Simon Fisher-Becker, the actor who portrayed the ghostly Fat Friar in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, has passed away at the age of 63.
His spouse, Tony, confirmed the news in a Facebook post on Sunday, March 9. “Hello, everyone. This is Tony, Simon’s spouse. I have some really awful news,” he wrote. “Simon died at 2:50 this afternoon. I will keep this account open for a while. I’m not sure if I’ll post again. Thank you.”
The cause of death has not yet been confirmed. Fisher-Becker’s manager, Kim Barry, also shared a statement mourning his loss. “Today, I lost not only a client in Simon Fisher-Becker, but a close personal friend of 15 years,” Barry said.
“I’ll never forget the phone call I made to him when he was offered the role of Dorium Maldovar in Doctor Who,” Barry continued. “Simon was also a writer, raconteur, and an excellent public speaker. He was incredibly supportive of me and always remained courteous, gracious, and genuinely interested in others. My sympathies go out to his spouse Tony, his brother, nieces and nephews, and his many fans.”
Fisher-Becker’s acting career spanned over three decades, with 48 credits dating back to 1990, when he made his debut in an episode of ScreenPlay Firsts. He was best known for his role as the Fat Friar in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), appearing among the Hogwarts ghosts when Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) first arrives at the school.
Beyond Harry Potter, Fisher-Becker gained recognition for playing Dorium Maldovar in multiple episodes of Doctor Who and its related media. He also had a notable role in Les Misérables (2012), appearing as part of the ensemble cast in the musical number Master of the House.
His other credits include the television series Waterside and the 2023 film Disaster Dates 2. According to IMDb, Fisher-Becker had several projects in development at the time of his passing.
Big Finish Productions, which produces Doctor Who audio dramas, also paid tribute to the actor. “We were very sad to learn of the passing of Simon Fisher-Becker, who many will know from his role as Dorium Maldovar in Doctor Who on television and audio. Our condolences go out to his friends and family,” the company told Deadline.