Millions knew Richard Griffiths as blustering, moustached Vernon Dursley, Harry Potter’s deeply unimpressed uncle.
But long before he was sharing the screen with Daniel Radcliffe, the actor was growing up in small Teesside town.
Born in Thornaby in 1947, Griffiths went on to become one of Britain's most recognisable actors, building an award-winning career across theatre, television and film over more than 40 years.
Located just outside Stockton, Thornaby has a rich history stretching back more than 1,000 years - growing rapidly during the Victorian era as Teesside’s iron and steel industries expanded.
The town sits on the south bank of the River Tees and has produced many notable figures over the years - but few matched Griffiths' international fame.
While younger generations will remember him best as Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films, Griffiths' career stretched far beyond Privet Drive.
He starred as the eccentric Uncle Monty in the cult British classic Withnail and I, detective-turned-chef Henry Crabbe in the hit television series Pie in the Sky, and won widespread acclaim for his portrayal of teacher Hector in Alan Bennett's The History Boys.
His performance in The History Boys won Olivier and Tony Awards, cementing his reputation as one of Britain’s finest stage actors.
His other major screen credits included Chariots of Fire, Gandhi, Sleepy Hollow, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Martin Scorsese’s Hugo.
For many fans, his most enduring role remains the unpleasant but unforgettable Vernon Dursley.
The role also links Griffiths to two of the North East’s best-known filming locations.
Durham Cathedral provided Hogwarts’s interiors and corridors, while the iconic flying broomstick lessons from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone were filmed at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.
Over the years, both landmarks have become major visitor attractions for Harry Potter fans keen to walk in the footsteps of the boy wizard and the stars who brought the books to life.
Although Vernon Dursley was one of the franchise's least magical characters, Griffiths became a key part of the series, appearing in five Harry Potter films between 2001 and 2010.
The son of deaf parents, Griffiths learned sign language from an early age and left school at 15 before later returning to education and ultimately training as an actor.
Read more
When Chris Hemsworth and Marvel descended on Durham Cathedral to film Avengers
The Teesside town that brought up Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell - and where he is now
County Durham-born actor Rowan Atkinson to honour man who inspired Mr Bean
Griffiths passed away in March 2013, aged 65, following complications after heart surgery.
Tributes poured in from across the entertainment world, including from Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who described Griffiths as being by his side during two of the most important moments of his career.
Radcliffe said any room Griffiths entered was made "twice as funny and twice as clever" by his presence.
More than a decade after his death, Griffiths remains one of Teesside’s most celebrated actors, with a legacy stretching from Thornaby to Hogwarts and beyond.
Share