Where Are They Now: Harry Melling

Curtis Brown Agency

Dudley Dursley isn't the most well-liked Muggle character in the wizarding world. Showered with love by his parents Vernon and Pentunia, and raised with their ignorance, the spoiled child grew up basking in bullying his cousin. The role of Dudley was portrayed by the young actor Harry Melling, who like his co-star Daniel Radcliffe would grow up on-screen. Like many actors in the Harry Potter series, to celebrate Harry Melling's birthday, let's take a look brief at the career Melling has achieved so far and what the actor has been through since the Harry Potter series concluded.

Before entering the Harry Potter cinematic universe as Dudley Dursley, Melling had already begun his career as a child actor on the stage. The London native starred in productions such as The Provoked Wife, King John, Antigone, and Plenty. At eleven years old, Melling snagged the precarious role of the spoiled Dursley, a character who was plump and dumbed down. It was a role that would guarantee him an appearance for five films While appearing in five of the Harry Potter films, he starred alongside his Harry Potter co-star Fiona Shaw (Petunia Dursley) in a revival of Mother Courage and her Children in 2009 - when Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince movie was released.

"The thing with [having played] Dudley is that you get a call every now and again going, 'We're looking for a really fat rattish guy.' And then my agent has to go, 'Oh, no, sorry. He's changed.'" - The Movie Network

In 2011, Melling almost lost the role for of Dudley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 after undergoing a weight loss transformation while attending drama school. The young star had lost so much weight that he was almost recast, but he ended up reprising his role by wearing a fat suit (a scene that is now famously deleted from the official film). For the final film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, the Dursley clan did not make a final appearance in the franchise. On his weight loss, he has said that being able to shed the weight has allowed him to let go of being a child actor and branch out into different roles after playing Dudley. Shaw once described Melling's physical changes as an opportunity to transform into a character actor she knows he has the ability to become.

After the film series ended, Melling returned to the stage where he received rave reviews from critics. Across London, he has starred in numerous productions such from Shakespeare such as King Lear and Robert Askins's Hand to God and James Graham's The Angry Brigade. He continued to make appearances in television and film, though his credits are limited after the Harry Potter franchise. In 2016, he starred alongside Charles Hunnam and fellow Harry Potter co-star Robert Pattinson and in The Lost City of Z, a film about British explorer Percy Fawcett's who attempted to find an ancient lost city in the Amazon. In television, Melling had a supporting role in the BBC One Tv series Merlin in 2010, and as Bastien in the BBC television series The Musketeers in 2016.

As of 2018, there's no public news of his current or upcoming projects. Melling lives a relatively private life in London where he grew up. In the Harry Potter universe, Dudley Dursley will always be a member of the wizarding world. Though Melling gave a part of his acting talent to the film series, we have no doubt that he'll continue to establish himself as a versatile actor for years to come.

10 Ways to Celebrate Harry Potter's 20th Anniversary

June 26th, 2017 marks the 20th anniversary since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was officially published in the UK. And, with Scholastic publishing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on June 26th, 2018, it won't be long before readers in the U.S. will celebrate the same landmark. From books to movies, charities, education, and theme parks, our Muggle world knows the name of the boy who lived.

Want to mark this magical milestone? Here are ten ideas to celebrate Harry Potter's very special birthday. Are you planning on celebrating our favorite magical series? Feel free to share in the comments!

Where Are They Now: Katie Leung

Today, August 8th marks the birthday of Katie Leung. In continuation with how Where Are They Now? series, we thought we'd take a moment to celebrate the talented actress' birthday and highlight her post-Potter career.

She first appeared on-screen in the fourth film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Leung waited four hours for a five-minute audition, and after answering query if there were any actresses from Scotland, she was invited back for a workshop. Later, she was given the role beating out 3,000 other aspiring actresses.

Her character Cho Chang is a fellow Hogwarts student hailing from the house of Ravenclaw. She becomes an object of affection for the Triwizard Champions Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory in the fourth film. Chang follows her heart's desire and begins to date Diggory.

Though in the book series Chang's development is respectable for a minor role, her on-screen appearances dwindled after the fifth film Order of the Phoenix. Her graceful and kind performance in the films is surely missed. Leung's appearances doesn't return for on-screen credit again until Deathly Hallows Part 2 when Chang joins her peers to stay at Hogwarts battling Voldemort's army.

