‘Harry Potter’ Actor Dies While Hiking In California
An actor from the Harry Potter movie franchise has died while hiking in Death Valley, California.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dave Legeno’s body was found on Sunday in the national park. Legeno, 50, played the werewolf villain Fenrir Greyback in six Harry Potter movies.
A statement from the Inyo County Sheriff’s office said:
“[Legeno’s] remains [were] discovered in a remote wash below Manly Beacon, west of Zabriskie Point in Death Valley… It appears that Legeno died of heat related issues, but the Inyo County Coroner will determine the final cause of death. There are no signs of foul play.”
According to Legeno’s biography on the Internet Movie Database, the British actor studied performing arts before his big break in the Guy Ritchie movie Snatch. Legeno also had roles in Batman Begins, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and the British soap opera EastEnders.
Between acting projects, Legeno found other work as a mixed martial arts fighter, “securing wins over LA street fighting legend Kimo Leopoldo and ex-UFC heavyweight champion Dan Severn.” Scheduling conflicts lead him to turn down a role in Steven Berkoff’s On The Waterfront, according to IMDb.
However, when Legeno was cast as Fenrir Greyback, he knew he could not turn down the role. Last year, Legeno talked to Flicks and the City about the challenges of playing a werewolf:
Legeno’s cast mates are expressing grief about the Harry Potter actor’s death. Tom Felton, the actor who played Draco Malfoy, shared his condolences on social media.
Gutted to hear the sad news about Dave Legeno. He was a true Big, Friendly, Gentleman. Was a pleasure every time we met #BFG #DaveLegeno
— Tom Felton (@TomFelton) July 11, 2014
“Dave Legeno. It was always a pleasure. He was a great talent with a heart of gold and always had time for anyone. Dave was a soft, kind gentleman off screen but had the skill to be the complete opposite on screen. He taught me lots, You will be missed mate xx”
Fans are also sharing condolences on social media.
R.I.P. Dave Legeno. The fierce man who played Fenrir Greyback in Harry Potter. Too young.
— Darcey Pilkington (@ThePilk95) July 11, 2014
Before his death, Legeno was set to star in Sword of Vengeance, an upcoming action movie from Vertigo Films. Legeno is also featured in an upcoming film with Harry Potter co-star Rupert Grint. The crowd-funded movie, Enemy of Man, is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
A photo posted on Twitter in April 2014 shows the Potter alumni hugging in their suits of armor.
Rupert Grint and Dave Legeno on the set of Enemy of Man: Instruments of Darkness. pic.twitter.com/ZuZ5oSTW6A
— effie (@fyeahfandoms) April 24, 2014
Dave Legeno was born in October 1963 near London, UK. The Hollywood Reporter reports that he survived by his daughter, who is in her 20s.
[Image source: IMDb]
