• R.I.P. Michael Byrne (UK actor, "Braveheart", "Harry Potter")

    From Your Name@YourName@YourISP.com to rec.arts.tv, rec.arts.movies.past-films, rec.arts.tc.uk.misc on Wed Jul 1 17:10:12 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv


    He has been in numerous TV shows, movies, and stage shows.



    Michael Byrne, 'Harry Potter' and 'Braveheart' Actor, Dies at 82
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    Michael Byrne, an actor known for his work in "Harry Potter and the
    Deathly Hallows: Part 1," "Braveheart" and "Indiana Jones and the
    Last Crusade," died June 20. He was 82.

    A cause of death has not yet been revealed, the Guardian reported.

    In the penultimate "Harry Potter" film, released in 2010, Byrne
    played an older version of Gellert Grindelwald, the character later
    played by Johnny Depp in the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise. Byrne
    also had roles in other big budget films, portraying the villainous
    Vogel in "The Last Crusade" and violent nationalist soldier Smythe
    in Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning "Braveheart."

    Byrne began his TV career in the 1960s with early roles in
    "No Hiding Place," "Silent Playground" and "ITV Saturday Night
    Theatre." The London-born performer made his film debut in
    "The Scarlet Blade" in 1963 after starting out on the stage with
    Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company, appearing in
    productions of "Romeo and Juliet," "The Cherry Orchard," "Much Ado
    About Nothing," "Death and the Maiden at the Royal Court,"
    "The Double Dealer" and "The Seagull." He acted alongside the likes
    of Maggie Smith and Robert Stephens.

    In the '70s, Byrne's run of World War II films included "The Eagle
    Has Landed," "A Bridge Too Far" and "Force 10 From Navarone." Over
    the course of seven decades, Byrne amassed over 170 credits,
    including films "Gangs of New York," "Tomorrow Never Dies" and
    "Diana."

    Byrne is survived by his ex-wife Carole Nimmons, whom The Guardian
    notes "cared for him towards the end of his life," his daughters
    Tara and Bryony, and grandchildren Tom, Chloe and Jasmine.



    <https://variety.com/2026/film/news/michael-byrne-dead-harry-potter-1236799475/>





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  • From BTR1701@atropos@mac.com to rec.arts.movies.past-films,rec.arts.tc.uk.misc,rec.arts.tv on Wed Jul 1 16:41:41 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On Jun 30, 2026 at 10:10:12 PM PDT, "Your Name" <YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:


    He has been in numerous TV shows, movies, and stage shows.



    Michael Byrne, 'Harry Potter' and 'Braveheart' Actor, Dies at 82
    ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Michael Byrne, an actor known for his work in "Harry Potter and the
    Deathly Hallows: Part 1," "Braveheart" and "Indiana Jones and the
    Last Crusade," died June 20. He was 82.

    A cause of death has not yet been revealed, the Guardian reported.

    In the penultimate "Harry Potter" film, released in 2010, Byrne
    played an older version of Gellert Grindelwald, the character later
    played by Johnny Depp in the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise. Byrne
    also had roles in other big budget films, portraying the villainous
    Vogel in "The Last Crusade" and violent nationalist soldier Smythe
    in Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning "Braveheart."

    Only his role in LAST CRUSADE gave me any idea who he was. He was the Nazi colonel on the tank.


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