Since the film franchise ended in 2011, and the actors have ventured forward in their own careers, it's fun to ask where is Katie Leung now?

Almost a year after the tale of Potter's quest, the Scottish native debuted in her first stage play Wild Swans, an autobiographical account of the playwright's family history spanning three generations of Chinese women.

Her career has garnered roles, especially in the television medium such as Father Brown (2014) and One Child (2014). She continues to flex her acting chops on the stage as well performing The World of Extreme Happiness (2013) and The Merchant of Venice (2014). Her work last year earned Leung a prestigious honor winning the BAFTA Breakthrough Brit honour. The title is given in celebration of future U.K. stars in film, television, and video games.

Earlier this year, she joined former co-star Tom Felton to unveil the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction at the Universal Studios theme park in Osaka, Japan. Leung continues to pursue her passion in photography and painting donating her work to auction for The Prince's Trust, as well as attending the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Where Are They Now: Evanna Lynch

The Harry Potter series touched millions of readers lives around the world. One deep admirer of the characters and author JK Rowling is Irish actress Evanna Lynch, born August 16th, 1991.

At 11 years old, a young girl suffering from anorexia found refuge with the series while going through a recovery program.

Hospitalized at the time and disappointed she might miss the release of the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Lynch was temporarily released the morning of the book launch to retrieve a copy. Sending letters to the prestigious author was a way of effectively sharing her mind about the series and how much she loved the characters. Lynch showed up at the local book store, dressed in Harry Potter garb; a lightning bolt on her forehead, wearing replica glasses, painted nail polish, and surprisingly retrieved a hand-signed copy of the book.

Rowling aiding as a counselor replied to Lynch's letters, saying that an eating disorder was "destructive, not creative" and that if she continued forward with recovery, one day she could try out for a role in the films.

In 2006, Lynch's father took Lynch from Ireland to London to audition for an outspoken and quirky Hogwarts student named Luna Lovegood. Out of the 15,000 girls that auditioned, Lynch was screen tested against Daniel Radcliffe and was chosen for the role. At age 14, Lynch made the dream of so many fans a reality and was cast as a character.

On-screen, Lynch added a sweetness to the role of the Ravenclaw student that wasn't often found within the books. Critics praised her spellbinding performance, which topped to the acclaim by producer David Heyman and JK Rowling. "The others could play Luna; Evanna Lynch is Luna." So much so in adoration of the character, Lynch created the accessories for the character such as the famous radish earrings.

Lynch appeared in the Harry Potter films: Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Deathly Hallows Part 2. Since the series ending Lynch continues to support the fandom and series at conventions attending such events as LeakyCon and had made appearances in parody series, A Very Potter Senior Year.

Talented, witty, artistic, and very much like Luna, inhibiting a personality all of her own, Lynch has gone on to star in both stage and television productions - continuing her great work as an actress. Just as Luna Lovegood has served an inspiration to countless fans and Evanna Lynch herself, Lynch has undoubtedly served as an inspiration of strength as well.

11 Fun Facts:

• Michael Jackson, Regina Spektor, and Ella Fitzgerald are some of her favorite musicians
• She was given a necklace with a hare and moon pendant by J.K. Rowling.
• Is well versed in French and Gaelic
• Loves street dancing and jazz
• A major cat lover, she's named them after Harry Potter characters such as Luna, Dumbledore, and Crookshanks
• Dumbledore's quotes were once painted on her bedroom wall
• Created the dance moves for the wedding scene in Deathly Hallows Part 1
• Her favorite prop of Luna's was the lion hat she wears in Half Blood Prince
• She used to make her own versions of Quibblers with puzzles to do
• Was asked to help design the Luna Lovegood house in Deathly Hallows Part 1 but declined because she was attending school at the time
• Enjoys films directed by Tim Burton
• Once "cosplayed" as The Hunger Games main character, Katniss Everdeen

Wizarding World Highlights in 2012

 Though the series might have ended, this year we still experienced exciting news-worthy moments in the wizarding world. For our last Port Key edition for 2012, here are some of the biggest events that took place.

+ In March Warner Bros. officially opened Leavesden Studios Studio Tour in London. Many of us who weren't able to attend in person watched via webcast.

+ The publishing and reading world around the world buzzed as JK Rowling announced the title of her new book in early March. It was her next big project after five years since the last Harry Pook book was released. Later in July when she revealed the cover her book made news again.

