Paul Ritter – best known around the world for playing Eldred Worple in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” – died.
A representative of the British actor said Paul died of a brain tumor on Monday night. He died peacefully at home with his wife Polly and sons – Frank and Noah — on his side. The rep added, “He was extremely smart, kind and very funny. We will miss him very much. Paul was an exceptionally talented actor, playing a huge variety of roles on stage and on screen with extraordinary skill.”
Some of Paul’s biggest credits include participating in the James Bond film “Quantum of Solace” as a consultant to the Guy Haines government. In his homeland, Paul was best known for playing the family patriarch in Channel 4’s long comedy “Friday Night Dinner”.
He was also a brilliant theater actor who earned him Olivier and Tony Award nominations. Paul’s work on “Coram Boy” earned him a nomination for Olivier in 2006. His lead role in “The Norman Conquests” in 2009 earned him a nomination for Tony.
He was recently in the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl” … portraying Anatoly Dyatlov, the supervisor who was accused of not following the safety protocols that led to the nuclear disaster.
Paul was also set to appear in the World War II drama “Operation Mincemeat”.
He was 54 years old.