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July 31st also marks the birthday of the late Richard Griffiths, who starred as Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films. He gave an excellent performance throughout the series, bringing to life the iconic line:

He also gave fantastic performances in Hugo, Pirates of the caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Bleak House, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and The Vicar of Dibley along with many other titles, and a Tony Award-winning performance in The History Boys.

Daniel Radcliffe gave a moving tribute to Griffiths upon hearing of his death in 2013:

“Richard was by my side during two of the most important moments of my career. In August 2000, before official production had even begun on Potter, we filmed a shot outside the Dursleys’, which was my first ever shot as Harry. I was nervous and he made me feel at ease.

Seven years later, we embarked on Equus together. It was my first time doing a play but, terrified as I was, his encouragement, tutelage and humour made it a joy. In fact, any room he walked into was made twice as funny and twice as clever just by his presence. I am proud to say I knew him.”

Amidst the excitement of the Cursed Child release and J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter’s birthdays, it’s important to spend a moment remembering those we have lost.

Please join The Leaky Cauldron in wishing him happy birthday, and keep him in your thoughts when you’re celebrating this special day!

Today marks Dan Radcliffe’s 27th Birthday, falling just over a week before Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling’s birthdays.

Dan is busy with two performances in off-broadway show Privacy today (Bonnie Wright visited him this week!), so some fans may be getting to see him on his special day over in New York.

If not, join us in reminiscing over 15 years of seeing Dan grow from being The Boy Who Lived to being in films such as The Woman in Black, Swiss Army Man,  Horns and featuring in Broadway’s Equus. 

Thankfully, he’s got a busy schedule ahead of him, promising no deficit of Dan in the future! He’ll be featuring in Jungle and Imperium, and Now You See Me 2 is still in cinemas.

Take a look at InStyle‘s gallery celebrating Dan’s birthday, showing his transformation over the course of his acting career here.

Join us in wishing Dan a very Happy Birthday!

Today we’d like to wish a very happy (belated) birthday to Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), who turned 27 yesterday! Matt–one of the most recent Potter stars to join the Hufflepuff ranks–stars in the new film Me Before You, based on the novel by Jojo Moyes, currently in theaters.

We’d also like to honor our favorite house-elf, Dobby! This “free elf” paved the way for house-elves everywhere with his paid position at Hogwarts and progressive view of house-elf freedom. Though initially somewhat misguided in his attempts to help Harry and his friends, Dobby proved to be a loyal friend and an integral part in the escape from Malfoy Manor in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

It is impossible to celebrate too much, and the Harry Potter world is celebrating two of its most brilliant actresses today.

Making headlines and trending on many social media, many recognize as Harry Potter’s brilliant real-life Hermione celebrates her 26th birthday! Emma Watson, who is quite an accomplished young woman, was born in Paris, France and raised in Oxfordshire, England. She was eleven years old when she landed the role of Hermione Granger.

After spending ten years on the Harry Potter series, Emma has gone on to work on a variety of films as well as lead the modern wave of feminism in her role as Women’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

While on the Harry Potter set, Emma Watson worked with Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney). Emma Thompson is an incredibly talented actress, who has been recognized for her role in many films. Having been nominated over twenty-five times for acting awards, Emma Thompson has two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, two BAFTAs, and an Emmy under her belt. Emma Thompson turns 57 today.

Today, Harry Potter actor Gary Oldman celebrates his 58th birthday! Mr. Oldman–a very successful British actor–played Harry Potter’s godfather, Sirius Black, in the Harry Potter films.

Please join us in wishing him a very Happy Birthday!

Today we honor the birthday of the late Alan Rickman. The news of his surprising and untimely death hit the hearts of millions last month. The beloved actor would have turned 70.

Though Rickman still has two movies being released postmortem, Alice Through the Looking Glass and Eye in the Sky, already we feel the loss of such a great movie, stage, and directing talent. There is no other actor who could have portrayed J.K. Rowling’s and our Severus Snape so well. His voice, his mannerisms, they personified the loved/hated potions master to perfection.

