'Harry Potter' Actor David Ryall Dies At 79: Portrayer Of Elphias Doge Passes Away On Christmas Day; Is Remembered By Friends And Family [PHOTO]

Actor David Ryall, most recently known for playing Elphias Doge in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1," passed away this past Christmas day. He was 79 years old.

Elphias Doge, his character in "Harry Potter," was a close friend of Albus Dumbledore as well as a Ministry of Magic jurist and an Order of the Phoenix member.

According to the Huffington Post, Ryall's other film credits include "City of Embers," "Around the World in 80 Days," and "The Elephant." This year, he was also involved in "Mr. Turner," and had a small part in "Autómata," which featured Antonio Banderas.

BBC reports that he also appeared in many TV programs, including "The Singing Detective," "Holby City,"  "Casualty,"  "Midsomer Murders,"  "Goodnight Sweetheart," and the Andrew Davies version of "House Of Cards."

Ryall's daughter, Charlie, paid tribute to her father on her Twitter account this past Thursday and encouraged others to do the same. She wrote, "Please take a moment to remember his huge five-decade-spanning career outside of the more well-known TV & film. Not just Harry Potter... Not that I don't love Harry Potter. I do, I do. But there's so much more."

Indeed, there is. Ryall began his career on stage before becoming a familiar face on British TV, and BBC reports that he received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1962, when he won the Caryl Brahams Award for a musical.

He then went on to join Laurence Olivier's company with the national theater, and was involved in several plays including Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead," "Guys and Dolls," "Coriolanus," "The School of Wives," and "The UN Inspector."

Via Twitter, TV writer David Brown said, "RIP David Ryall - one of the best Inspector Morse baddies. Derek Whittaker - driving test psycho who tried to knife Morse." "Sherlock" actor Mark Gatiss also wrote, "The great David Ryall left us on Christmas Day. A twinkling, brilliant, wonderful actor I was privileged to call a friend. RIP."

Ryall is survived by his children, Charlotte, Jonathan, and Imogen.

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David Ryall
harry potter
Elphias Doge
death
Laurence Olivier
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