sad: David Ryall Dies: Harry Potter Actor Was 79

The British star, who began his onscreen acting career in the late '60s and has also appeared in popular U.K. TV shows, passed away on Christmas Day, BBC Newsreported. He is survived by his son, Jonathan Ryall, and two daughters, Imogen Ryall and Charlie Ryall, the outlet said.

"Please take a moment to remember his huge five-decade-spanning career outside of the more well-known TV & film. Not just Harry Potter," Charlie said on Twitter on Saturday, adding. "Not that I don't love Harry Potter. I do, I do. But there's so much more."

The actor played the wizard Elphias Doge in the 2010 film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, the second-to-last movie in the hit eight-part series. The character is a member of the Ministry of Magic and Order of the Phoenix and close friend of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. In the fifth film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Elphias Doge was played by Peter Cartwright.

David is best known for his roles in British TV shows and miniseries, such as The River, On the Line and the comedy Outnumbered as well as popular cop series The Bill and medical drama Casualty and spinoff Holby City. He has played former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill three times—on the French show De Gaulle and in the TV movie Bertie and Elizabeth and the film Two Men Went to War, which were both released in 2002.