His role as Snape, Hans Gruber, the Sheriff of Nottingham and other arguably “evil” characters rocked Rickman to stardom. But underneath those reputable roles was a fun, loving, man and good friend to many.

In the spirit of his birthday watch a Rickman film, color the Snape page in the Harry Potter coloring book, or leave a comment below. Please join us in honoring our beloved Severus Snape, our beloved Alan Rickman, and wishing him a very happy 70th birthday.

Today we honor and celebrate Warwick Davis’s birthday! This Harry Potter actor who played goblins and charms professors and choir directors throughout the Harry Potter films turns 46 today. In honor of his birthday, J.K. Rowling retweeted a picture that show a montage of Davis’s film roles over the years!

Happy Birthday to @WarwickADavis! Star of so many awesome things! celebrates his 46th birthday today. #WarwickDavispic.twitter.com/85hpxnKdvN

— Horror-Con (@HorrorCon2013) February 3, 2016

Join us in wishing Warwick Davis a very happy birthday!

Dame Maggie Smith, our dear Professor Minerva McGonagall, is celebrating her birthday on December 28.  In honor of both her birthday and her amazing career, CBS News Sunday Morning broadcast an exclusive question and answer session today.

The short interview highlights the major events in Dame Maggie Smith’s life, from her first appearance on Broadway in 1956 to her current project, The Lady in the Van.  In the new film, Dame Maggie portrays Miss Shepherd, a vagabond woman who spent the last fifteen years of her life in a van parked on playwright Alan Bennett’s driveway.

The interview also includes quite a few juicy tidbits about Downton Abbey, and CBS News credits the Harry Potter films with introducing this wonderful actress to a new generation.

At the end of the interview, Correspondent Mo Rocca shows Dame Maggie a clip from her appearance on the Carol Burnett Show in 1975.  Dame Maggie takes a moment to reflect on the experience and the outfits designed by Bob Mackie. “Those were the days,” she says.

“Correction, these are still the days of Dame Maggie Smith,” answers Mo Rocca.  We here at Leaky agree.

So, although she doesn’t want to be reminded, please join us in wishing a happy birthday to Dame Maggie Smith!

To watch the interview, visit CBS News, here.

Ralph Fiennes, the actor who played Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films, celebrates his 53rd birthday today!

In honor of his special day, here’s an AMC promotional video from 2011, where Fiennes describes the final battle between Harry and Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II, and talks about his inspiration for portraying the lonely and tormented adult that Tom Riddle became.

From all of us here at Leaky, happy birthday, Ralph Fiennes, and thank you for making our favorite villain so terrifying on screen!

Please join us in wishing Shirley Henderson (Moaning Myrtle) a very Happy Birthday!

Today we celebrate Natalia Tena’s 31st birthday! Natalia Tena plays the vibrant (Nymphadora, please forgive us) Tonks in the Harry Potter films!

Since the Potter films, Tena has been involved in many films (including her own independent projects), Game of Thrones, and many stage productions. Tena is also known for her musical talent, and her band Molotov Jukebox.

Please join us in wishing Natalia Tena a very happy birthday!

Both Veronica Clifford (Mrs. Mason) and George Harris (Kingsley Shacklebolt) celebrate their birthdays today! Please join us in sending birthday wishes to them both–as well as the hope that Veronica Clifford’s day didn’t end with a pudding disaster!

Yesterday, (we are so, so sorry your Knightliness) Sir Michael Gambon celebrated his 75 birthday! Sir Gambon played the role of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films (3-8), after Richard Harris passed away. He was also featured in J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy BBC mini series.

