British actor Michael Byrne dies at 82

Pop Culture NewsBritish actor Michael Byrne dies at 82Byrne’s representative did not reveal the actor’s cause of death.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Michael Byrne in TV series "Lightfields" in 2013.ITV / Shutterstock fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 1, 2026, 12:19 PM EDTBy Rebecca CohenBritish actor Michael Byrne, known for his roles in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” died June 20. Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscriptionGet exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.He was 82.“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Michael Byrne,” a representative for the actor said in a statement. “Michael will be remembered as an extraordinary actor whose talent, warmth, and sense of humour touched so many.”Michael Byrne and Alison Doody in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."Alamy fileByrne’s cause of death was not immediately revealed. The Guardian first reported his death. Byrne appeared in films and TV shows since the 1960s, with his latest credit in 2023, according to his IMDb page.He also held a role in Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart,” playing a violent soldier named Smythe.Byrne started his career on the small screen, scoring roles in TV shows such as “No Hiding Place,” “Silent Playground” and “ITV Saturday Night Theatre.”His film career took off in 1963 in “The Scarlet Blade.” The film was later retitled “The Crimson Blade” in the U.S. Prior to that, as Variety reported, Byrne starred on stage with a number of roles in shows for Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre Company, including “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Cherry Orchard,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Death and the Maiden at the Royal Court,” “The Double Dealer” and “The Seagull.”In the “Harry Potter” series, he played an older Gellert Grindelwald, a notorious dark wizard. Over his seven-decade career, Byrne racked up more than 170 credits, according to Variety, from TV to film to theater.Sh...