Richard Griffiths, the acclaimed British actor best known for playing Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films and Uncle Monty in Withnail and I, has died at the age of 65 following complications after heart surgery.
Griffiths enjoyed a long career spanning film, television, and stage, winning both a Tony Award and an Olivier Award for his performance as Hector in Alan Bennett's The History Boys. He was appointed an OBE in the 2008 New Year Honours for services to drama.
His Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe paid tribute, saying: "Richard was by my side during two of the most important moments of my career. I was proud to know him. Any room he walked into was made twice as funny and twice as clever just by his presence."
Richard E. Grant, who starred alongside Griffiths in Withnail and I, tweeted: "My beloved Uncle Monty Richard Griffiths died last night. Chin-Chin my dear friend."
Griffiths was born in Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, and left school at 15 before later studying drama and joining the Royal Shakespeare Company. He married Heather Gibson in 1980.
His agent Simon Beresford described him as a "remarkable man" who "gave acting a good name." Sir Nicholas Hytner, director of the National Theatre, said Griffiths' unexpected death would devastate his "army of friends."