Sir Gambon provided the Harry Potter set not only with talent, but with his famous humor. He danced with Alan Rickman, which became the subject of one of the best GIFs ever created. Alan Rickman also sold him out on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, for pulling the ultimate prank on Daniel during “Prisoner of Azkaban” (he put a fart machine in his sleeping bag).

Today we thank Sir Michael Gambon for all that he has brought to the Harry Potter world, and apologize for the belated well wishes, and hope that he had a splendid 75th birthday!

Today, we celebrate two Harry Potter birthdays, one a character and one an actor! They are both very real to us of course, because even though one may only exist inside of our heads, Dumbledore tells us that doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

Professor Filius Flitwick celebrates his birthday today. Though we are not quite sure how old he is, we do know that he has been teaching Charms at Hogwarts for generations, and will be teaching to generations to come. Flitwick, part-goblin part-wizard, is incredibly gifted at wand waving and incantations, and played a vital role in the Battle of Hogwarts.

Having survived the war, protecting Hogwarts as his home, Flitwick went on living the quiet life of a professor. He continues to enlighten young minds–helping both the Hermione Grangers and the Seamus Finnigans of his classes. He is an expert in his field, revered by all, including the likes of Dumbledore.

Guy Henry also celebrates his 55th birthday today. Guy Henry is known in the Harry Potter series as Pius Thickness–the poor wizarding official made Prime Minister by Old Voldy, who was ultimately killed.

Please join us in wishing these two a very happy birthday!

Please join us in wishing Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) a very happy 28th birthday!

Today, Evanna Lynch celebrates her 24th birthday! In the last year, Evanna has stepped far beyond her role as Luna Lovegood, though she will always be the face we imagine when we read of Luna’s character. In addition to moving on to new Post-Potter projects and independent films, Evanna has also taken time to reach out and stand up for causes she cares about. She is generous, sweet and kind, and also hilarious (follow her on Twitter)–having given us a few of our favorite J.K. Rowling tweets. J.K. Rowling beat us to the punch today in wishing Evanna a very happy birthday.

Please join us, as we join Jo, in wishing Evanna a very happy birthday!

Today marks the 80th birthday of Jim Dale – narrator of the U.S. Harry Potter audiobooks, video games and interactive ‘extras’ in the DVDs.

Dale also appears in the Carry On films, Pete’s Dragon and has won various awards, including a Tony Award (for Barnum on Broadway), two Grammy Awards for narrating (in 2008 and 2001) and ten Audie Awards. He was honoured with an MBE in 2003 for promoting English literature for children.

Join us here at The Leaky Cauldron in wishing Jim a very happy 80th birthday!

Today marks a mile stone of great celebration for our most beloved author. As Jo Rowling turns 50 today, we all feel like the entire world should be celebrating just wizards celebrated Harry’s victory over Voldemort (twice)! Celebrations that spill out into the streets, and make ignorant muggle folk ask “why?”.

J.K. Rowling told the Today Show last spring that she would indeed be celebrating her 50th birthday with family and friends. She did not cringe, as so many do, when asked about her age, but said it was a time of celebration, for the alternative to aging is “checking out,” and she had so much more like left to live. She updated her Twitter this morning, thanking everyone for the birthday messages; she is enjoying the sun (beach?) with her dog, family and friends…and some fans!

We wish we were there to celebrate with her, too!

Today, many honor all of the great deeds Rowling has accomplished in her life thus far. We also celebrate all of the greatness yet to come. Entertainment Weekly posted a list of the 50 reasons they love Jo, and we quite agree. (Digital Spy supplemented 9 also very valid reasons to love our Harry Potter author.)

For item #20, EW included a 60 Minutes video of Jo from many, many years ago, posted by Leaky (with the old leakynews.com address stamped in the corner). Here are a few of our favorites out of their list of 50 amazing Jo moments:

1. She does not suffer bullies.

2) She’s funny. Her Twitter feed is rife with sly humor, whether she’slaughing at herself for typos, rolling along with followers’ jokes orgetting exasperated by Harry Potter rumors.