+ JK Rowling also announced plans for a printed encyclopedia of the wizarding world but later retracted the project. Proceeds were to go to selected charities.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Release Date Information

Dark And Difficult Times Lie Ahead.

On November 18th, 2005, the next and fourth installment of the Harry Potter series was released into theaters and across the pond in the U.K.: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

This fourth book is considered the pinnacle novel of the series, where everything turned darker and more gruesome for our hero. Hogwarts is hosting the Twi-Wizard Tournament, where students must be 17 years of age. At 14 years old, somehow Harry Potter is illegally selecteSomehow Potter is illegally selected and entered into the deadly Twi-wizard Tournament. Alongside his competitors, including fellow Hogwarts student Cedric Diggory, Potter must find a way to stay alive.

Introducing to the film were several new characters and actors to the series: Brendan Gleeson as the ex-Auror Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, David Tennant as Barty Crouch Jr., Miranda Richardson is the face of journalist Rita Skeeter, and Robert Pattinson is Hufflepuff student, Cedric Diggory.

Directed by Mike Newell, Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire takes on the edgier and darker side of the Harry Potter journey. Not only does the fourth movie mark the return of the evil Master of the Dark Arts, Lord Voldemort, but we say goodbye to our first fierce and loyal friend. After Prisoner of Azkaban ranked in the lowest box office for all eight films, this sequel went on to rank third highest after Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2 until profits were readjusted for inflation in October 2012. Though writer Steve Kloves hoped to turn this installment into two parts, this plans were axed resulting in one film which runs for a scary 157 minutes.

Sorcerer's Stone Release Date & Information

The Magic Begins November 16th.
This was just one of several taglines for the first Harry Potter movie. If only we knew how much magic was coming our way on-screen for the next decade!

On November 16th, 2001, in the United States the first feature film adaptation of the Harry Potter series was released into theaters nationwide (on November 4th, in U.K.): Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Then, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint were unknown children about to embark on a decade-plus career as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. Other characters we loved were also brought to life: Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy, and Richard Harris as Albeus Dumbledore.

Directed by Christopher Columbus, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone took us on the memorable journey to JK Rowling's wizarding world. From the beginning when Dumbledore places baby Harry on the doorstep of the Dursley's household, to the end when Potter feels like he knows where to call home, we watched the first novel adapt from page to screen. What would become a mainstay throughout the series, John Williams composed the themes which would be built upon with the rest of the series' films. Especially the most popular and heartwarming song, Hedwig's Theme.

Chamber of Secrets Release Date and Information

The Chamber of Secrets has opened...

One year after Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was unleashed into theaters worldwide, the sequel was ready for its released in the United States on November 15th, 2002.

In the second novel of the series, Harry Potter and his friends have returned to Hogwarts despite one beloved elf's warnings of danger. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint would return as our much-loved golden trio, as well as our other favorite actors and characters.

From the second book of JK Rowling's series, Harry Potter has been warned by a friendly elf Dobby not to return to Hogwarts. Potter does so anyways, and together with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, the trio investigate what is the Chamber of Secrets. When multiple students like Granger and Colin Creevey are petrified, Potter and Weasley continue to search for the answers. With it, they uncover some disturbing information aboutWeasley's little sister Ginny, Lord Voldemort, and his connection to the underground chamber.

Picking up where he left off with the first film, director Christopher Columbus once again directed the film bringing out the edger, suspenseful tale. This movie add some new faces to the characters we loved from the books. Chris Coulson was cast as the teenage version of Lord Voldemort, also known as Tom Marvolo Riddle, Shirley Henderson as Moaning Myrtle, Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart, and Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy.

At the box office, Chamber of Secrets made $88,357,488 on its opening weekend only $1,937,133 dollars short of the first film's release! With the third novel released and the threequel adaptation to begin, the film series would start getting a little dark with different styles, directors, and more interesting cast mates.

Quotes:

Ron: Why spiders? Why couldn't it be "follow the butterflies"?

Harry: Not to be rude or anything, but this isn't a great time for me to have a house elf in my bedroom.

Dumbledore: It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices.

Neville Longbottom: Why is it always me?

Draco Malfoy: "Enemies of the Heir Beware"? You'll be next, mudbloods.

Harry: Wish you were here, Hermione. We need you. Now more than ever.

