Michael Byrne, ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Braveheart’ Actor, Dies at 82
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- Michael Byrne died on June 20 at age 82, with a cause of death not yet revealed, per the Guardian.
- Byrne played the older version of Gellert Grindelwald in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" (2010), a character later portrayed by Johnny Depp in the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise.
- Byrne portrayed the villainous Vogel in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and violent nationalist soldier Smythe in Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning "Braveheart."
- Byrne amassed over 170 credits across seven decades, including a 1970s run of WWII films: "The Eagle Has Landed," "A Bridge Too Far" and "Force 10 From Navarone."
- Byrne was London-born and began on stage with Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company, acting alongside Maggie Smith and Robert Stephens in productions including "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Cherry Orchard."
- Byrne is survived by his ex-wife Carole Nimmons, who "cared for him towards the end of his life" per the Guardian, daughters Tara and Bryony, and grandchildren Tom, Chloe and Jasmine.
Why it matters: Byrne's death at 82 closes a seven-decade, 170-credit career that bridged Laurence Olivier's National Theatre and Hollywood blockbusters like Harry Potter and Indiana Jones. His surviving family — ex-wife Carole Nimmons, who cared for him in his final years, and daughters Tara and Bryony — now carries his legacy forward.
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