3) She’s filling in the Potter story on Pottermore.

4) She gives huge donations to charity (so much that it knocked her off Forbes’ billionaires list).

In 2012, Jo donated an estimated $160 million, and paid all of her hefty taxes (supporting the economy and government of her home country, rather than hiding money in off shore bank accounts). How can you not love her for that?

5) She touts great social causes on social media. As just one example, she recently tweeted support for imprisoned Saudi Arabian blogger Reif Badawi and Ireland’s legalization of gay marriage.

7) She’s kind to her fans, and always seems ready to answer their questions, no matter how random or specific.

8) She admits she made mistakes in the books!

13) She cares about children in need. In 2004, she founded the organization Lumos, to help children who have been unfairly institutionalized get better care.

15) She did her research when coming up with the names of spells (she looked at alchemy, the history of languages, etc.)

She did the same for wands, names of characters, and book titles!

17) She supports Hufflepuffs and has written on Pottermore that she thinks they’re the best.

20) She’s a great artist. Although all the editions of Harry Potter have used other illustrators, Rowling’s not bad at sketching her own characters. Recently, an annotated version of Sorcerer’s Stone with Rowling’s sketches was auctioned for charity.

24) She’s invited die-hard fans to her house.

26) She never talks down to her readers.

27) She proved anyone can take control of their life. At one time, Rowling has said, she was “literally as poor as you can get in Britain without being homeless.” Thanks to work ethic and imagination, she went on to become a celebrated author.

30) She’s completely mastered Twitter, and for someone who very rarely makes public appearances, she makes herself accessible to her followers.

34) She hasn’t read50 Shades of Grey

36) She once gave the best commencement speech we’ve ever heard.

38) She says that she’d want to be sorted into Gryffindor (and specifically answered Pottermore questions so she’d be sorted that way).

46) She owns a “Horcruxes Got Soul” t-shirt

49) She’s fighting to save the BBC.

50) She made Hogwarts tuition-free and subsidized by the Ministry of Magic so all witches and wizards could attend. Imagine if the Weasleys hadn’t been able to afford it!

Please read and enjoy the entire list on EW. Time magazine also decided to do something special for J.K. Rowling’s birthday. In honor of the 17 years it took her to complete one of the best (if not THE best) books series in the world, Time contacted 17 Harry Potter actors, and asked them to write brief birthday messages to Jo.

Many of them are absolutely hilarious, Matt Lewis and Natalia Tena’s messages are rather long and touching. Evanna’s was by far the longest, and she shared her experience of meeting Jo for the first time. These and many more can be read on the Time’s website. We have shared a few, short funny ones; take a look below:

As it is well known, it is also Harry Potter’s birthday today. Harry turns 35. Working as head Auror (and the youngest to ever attain the position, at age 26) for Kingsley Shakelbolt’s Ministry of Magic, Harry continues to make defeating evil apart of his daily work. Harry is happily married, and a family man. He and Ginny will be sending their youngest, Albus Severus off to Hogwarts in a couple years.

Harry is forever the heart of the wizarding community and the wizarding world as we know it. His story will forever be a part of our lives–in our imaginations and in real life. We honor Harry today for his bravery, loyalty, and goodness. Just like his creator (Jo), his large heart shows goodness in small ways, as well as large.

Today, we not only honor the character who saved the wizarding world, but who also ensured Severus Snape’s portrait hung in the Headmaster’s office, made peace and acquaintanceship with Draco Malfoy, and occasionally has mini-family reunions with Dudley.

A Harry Potter fan on staff at the Telegraph wrote her own personal anecdote as to how Harry would be celebrating his birthday today. Not unlike his creator, he is happily surrounded by family and friends. Alice Vincent writes for the Telegraph:

Thankfully, he is swiftly distracted by a flurry of owls, descendents of his beloved Hedwig, who died during his final year. They are delivering parcels from his friends, Hermione and Ron, now a married couple with two children, Hagrid, and his in-laws, Molly and Arthur Weasley.

