Hollywood: Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince actor Paul Ritter, who played the role of a wizard Eldred Worple, has passed away after battling a brain tumor on Monday evening. He was 54. Ritter’s representative shared a statement confirming the demise of the actor. “It is with great sadness we can confirm that Paul Ritter passed away last night. He died peacefully at home with his wife Polly and sons Frank and Noah by his side. He was 54 and had been suffering from a brain tumor. Paul was an exceptionally talented actor playing an enormous variety of roles on stage and screen with extraordinary skill. He was fiercely intelligent, kind and very funny. We will miss him greatly,” read the message.

As revealed by E!News, in addition to his role in Harry Potter, Paul Ritter’s credits likewise incorporate the 2008’s James Bond film Quantum of Solace. Since 2011, Ritter featured as Martin Goodman in the TV series Friday Night Dinner.

After learning of Ritter’s passing, the show’s creator Robert Popper paid his tributes. “Devastated at this terribly sad news. Paul was a lovely, wonderful human being. Kind, funny, super caring and the greatest actor I ever worked with x,” he tweeted. Popper shared a clip from Friday Night Dinner, expressing, “Perhaps the fondest memory of Paul Ritter was shooting this scene with him. God he was splendid.”

Many of his friends and co-stars from the industry grieved and paid tribute. James Bond Twitter account also took to his social media to express the sadness. He wrote: “Paul Ritter, who appeared as Guy Haines in Quantum of Solace, has very sadly passed away. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”


It has been reported that Paul Ritter never talked about any health battles, and that is why the news has sent shockwaves through his professional sphere.

May his soul rest in peace!