legendary in the world of acting. John Hurt had been acting for five successful decades and had appeared in many films, including The Elephant Man. He came to prominence with the younger crowds by playing Garrick Ollivander, the world famous wand maker in three of the Harry Potter films

20. Sam Beazley (3/29/1916-6/12/2017)

-Character: Professor Everard

-This was a short lived character. He appeared in a painting in the fifth film of the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The actor, who also worked as an antique dealer, had passed away at the age of 101

21. Robert Hardy (10/29/1925-8/3/2017)

-Character: Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge

-Long before he became known as Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, Robert Hardy had a long and highly successful career in both screen and stage. He passed away in 2017 at 91 years of age

22. Verne Troyer (1/1/1969-4/21/2018)

-Character: Griphook

-Verne Troyer came to the knowledge of people as Mini-Me in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. He was also in the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in many other parts of the world). When he died in 2018 at the age of only 49, Warwick Davis took over the role of goblin Griphook

23. Paul Ritter (12/20/1966-4/5/2021)

-Character: Eldred Worple

-This actor appeared in Friday Night Dinner, a popular sitcom in England. He rose to fame within the Harry Potter universe as Eldred Worple, a wizard and writer in the sixth film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. He passed away in 2021 from a brain tumor

24. Helen McCrory (8/17/1968-4/16/2021)

-Character: Narcissa Malfoy

-Best known for playing Polly Gray on the television program Peaky Blinders, she also became known for playing the mother of Draco Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter series. She passed away at the age of 52, after a private battle with breast cancer

25. Robbie Coltrane (3/30/1950-10/14/2022)

-Character: Rubeus Hagrid

-Fans of Harry Potter were devastated when they heard the sad news of the passing of Robbie Coltrane. He played the much-beloved groundskeeper of Hogwarts, Rubeus Hagrid. He sadly passed away on October 14, 2022. He even provided the film series' most iconic line, "Yer a wizard, Harry."

26. Leslie Phillips (4/20/1924-11/7/2022)

-Character: The Sorting Hat

-This actor provided the voice of The Sorting Hat, the item which would place Hogwarts students into their houses. He was only 98 when he passed away. He left behind a long, highly successful acting career

27. Paul Grant (2/31967-3/20/2023)

-Character: Goblin (uncredited)

-While he did appear as a goblin in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), he also appeared in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi as one of the small Ewoks. He also starred alongside rock musician David Bowie in the film Labyrinth and with Tom Cruise in Legend. He collapsed outside Kings Cross Station in London, and was labeled as being in critical condition according to the police that found him. He later passed away

The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia-Vicki Lawrence

I honestly can't believe that Vicki Lawrence can sing!! I love this song!! I also can't believe that Vicki Lawrence originally wrote and sang this song!!

I also love the Reba McEntire cover too!!

People I Would Find Interesting to Read About

It seems like every time you turn your head, some famous person is coming out with a memoir or autobiography. Just recently, Def Leppard's lead guitarist Phil Collen released an autobiography called Adrenalized: Life, Def Leppard and Beyond. BTW, it's good especially if you're a Def Leppard fan and/or a fan of Phil Collen ;)

Here are some people that I would love to read about

Geezer Butler

-I'd love to read about Geezer because out of all the books I've ever read about Black Sabbath or any of it's members, they all say that the lyrics come from Geezer. He has to be a pretty intelligent guy coming up with lyrics that deep, about stuff you'd never imagine hearing in songs. After reading that book I Am Ozzy about Ozzy Osbourne, he describes Geezer as an intellectual guy. When he's not writing lyrics, he's buried nose deep in a book about poetry or ancient Greek warfare, how he's a vegan and that came in handy during the early days of Sabbath, etc. Or how Geezer was actually training to be an accountant and how he worked in the accounting department of a factory in Aston. I'd love to read about him because he just seems like a very interesting person. Not to mention, he just looks like an overall sweet guy, like he'd be the most down to earth person you'd ever meet.