Arthur Weasley: Now, Harry you must know all about Muggles, tell me, what exactly is the function of a rubber duck?


Did you know? find more trivia here

• Shirley Henderson, who played Moaning Myrtle, is the oldest actress (age 37) to portray a Hogwarts student. 

• Jude Law was deemed too young to play Gilderoy Lockhart. 

• The "Let's just hope Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day" dialogue (see quotes) was improvised by Daniel Radcliffe and Jason Isaacs. 

• According to Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, Moaning Myrtle was a member of Ravenclaw House.

Harry Potter And JK Rowling Birthday Facts

To celebrate Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling's birthday, I thought it'd be fun to use our time-turner and go back to see what was happening the day and year that these two iconic figures were born. What was the number one song on the radio? or movie at the theatres? Check it out!

J.K. Rowling - July 31st 1965

- Lyndon B. Johnson was President of the United States. Harold Wilson was the Prime Minister of England.

- I Can't Get No Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones was the #1 song on the charts on this day. In the UK, Mr. Tambourine Man by Bryds was the #1 song in the U.K. The Beatles hit a top five hit with Help!

- Only three books made it to the top of  the New York Times list for the year: Herzog by Saul Bellow, Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman, and The Source by James Michener.

- The Sound of Music was the #1 movie in the U.S. at the box office during the week of July 25st. It was also the top grossing movie of the year and won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

General events that took place throughout the year:

• Cigarette Ads were banned on British TV
• Prime Ministers of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland met for the first time in 43 years
• Sir Winston Churchill died aged ninety 
• the Beatles film Help! debut in London becoming a major inspiration over the years for revolutionizing the idea of music videos
• Corgi Toys introduced the all-time best-selling model car, James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 from the film Goldfinger
• A blackout hit parts of Canada and U.S. North East
• The Gateway Arch In St. Louis, Missouri, standing at 630-foot-tall is completed
• African Americans are guaranteed the right to vote with the 1965 Voting Rights Act becoming law
• the popular soap opera "Days of Our Lives" debuted on NBC

Harry Potter - July 31st 1980

- Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States. Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of England.

- The number 1 song in the U.S. charts on his birthday was Magic by Olivia Newton-John. Use It Up and Wear It Out by Odyssey was #1 in the U.K.

- Caddyshack was the reigning movie at the box office the week of July 27th in the United States.

- The most popular books on the NYT Bestseller's list for the year included Jailbird by Kurt Vonnegut and The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. The latter was later adapted into films featuring Matt Damon.

General events that took place throughout the year:

• Soviet Viktor Gorbatko and Pham Tuân were the first Asian and first Vietnamese, respsectively, cosmonauts to orbit in space aboard the Soyuz 37
• Mount St. Helen in Washington, United States erupted in early Spring
• The Rubik Cube debuted at a toy fair in London
• 23,500,000 viewers tuned in for the ITV showing of the James Bond film Live and Let Die (1973), becoming the British record for a TV audience
• The war between Iran and Iraq began in September
• The U.S. defeated the Soviet Union in ice hockey in what was labeled the "Miracle on Ice"
• Post-It Notes were officially released into stores
• In June, CNN launched becoming the first 24/7 news service in television history
• U.S.S.R. performs nuclear Test at Semipalitinsk, Eastern Kazakhstan U.S.S.R.

Happy Birthday Harry Potter

After Lord Voldemort murdered Harry's parents, orphaned infant Harry Potter was taken to his aunt and uncle - the reprehensible Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon by headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Hagrid. Treated less than a equal, the little boy was forced to live in a cupboard under the stairs until one fateful day - his 11th birthday - he received an acceptance letter from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

During a visit from the schools' groundskeeper, Hagrid, Harry discovered he was indeed a wizard. Life forever changed for Harry and millions of readers around the globe, as Harry's life was turned upside down. Known as The Boy Who Lived, Harry discovered fame in the wizarding world, and with that, the knowledge that he was the one who brought down the evil You-Know-Who.

"I can't be a wizard. I'm Harry - just Harry!"

On his train ride to Hogwarts meeting lifelong friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, Harry took us on a wild decade adventure. Alongside the golden trio, through seven books, we loved, laughed, cried, and fought valiantly against the re-emergence of Voldemort and his followers.

