'Harry Potter' Actor Dies Hiking in Death Valley

2:10 P.M. PDT -- Inyo County officials tell us ... an autopsy was performed and the cause of death is heat stroke.

One of the villains from the "Harry Potter" movies -- British actor Dave Legeno -- died while hiking in Death Valley ... TMZ has learned.

Legeno's body was found by a pair of hikers on Sunday in an area so remote ... a CHP helicopter had to be called in to remove it.

50-year-old Legeno played the werewolf Fenrir Greyback in the 'Potter' movies. He was also in "Snatch."

The Inyo County Sheriff's Department (in CA) tells TMZ it appears Legeno died of heat related issues ... and may have been dead for 3-4 days before his body was discovered. Summer temps in Death Valley are known to go over 120 degrees.

We're told the coroner still has Legeno's body while his family makes plans.

He has a daughter in her 20s.

Emma Watson Cap? Check. Gown? Check. Armed Guard? CHECK!!!

Emma Watson was the safest student to receive her degree from Brown University on Sunday ... because she had her own armed security guard with her in the audience!

Watson was among 2,000 students to graduate this weekend, but we're guessing she was the only one who employed private security ... cleverly disguised in her own cap and gown.

Expecto Patronum only gets you so far.

Richard Griffiths 'Harry Potter' Star Dead at 65

Richard Griffiths -- the British actor who played Harry Potter's Uncle Vernon in the popular movies -- died Thursday following heart surgery in England. He was 65.

In addition to starring in the Potter films, Griffiths won a Tony for his role in "The History Boys" and starred alongside Daniel Radcliffe in "Equus" in 2007.

Radcliffe released a statement yesterday saying, "Richard was by my side during two of the most important moments of my career ... I was proud to say I knew him."

Griffiths' most recent performance was last year in a West End production of Neil Simon's comedy "The Sunshine Boys" that also starred Danny DeVito.

Griffiths is survived by his wife, Heather Gibson.

Draco Malfoy & GF Slytherin Around Miami

Unlike most wizards, "Harry Potter" star Tom Felton -- aks Draco Malfoy -- didn't freeze his wand off New Year's weekend ... hitting up Miami with his hot girlfriend instead.

Fun facts: Tom's GF Jade Olivia worked as a stunt assistant for the Potter flicks ... and even made a cameo as Draco's wife Astoria Greengrass in "Deathly Hallows: Part 2."

'Harry Potter' Villain Intended to Detonate Bomb ... Cops Say

The actor who played Crabbe the bully in 6 of the "Harry Potter" movies has been charged with possession of a homemade bomb ... which cops say he intended to detonate during the London riots.

According to U.K. reports, cops believe 22-year-old Jamie Waylett was packing a Molotov cocktail while looting champagne from a drug store during the London riots on August 8th.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Waylett was later identified by video footage after the incident ... and cops eventually arrested him on Sept. 20.

At some point during the investigation, cops claim they found 15 marijuana plants in Waylett's home.

Cops released a statement saying ... "[Waylett] was charged with violent disorder, having an article with intent to destroy or damage property, receiving stolen goods and also cultivating cannabis plants."

Waylett was eventually released on bail -- he's due back in court on Nov. 11.

Homeless 'Harry Potter' Dog Too Famous to Adopt

Berry -- the dog that played Padfoot in "Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban" -- will remain an orphan for the next few weeks -- because the people who run the rescue shelter where he lives have decided he's too famous to adopt.

10-year-old Berry's original owner (a stuntman) put the dog up for adoption because he was too busy to take care of it -- but a rep for the German Shepherd Dog Rescue in the UK tells TMZ, the charity won't let anyone adopt Berry until the publicity surrounding the HP movies has died down.

According to the rep, the rescue is worried someone will adopt Berry just for his star power -- not for his companionship.

In the meantime, the rep says, "We are busy home checking lots of new people ... and then will decide if one of them is good enough."

Rupert Grint To the Wizard, Goes the Spoils

With Harry and Hermione nowhere in sight, "Harry Potter" star Rupert Grint partied at Chateau Nightclub in Las Vegas last night.

Clearly he's got all the girls under his spell.

Emma Watson KISSING HER NON-POTTER CO-STAR

Emma Watson was spotted out in Santa Monica yesterday, getting quite cozy with her "Perks of Being a Wallflower" co-star Johnny Simmons.