 

Nikki Sixx

-After reading that book The Dirt, which is essentially Motley Crue's own biography, reading the parts about Nikki Sixx interested me. He moved a lot when he was a kid. He was considered a quiet and polite young man who was into bands like Blue Cheer, The Sweet, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, etc. He had dreams of becoming a musician. But he also had a wild streak. He slit his wrists and accused his mother of attacking him. Or when he moved to somewhere out west, kids made fun of him, calling him things like poor white California trash. That had to be brutal. Not to mention, one of Crue's more famous songs, "Kickstart My Heart" was inspired by Nikki's heroin overdose and the adrenaline shot injected into his heart along with the fact that after he was checked into the hospital for it, he got up and walked out. Nowadays, he fronts a band called Sixx A.M., which consists of him on guitars, DJ Ashba on bass and James Michael on vocals, each person's name making up the name of the band. Something else that I never really knew is that Nikki Sixx's real name is Frank Carlton Serafino Ferrana. He was named after his father, Frank Ferrana. So essentially, Nikki Sixx is Italian. Hmmm, no wonder he's so good looking, lol!!!

 

 

Rob Halford

-I've been a Priest fan since early college. After seeing the video for "Turbo Lover" on VH1 Classic, I've been forever hooked, lol. I'd love to read about what it was like when he was younger, what got him into music, how he got into Priest and other cool stuff. Or what it was like when he finally came out of the closet in the late 1990s. I'm sure a lot of Judas Priest fans realized he was gay way before he ever came out. It doesn't exactly take a rocket scientist to figure out something's up when he was never seen or photographed with women, wearing black leather studded clothing and bondage gear, carrying either a whip or riding crop on stage with him or wearing handcuffs on his hips, lol. But, all in all, he's still a phenomenal singer. From the way I hear it, Rob is an incredibly kind person, the kindest, most down to earth person you could ever meet. The sweetest guy alive. I'm sure all the guys in Priest are like that. I would love, more than life itself, to meet Judas Priest. I'd make sure to have my sister with me. The looks on her face would be priceless!!! I know I laugh a lot when my sister says he's so cute even though he's gay! I agree with her. Despite being gay, he's still an incredibly handsome man. And I personally think that my sister finds him cute with the additional tattoos, lol!!

Glenn Tipton

-He's cute. Blonde haired and English. Kind of a weakness for me, lol. What else can I say, lol? Besides, he's handsome for his age. My sister, on the other hand, thinks he's really cute in leather, lol. Not to mention he's an amazing guitarist. From the way I read it in this book about Judas Priest called Judas Priest: Heavy Metal Painkillers, it sounds like Glenn writes a majority of the lyrics. How awesome is this? I never knew he's the one who usually wrote the lyrics. Or it might be someone else who occasionally writes. I guess it's all a matter of working together on the lyrics of songs.

 

 

 

Bruce Dickinson

-I know a lot of people might be confused by this, as I only started listening to Maiden very recently, I see all sorts of cool stuff about Bruce on the internet, about how he visits sick kids in the hospital, does all sorts of nice things, how he battled cancer, how he is a fully licensed commercial pilot and flies the Maiden jet Ed Force One with the band on board to their gigs. I would very much like to read about him. He seems interesting. Not to mention I'm completely amazed by how good Maiden is. To be 100% honest, I always thought Iron Maiden was what I call a "screamo metal band", you know, the metal bands with the singer who is usually screaming so loud or their voice is so distorted you don't know what they're saying? After hearing "Flight of Icarus", that soon changed, thank God!!! I can safely say that I've never had a bad word or insult against these guys. I simply didn't know where to start because, like all musicians, they have a severely long song catalogue.

-But, also, I recently found out he will be coming out with an OFFICIAL autobiography in 2018, at least the paperback edition, in 2018. E-book versions of it will come out in 2017. Just needed to toss that out!!!!!!!!!