In a less sentimental, in true standup-comedy fashion, Jimmy Fallon acknowledged Harry’s birthday with a “Drunk Ron Weasley” segment. The video can be seen on the Tonight Show’s Facebook page. Pottermore also tweeted a list of Harry’s best and worst birthday gifts over the years.

It is a day for cakes, Butterbeer, and Weasley Wizard Weazes. A collaboration of food artists have come together to bake a collection of sweets for the occasion. The group calls themselves “Birthday Mischief Managed.” Newswire reported:

The group, founded in July 2014, proudly honors some of the world’s most esteemed personalities and award winning artists in the food industry. Audiences may recognize work styles and faces of the participants from hit television series and competitions Cake Boss: Next Great Baker, Sugar Dome, Cake Wars, Ultimate Cake Off, Outrageous Chocolate, Halloween Wars, and more. Each member was asked to join based on their fanatic for the project and to “dress” for the occasion!

To celebrate J.K. Rowling’s birthday on July 31st, which coincidentally is Harry Potter’s birthday, the members of the group chose locations inspired by the books, movies, and Pottermore. Members were given artistic freedom to create original edible fan art celebrating or jinxing the birthdays of J.K. and Harry. An added challenge included incorporating 1-3, twists, “Easter Eggs” for J.K. and fans to find. Some of the sentiments include J.K.’s birthstone, birth month and favorite flowers (the Larkspur and Lily), and an orange support ribbon in memory of her mother.

Birthday creations by food artists and young fans can be see on their website. Maybe some of their Harry Potter themed desserts will inspire you to create your own!

We hope many of you will be throwing your own Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling birthday parties. All those celebrating with Melissa Anelli at GeekyCon have officially made July 31 “Geek Day” in Orange County, FL. Please share with us how you are celebrating today, and please join us in wishing J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter a very happy birthday!

Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) celebrates his 26th birthday today! Yes, it is today. According to Twitter, Matt said he had been getting many great birthday wishes from the Harry Potter clan and “Emma Watson and Co.” With this remark, J.k. Rowling rushed to giver her wishes…all to which Matt said thank you, but they were all a day to early. Please join us in wishing Matt a happy birthday, on his actual birthday :).

The Harry Potter universe also honors Dobby, our favorite brave and loyal house elf today. It too is Dobby’s birthday. We are not quite sure how old Dobby would be, but we take this time to remember him and the many times he tried to save Harry (bludgers, brick walls…and of course a rescue from Bellatrix). Pottermore is asking for fans’ favorite Dobby Quotes in celebration of this wonderful house elf. Please join us in wishing Dobby a Happy Birthday.

Today Emma Watson is celebrating her 24th birthday! Ms. Watson is currently shooting her first takes of Regression, today, as it is the first day on set. According to Emma's tweet, the first day of shooting is "a very cool birthday present". Please join us in wishing Emma Watson a very happy birthday!

A very happy birthday goes out to actor Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) who turns 23 years old today. Cheers to you, Rupert, from everyone at Leaky!

Birthday wishes go out today to Stephen Fry, notable British actor, Tweeter, and narrator of the UK Harry Potter audio books. We hope you'll join us at Leaky in wishing Mr. Fry a happy 54th birthday!

Today we ask you to join us in wishing Ciarán Hinds a happy birthday. The actor, who will play Aberforth Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter films, is celebrating his 56th birthday. Many happy returns!

Today we ask you to join us in wishing Warwick Davis a tremendously happy birthday. Davis, who plays Professor Flitwick in the Harry Potter films, is celebrating his 40th birthday. Many happy returns!

Today we ask you to join us in wishing John Hurt a very happy birthday. The actor, who portrays Mr. Ollivander in the Harry Potter films, is celebrating his 70th birthday! Many happy returns!