Star Wars and Harry Potter star Warwick Davis is grieving the passing of his beloved wife and fellow actor, Samantha Davis. Samantha passed away on March 24 at the age of 53. “Her passing has left a huge hole in our lives as a family,” Warwick, 54, told the BBC. “I miss her hugs.”
Married since 1988, Samantha and Warwick Davis share two children, Harrison and Annabelle. The children paid tribute to her memory in their statement, saying, “Mum is our best friend and we’re honored to have received a love like hers.”
“She was a unique character, always seeing the sunny side of life,” Warwick added. “She had a wicked sense of humor and always laughed at my bad jokes.”
Warwick Davis is perhaps best known for his roles in the Harry Potter film series as Professor Filius Flitwick and the goblin Griphook. He’s also a frequent collaborator with Ricky Gervais, who produced the HBO series Life’s Too Short, starring Warwick as an exaggerated version of himself.
However, genre fans know him as a prolific character actor. He played multiple roles in the Star Wars franchise (kicking off with the Ewok, Wicket) and the lecherous titular character in the Leprechaun horror film series. He also was the lead in the 1988 classic Willow and its 2022 sequel series.
Samantha and Warwick Davis Met on the Set of ‘Willow’
Warwick and Samatha met while shooting Willow. They married shortly after in 1988.
Throughout their careers, Samantha and Warwick Davis have frequently appeared together on screen. Samantha took on the role of a goblin in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Additionally, Samantha’s filmography alongside Warwick includes Willow, Angels of the City, Through the Dragon’s Eye, and Leprechaun 2.
Samantha also appeared in the 2014 series, Weekend Escapes with Warwick Davis, hosted by the star who traveled around Britain with his family.
At 27, their daughter Annabelle has pursued a career in acting, mirroring her parents’ path. She has appeared in prominent roles on CBBC’s The Dumping Ground and the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.
In 1995, Warwick and Samantha established Willow Management, a talent agency specializing in representing short actors. By 2012, they had also co-founded Little People UK, a dedicated resource aimed at supporting the dwarfism community.