In the film series, Harry Potter was portrayed by Actor Daniel Radcliffe (pictured above), whose career gained tremendous momentum. Following the film installments conclusion, Daniel has gone on to make other films such as The Woman in Black and continue his Broadway career.

On this day, July 31st 1980, our boy with the lightning scar was born - and so we toast, the boy who lived!

Happy Birthday Harry Potter!

What are some of your favorite Harry Potter moments?

Happy Birthday JK Rowling

The story came to her on a delayed train ride between London and Manchester: a boy wizard who didn't know he was a wizard goes to wizarding school. Following years of thorough story storming and planning, JK Rowling wrote out the story of Harry Potter. Her first of seven books for the series was rejected by dozens of publishers.

Once U.K. publishing house Bloomsbury picked up her story for print, and U.S. publishing house Scholastic followed suit a year later, the boy we've come to know as 'The Chosen One' made publishing and film franchise history.

“I sat and thought for four (delayed train) hours, and all the details bubbled up in my brain, and this scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who didn't know he was a wizard became more and more real to me.”

July 31st is not only the birthday of Harry Potter, but also the birth of the author, JK Rowling, whom without we would not have Harry and the wizarding world we'd come to love - Hogwarts, The Grangers, The Weasleys, the Hogwarts professors, Butterbeer, and the darker side of magic - Voldemort, the Horcruxes, and Death Eaters.

Rowling's imagination is what has made our journey with Harry Potter some of the profound memories and experiences of our childhood and adult lives as readers. Her creativity lets our imaginations soar and come alive between the pages where Harry Lived, and on-screen where Warner Bros. transformed her world in movie form.

Whether we go back to Hogwarts by page or by screen, where we'll surely be welcomed, we have one astounding woman to thank and celebrate - J.K. Rowling!

Share your wishes for the birthday girl!

Happy Birthday JK Rowling!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Book Release

On July 21st, 2007, Harry Potter fans around the world lined up outside of bookstores for the final book of the series to be released - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. 

The seventh installment of the fantasy series that captured the hearts and minds of children and adult readers was finally coming to a conclusion - what was the deathly hallows, which characters would perish, who would survive the deadly battle against Voldemort, and how would the Golden Trio move on from this adventure they started together? Those were just some of the questions that fans waited anxiously to be answered!

As every past Harry Potter broke sales records, Deathly Hallows became the fastest-selling book ever at the time - selling 15 million copies in its first 24 hours. The previous record was held by Half Blood Prince, selling 9 million copies.

Did you know?

Bloomsbury took drastic measures to protect the content of the book from being leaked, however in the U.S. all 759 pages were leaked and transcribed, prompting Scholastic to hunt for the culprit.

The American Library Association named it a Best Book for Young Adults - however, Harry Potter was at one time one of the 100 most challenged books for five consecutive years at the ALA.

The title of the book was released to the public via a special Christmas-themed hangman puzzle on Rowling's website. JK Rowling had also considered Harry Potter and the Elder Wand, and Harry Potter and the Peverell Quest as alternative titles.

Upon completing the book at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinbourgh, JK Rowling signed a statement on a marbal bust writing "J. K. Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room (652) on 11 January 2007".

Epic List of Harry Potter Birthdays

Want to celebrate Harry Potter all year long? Here is an epic list of birthdays for the characters and the actors who played them. I've included information on the release dates for the books and films, and other great events too. This page is regularly updated - if you see someone missing, feel free to comment and I'll add the info!

January

1st - Verne Troyer (Griphook the Goblin), Actress Pam Ferris (Aunt Marge)
6th - Actor Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander)
8th - Actor Freddie Stroma (Cormac McLaggen)

9th - Severus Snape, and Actress Imelda Staunton (Dolores Umbridge)
22nd - John Hurt (Ollivander)
26th - Gilderoy Lockhart, Miraphora Mina (film graphic designer)
27th – Richard Bremmer (Lord Voldemort (SS)
28th – Actor Lee Ingleby (Stan Shunpike)
30th - Lily Evans
30th – Tony Maudsley – Grawp

