Richard Griffiths, ‘Harry Potter’ Actor Dies Following Heart Surgery

Richard Griffiths, who might be best known as Harry Potter’s less than loving uncle Vernon Dursley passed away at the age of 65. Griffiths underwent heart surgery at University Hospital in Coventry, central England.

The well known actor died shortly after surgery due to unreleased complications. While the actor might have been known most recently as Uncle Vernon in the Harry Potter series, Griffiths had a wide ranging career that extended from television to the big screen and even onto the stage.

In 2007, the veteran character actor even appeared onstage along side Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe. When contact about the death, the young phenom said that he was “proud to say I knew him.”

Radcliffe added that Griffiths was by his side during two of the most important parts of his professional career, referencing the start of his young wizard fame as well as his debut on stage.

Richard Griffiths was one of Great Britain’s most well known character actors, and those who knew him said that his unappealing Uncle Dursley character couldn’t have been farther from the real man.

In recent years, he was an accomplished actor of the stage, appearing in Alan Bennett’s The History Boys. This play started out in London but was quickly brought to Broadway when it took off in popularity.

If there was one time when the veteran actor did seem to have a similar temperament to the character he played in the boy wizard adventures is when someone was being far too loud during one of his performances.

The actor had gained some infamy for stopping his performance and actually yelling at someone who was talking or who had their cell phone ringing. Stories run rampant of him refusing to continue the performance until the offender was silenced.

What role do you best remember Robert Griffiths in?

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