'Harry Potter' actor found dead in Death Valley

Published July 12, 2014
David Legeno. — Photo courtesy: wjbr.com
David Legeno. — Photo courtesy: wjbr.com

LOS ANGELES: British actor David Legeno, who played a werewolf in the “Harry Potter” movies, has been found dead in Death Valley, United States police said.

He apparently died of “heat-related issues,” the local sheriff said, after the 50-year-old's body was found near Zabriskie Point, a famed movie-related panorama spot.

Legeno played the werewolf Fenrir Greyback in several of the "Harry Potter" movies, including "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (2009) and the two-part finale "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

He also appeared in episodes of British soap operas “Eastenders,” “The Bill” and “Emmerdale,” as well as in films including 2005's "Batman Begins."

Two hikers found Legeno's body on Sunday in a remote area in the center of Death Valley, where summer temperatures regularly top 49 degrees Celsius (120 F).

“The remains have been identified as David Legeno, a 50-year-old United Kingdom man,” said the Inyo County Sheriff's Office in a statement.

"It appears that Legeno died of heat-related issues, but the Inyo County Coroner will determine the final cause of death. There are no signs of foul play."

Legeno worked on demolition sites after leaving school, before studying performing arts. He became a professional wrestler before getting a role in Guy Ritchie's 2000 London gangster movie "Snatch."

When film work was slow he earned his living as a professional cage fighter, according to his profile on the IMDb movie industry website, adding that he put his fight career on hold after being in “Harry Potter."

Zabriskie Point is the name of a 1970 movie by Italian great Michelangelo Antonioni, and the spot — famous for spectacular multi-colored panoramas of Death Valley — was used for the cover of rockers U2's 1987 album "The Joshua Tree."

Opinion

Editorial

Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.
Missing links
Updated 27 Apr, 2024

Missing links

As the past decades have shown, the country has not been made more secure by ‘disappearing’ people suspected of wrongdoing.
Freedom to report?
27 Apr, 2024

Freedom to report?

AN accountability court has barred former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife from criticising the establishment...
After Bismah
27 Apr, 2024

After Bismah

BISMAH Maroof’s contribution to Pakistan cricket extends beyond the field. The 32-year old, Pakistan’s...