February

3rd - Actor Warwick Davis
6th - Arthur Weasley
8th - Composer John Williams
9th - Actor Ciarán Hinds (Alberforth Dumbledore)
13th - Luna Lovegood
15th - Actor Callum Turner (Theseus Scamander)
17th - Actress Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley)
21st - Actor Alan Rickman (Severus Snape)
22nd - Actress Julie Waters (Molly Weasley)
23rd - Actress Kelly MacDonald (Helena Ravenclaw)
24th - film graphic designer Eduardo Lima
25th - Actors James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley)
26th – Actor Rohan Gotobed (Young Sirius Black)
27th – Actor Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew)
28th - Actress Georgina Leonidas (Katie Bell)

March

1st - Ron Weasley
3rd - Actress Katherine Waterson (Porpentina_Goldstein), Actress Miranda Richardson (Rita Skeeter)
9th - Sybil Trelawney (Before 1962)
10th - Remus Lupin
13th - Actor Harry Melling (Dudley Dursley)
15th - Actor Sean Biggerstaff (Oliver Wood)
18th - Screenwriter Steve Kloves
20th - Actor David Thewlis (Remus Lupin)
21st - Actor Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), Actor Kevin Guthrie (Abernathy)
22nd - Actress Leilah Sutherland (Alicia Spinnet)
27th - Actor Adrian Rawlins (James Potter), James Potter, Julian Glover (Voice of Aragog)
28th - Director Mike Newell (Goblet of Fire)
29th - Actor Brendan Gleeson (Madeye Moody)
30th - Actor Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid)

April

unknown - Teddy Lupin
1st - Fred & George Weasley
9th - Kathryn Hunter (Arabella Figg)
13th - Actor Ron Perlman (Gnarlark)
14th - Production Designer Stuart Craig, actress Julie Christie (Madam Rosmerta), Arthur Bowen (Albus Severus Potter),
15th - Actress Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Actress Emma Thompson (Sybil Trelawney)
17th - Actor David Bradley (Argus Filch)
18th - Actor David Tennant (Barty Crouch Jr)
28th - Horace Slughorn

May

1st - Griphook
2nd – Victoire Weasley
5th - Actress Jessie Cave (Lavender Brown)
7th – Actor Robbie Jarvis – Young James Potter
11th - Actress Pam Ferris (Aunt Marge)
12th - Actor Luke Youngblood (Lee Jordan), Actor Domnhall Gleeson (Bill Weasley)
13th - Actress Zoe Wanamaker (Madame Hooch), Actor Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory), Actress Samantha Morton (Mary Lou Barebone)
15th - Professor Pomona Sprout, Actress Anna Shaffer (Romilda Vane)
16th – Actor Stanislav Ianveski (Viktor Krum)
17th – Actor Paul Whitehouse (Sir Cadogan)
18th – Actress Miriam Margoyles (Professor Pomona Sprout)
19th - Actress Geraldine Somerville (Lily Potter)
24th - Actor Jim Broadbent (Horace Slughorn)
26th - Actress Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Actor Will Dunn (James Sirius Potter)
31st - Actor Colin Farrell (Percival Graves)

June

1st – Actor Ray Fearon (Firenze)
5th - Draco Malfoy
6th - Actor Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy)
9th - Actor Johnny Depp (Gellert Grindelwald)
20th – Actress Shefali Chowdhury (Parvati Patil)
23rd – Dudley Dursley
27th - Actor Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)
28th - Dobby the house elf
30th – Actor Predrag Bjelac (Igor Karkaroff)

July

4th - Actor Ryan Turner (Hugo Weasley)
9th - Actor David O'Hara (Albert Runcorn)
10th - Actress Fiona Shaw (Petunia Dursley)
20th - Actor Jeff Rawle (Amos Diggory)
21st - Actor Jamie Waylett (Vincent Crabbe)
22nd - Actor Rhys Ifans (Xenophilius Lovegood)
23rd - Actor Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)
26th - Producer David Heyman
27th - Actor Rade Sherbedgia (Gregorovich)
30th - Actress Frances de la Tour (Madame Olympe Maxime)
30th - Neville Longbottom
31st - Actor Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley), Harry Potter, & JK Rowling

August

8th - Actress Katie Leung (Cho Chang)
11th - Ginny Weasley
16th - Actress Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood)
17th - Actress Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy)
18th - Actor David Tennant (Bartimus Crouch Jr)
19th - Porpentina_Goldstein
22nd - Actor Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley), and Percy Weasley
23rd - Composer Alexandre Desplat
24th - Actor Jimmy Gardner (Ernie Prang), and Actor Rupert Grint (Ronald Weasley)
26th - Dolores Umbridge
25th - Actress Angelica Mandy (Gabrielle Delacour), and Actor Simon McBurney (Kreacher)
29th - Actor Lenny Henry (Shrunken Head)
30th - Actor Peter Cartwright (Elphias Doge)

