From the moment Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone hit our screens, the boy wizard films became one of the world's highest-grossing movie franchises and gave all its cast members a place in Hollywood history forever.
However, the talented individuals who starred in the films over the years have been plagued by tragedy with far too many having their lives cut short.
The Harry Potter cast lost yet another member this week as it was revealed beloved British actor Paul Ritter - known for starring in comedy series Friday Night Dinner - has died after a secret battle with a brain tumour.
Ritter was just 55 at the time of this death and his passing marks another loss of a much-loved star of the film franchise.
He played wizard Eldred Worple in 2009 instalment Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Some of the biggest and best known stars of the wizard films are no longer with us so we now look back and remember the actors who enchanted us with their movie magic.
Richard Harris
Legendary actor Richard Harris was cast in the role as Hogwarts' beloved headteacher Albus Dumbledore.
However, his tenure in charge of the young wizards only lasted for the first two films as Harris was diagnosed with Hodgkins' disease in August 2002.
He died just two months later aged 72. Harris was replaced in the movies by Michael Gambon, who played Dumbledore in the next six films.
Harris' son Jared Harris starred in acclaimed drama series Chernobyl alongside the late Paul Rittter.
Alan Rickman
Die Hard legend and acclaimed actor Alan Rickman was cast as the seemingly villainous teacher Severus Snape for the first film and he appeared in every film until the end of the franchise in 2011.
Despite bumping off Dumbledore, Snape was later revealed as a hero and was carrying out the tragic headmaster's orders and had been working to protect Harry all along.
However, Rickman was struck by tragedy just four years after he finished filming on the Potter franchise when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015.
He died the following year aged 69 just weeks before he was due to celebrate turning 70.
Richard Griffiths
Award-winning acting veteran Richard Griffiths was brought in to play Harry Potter's uncaring uncle Vernon Dursley and he appeared in five of the blockbuster movies.
The majority of Griffiths scenes were played with Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, and the pair reunited outside of Potter for a run on stage in the play Equus which they performed together on Broadway and in London's West End.
His last appearance in the movies was in 2011's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, and just two years later, Griffiths died after suffering complications from heart surgery.
Verne Troyer
He was known to millions as Mini-Me in the Austin Powers film series, but Verne Troyer found a whole new audience of younger fans with his role as goblin Griphook in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Griphook was one of the grouchy goblins employed at Gringotts Bank and was seen taking Harry and Hagrid down to the vault.
Troyer's life offscreen was marred by tragedy as he spent many years battling alcoholism. He died aged 49 in April 2018 and a coroner later ruled the star had taken his own life.
John Hurt
Another of Britain's finest actors, John Hurt, turned up in the Harry Potter franchise playing wand-master Mr Ollivander who sold his wares to young wizards from his store in Diagon Alley.
He made his Harry Potter debut in the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and returned for movie number four, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, although his scenes were cut from the final edit.
Hurt was seen again onscreen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part 2.
Just four years after his final appearance as Mr Ollivander, Hurt confirmed he'd been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and he died at home in January 2017, three days after his 77th birthday.
