Michael Byrne, Veteran British Character Actor, Dies at 82

Overview

• British outlets reported the death of Michael Byrne, a London-born actor whose career began on stage and later moved into film and television.
• The family has not released a cause of death and have given limited public comment about his passing.
• Byrne was best known for memorable antagonist roles, including Colonel Vogel in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Smythe in Braveheart, and he also played an older Gellert Grindelwald in the Harry Potter franchise.
• He trained and worked in theatre companies such as the National Theatre and the Arena Theatre, returned to stage work in later years, and accumulated a steady stream of supporting roles across six decades.
• Reports agree he is survived by two daughters and close family care from his ex-wife Carole Nimmons, while outlets differ slightly on the reported number of grandchildren.