 

Sylvester Stallone

-I'd love to read about him because he's one of my favorite actors. I'd love to know what it was like growing up for him. If he was ever bullied for the way he talks out of one side of his mouth. I can't imagine he wasn't; kids can be cruel sometimes. Or read about how he got into acting, or what some of the movies he's done over the years were like. I know I either read or heard somewhere that his first acting role was in a soft core porn movie called The Party at Kitty and Stud's, where he played a male gigolo. That had to be severely awkward for him, appearing fully naked and being sex crazed, which unfortunately only adds to that Italian stereotype of Italians being hot blooded. Plus, even if he looks rough in the eyes of most, to me he's still handsome. Those rough looks come from a life of hard action films, lol

Joe Elliott

-I'm a pretty big Def Leppard fan. Have been since college, which is ironically the place where I started listening to a lot of the music I now listen to. After watching Joe Elliott on this VH1 Classic series called Rock Icons, it amazes me that Joe Elliott proudly admits he's obsessed with music. He can't get enough of it. He also said he loves the fact that he can go out and not be recognized all the time, that the sense of anonymity makes him happy. I love watching that episode; you find out all sorts of cool things about him. Like when he was younger, around 8 years old or so, he wrote a song about a girl leaving a boy and he jokingly said "I was 8 years old. I didn't know anything about a girl leaving me". He can also play the guitar. Which I never knew. He can also play the piano. There's evidence of his excellent piano playing in the video for "Miss You in a Heartbeat" by Def Leppard. Hmm, very handsome, lol. He also fronts a side project called the Down N' Outz, which does covers of old Mott the Hoople songs, for which he is a giant fan.

8 things watching Mrs. Doubtfire can teach you

To honor the passing of a comedy great, here are 8 things that Mrs. Doubtfire can teach you.

 

 

 

 

8

-No matter what, always be there for the ones you love

7

-A cake can make a fabulous costume

6

-If you're sad, act as if you're happy and happiness will come along

5

-We shouldn't hold it against them

4

-Even parents make mistakes

3
-Fruit can be dangerous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

-Imagination can help you a lot in difficult times

1
-A divorce does not mean the end of your family. Your parents will always be there for you

Helen Mirren

I'm not sure why, but this actress is awesome. She can go from zero to kick butt in two seconds in an action movie, zero to drama in drama movies, and she makes any movie she's in instantly better, wow!! And plus, of all things, she's very beautiful for her age!!!

Helen Mirren

Birth name: Ilyena Lydia Vasilievna Mironoff
DOB: 7/26/1945
Where: Chiswick, London, England
Height: 5'4''

Spouse
-Taylor Hackford: 12/31/1997-present

Trivia
-Known as 'Dame' thanks to her receiving a knighthood

-Before marrying director Taylor Hackford in 1997, she had been living in Los Angeles since 1986
-Used to work at an amusement park in Southend on Sea as a "blagger" to attract customers
-Despite her Russian name and ancestry, she does not speak Russian, but instead speaks fluent French
-She is the only actress to play both Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth I (2005) and Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen (2006)
-New Orleans is her favorite American city
-Has a tattoo of a star on her left hand, acquired on a Native American reservation in Minnesota
-While on the set of Excalibur in 1981, she briefly dated Liam Neeson

Personal Quotes
Some of these make me laugh :D
-Flesh sells. People don't want to see pictures of churches. They want to see naked bodies.
-All you have to do is to look like crap on film and everyone thinks you're a brilliant actress. Actually, all you've done is look like crap.

Known For
Hussy
-Beaty Simmons
The Long Good Friday
-Victoria
Excalibur
-Morgana
White Nights
-Galina Ivanova
The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
-Georgina Spica
Where Angels Fear to Tread
-Lilia Herriton
The Madnesss of King George
-Queen Charlotte
Critical Care
-Stella
Painted Lady (TV movie)
-Maggie Sheridan
The Prince of Egypt
-The Queen (voice)

Teaching Mrs. Tingle
-Mrs. Tingle
Greenfingers
-Georgina Woodhouse
Gosford Park
-Mrs. Wilson

Calendar Girls
-Chris Harper
Raising Helen
-Dominique
Shadowboxer
-Rose
The Queen
-The Queen

The Debt
-Rachel Singer

Red
-Victoria