Robert Hardy, actor who played Cornelius Fudge, dies at 91
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: Actor Robert Hardy speaks outside the Churchill War Rooms Museum at a Battle of Britain anniversary celebration on August 20, 2010 in London, England. This year commemorates the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Robert Hardy died today at the age of 91. He played Cornelius Fudge and other noteable roles in British television, stage, and movies.
Robert Hardy, who played Cornelius Fudge, died earlier today. In a statement released by his family, they told Variety:
"“Gruff, elegant, twinkly, and always dignified,” the family’s statement read. “he is celebrated by all who knew him and loved him, and everyone who enjoyed his work.”"
Hardy played in four Harry Potter movies, including Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, and Order of the Phoenix. We all know Fudge as the Minister of Magic, who gave Harry troubles for using magic outside of school. (Purposely or not!) But what else was he known for?
Hardy was born in 1925 in England, where he would eventually go on to study at Oxford. He trained under JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis in acting. Besides his roles in Harry Potter, he has numerous other credits that make him well known throughout the entire world, especially for his portrayal of Winston Churchill.
His early credits include MGM’s Torpedo Run in 1958 and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold in 1965. In British media, he’s known for his array of portrayals of Winston Churchill in various mini series on PBS and ITV, most recently including 2015’s Churchill: 100 Days that Saved Britain. He’s also widely known for his role as Siegfried Farnon in the Peabody award winning show, All Creatures Big and Small.
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As you can see, Hardy is more than just our favorite Minister of Magic. His talents shined throughout his life and he has become a household name in Britain, whether you like Harry Potter or not. He will be missed by his family, his Harry Potter family, and his fans across the world.