He's clearly under her spell.

J.K. Rowling Presents ... Homeless Theater

"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling just got iced up with a 40-diamond bracelet -- but perhaps she'd like to hand it over to a someone in need ... like a homeless person ... played by Harvey Levin?

Check out TMZ on TV -- click here to see your local listings!

'Harry Potter' Author Scores Multi-Million $$ Thank You

As if J.K. Rowling wasn't rich enough -- Warner Bros. gave her a token of its appreciation for the latest "Harry Potter" flick -- an insanely expensive piece of jewelry.

Sources close to CEO Barry Meyer tell TMZ ... Rowling scored a white gold, antique 40-diamond bracelet worth millions of dollars -- which he presented to her at the London premiere after-party.

According to sources, Rowling was nervous about donning such a valuable piece of jewelry before she got it insured ... but she got a more primitive form of insurance -- a bunch of burly security guards at the bash.

Price, of course, is relative -- wordwide, the latest movie has grossed more than half-a-billion bucks.

Emma Watson Shortcut in Dorm Room Evacuation

Emma Watson modeled her little boy haircut during an emergency evacuation at Brown University yesterday morning -- but TMZ has learned ... unlike Hermione's 'do, the scary situation was a false alarm.

According to sources at Brown, the fire alarm at the dorm where she was staying went off around 10am -- and we're told, it all started with a leaky steam pipe ... which triggered the emergency alert system.

No one was injured -- and after about 10 embarrassing minutes outside in their pajamas, the students were allowed to return to their chambers of secrets.

Accio eye shadow!

Swine Flu -- All the Rage in Hollywood

It's the newest craze sweeping through Hollywood -- celebrities with Swine Flu!!!! And now two new members are on the infectious bandwagon!

CNN's chief medical expert Dr. Sanjay Gupta just got over his bout with the Swine Flu -- and Marilyn Manson just announced that he's got S.F. right now!

"Harry Potter's" Rupert Grint had it ... "The Early Show's" Harry Smith thinks he has it ... and Lisa Rinna claims her entire family got down with the sickness. It's a full blown trend!

According to Manson, he didn't contract it by "f**king a pig" -- we're guessing Gupta didn't either.

See Also

'Potter' Star Guilty in Potted Pot Plant Case

The kid who plays Vincent Crabbe in the "Harry Potter" movies could be heading to Azkaban wizard prison soon -- he just pled guilty to growing magical marijuana plants inside his mother's London home.

Jamie Waylett -- who plays the school bully in all six "Potter" flicks -- was popped in April after cops found eight bags of weed in the car in which Jamie was riding. Cops then searched Waylett's mom's place and found 10 pot plants.

Waylett will be sentenced on Tuesday -- he faces up to 14 years in the slammer.

Daniel Radcliffe -- He Who Must Not Be Bothered

Daniel Radcliffe must have had some kind of magic stick up his butt the other day in NYC -- because he snubbed a huge group of Potterheads outside the New York Times building. Even Will Smith stops for all his fans!

Might want to try that cloak of invisibility next time.

See Also

Evil Harry Potter Smites God-Fearing Librarian

When you think "Harry Potter," you think of an evil, Occultist, pagan, heathen devil, don't you?

Well, in this lawsuit, a Missouri librarian refused to push the Potter books on kids because she was afraid that The Boss -- the Almighty One -- would bring his fury on her and cast her out if she did. Unfortunately, she ended up incurring the wrath of the boss -- the one who pays her rent -- and got herself canned as a result.

So now Deborah Smith has invoked the help of the highly secular ACLU, which is helping her sue the Poplar Bluff Library for money. You know, the earthly kind. Amen.

Hermione Ditches Hogwarts for Millionaire School

Emma Watson turned 18 this week and got a $20 million (10.5 million GBP) present - plus a $10 check from grandma.

Watson received full access to her millions and has reportedly agreed to take a money management class offered for rich kids. Her dough is in Coutts Bank which offers a course for "children" aged 17-25 to ensure they don't spend all their coin on stuff like diamond encrusted shoe laces and pet robots.

The class is taught by former alumnus, Richie Rich. We kid, of course.

Hermione's rep did not return calls for comment.

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