September

4th – Actress Ellie Darcey-Alden (Young Lily Potter)
7th – Actor Hugh Mitchell (Colin Creevey)
9th - Actor John Herdman (Gregory Goyle)
10th- Director Christopher Columbus (Director of Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets)
19th - Hermione Granger

22nd - Actor Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy)
26th - Quirinus Quirrell
24th – Kate Fleetwood (Mary Cattermole)
27th - Actress Margery Mason (Hogwarts Trolley Lady)
30th - Actor Ezra Miller (Credence Barebone)

October

1st - Actor Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore)
3rd – Actor Christian Coulson (Tom Marvolo Riddle (CoS)
4th - Minerva McGonagall
5th – Actress Tianna Benjamin (Angelina Johnson)
8th –  Actor Ian Hart (Quirinus Quirrell)
11th – Actress Dawn French (The Fat Lady)
17th - Filius Flitwick, Actor Guy Henry (Pius Thicknesse)
19th - Actor Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore)
20th – Actor George Harris (Kingsley Shacklebolt), Actor Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski)
27th - Actor John Cleese (Nearly Headless Nick), Actor Brontis Jodorowsky (Nicholas Flamel)
28th - Actor Devon Murray (Seamus Finnigan)
30th - Molly Weasley

November

1st - Actress Natalia Tena (Nymphadora Tonks), Lavender Brown
3rd - Sirius Black
8th - Actor Chris Rankin (Percy Weasley)
22nd – Actor Jamie Campbell Bower (Young Gellert Grinelwald)
24th - Actress Shirley Henderson (Moaning Myrtle)
28th - Alfonso Cuaron (director of Prisoner of Azkaban)
29th - Bill Weasley
30th - Director David Yates
30th - Actress Clemence Poesey (Fleur Delacour)

December

1st - Actress Zoe Kravitz (Leta Lestrange)
2nd - Actor Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas)
4th – Actress Gemma Jones (Madam Pomfrey)
6th - Rubeus Hagrid
7th - Mary Lou Barebone
10th - Actor Kenneth Branagh (Gilderoy Lockhart)
12th - Charlie Weasley, Actor Bill Nighy (Rufus Scrimgeour)
22nd - Actor Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort)
23rd - Actress Alison Sudol (Queenie Goldstein)
28th - Actress Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall)
29th - Actor Jude Law (Albus Dumbledore), Actor Jon Voigt (Henry Shaw Sr)
31st - Tom Riddle / Voldemort

Unknown Full Birthdates:

Characters born between the late 1970s and early 1980s, but the exact date is unknown: Pansy Parkinson, Katie Bell, Cedric Diggory, Seamus Finnigan, Gregory Goyle, Colin Creevey, Marcus Flint, and Oliver Wood

The years are known for the following characters but not the exact dates:
Albus Dumbledore, Alberforth Dumbledore, Albus Severus Potter, Arabella Figg, Argus Filch, Ariana Dumbledore, Colin Creevey, Credence Barebone, Gellert Grindelwald, Hedwig, Helena Ravenclaw, Jacob Kowalski, Leta Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy, Newt Scamander, Percival Graves, Poppy Pomfrey, Professor Rolanda Hooch, Rose Granger-Weasley, Scorpius Malfoy, Queenie Goldstein, Theseus Scamander, Tina Goldstein, Vincent Crabbe.

Harry Potter Calendar of Release Dates and Anniversaries

The Harry Potter series from pre-publication to post phenomenon is a lengthy timetable of amazing adventures, challenges, and events that would make any fans' head spin. To simplify the complicated timeline of the wizarding world, we're working on a calendar of events that took place between the pages and on the big screen!

Character & Actor Birthdays

Harry Potter and JK Rowling Birthday Facts

Book Release Dates:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Movie Release Dates:

World Announcement of The Harry Potter Cast

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Premiere

ABC Family Premieres Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Post Harry Potter Events:

The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling Is Released

JK Rowling Revealed as Ghost Writer for Crime Novel

Scholastic Unveils New Covers by Award Winning Artist

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Release Date

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 20th Anniversary