Harry Potter star Warwick Davis paid tribute to his wife this evening following her death at the age of 53.
Samantha Davis, who was an actress herself and met her husband while playing an uncredited role in his 1988 film Willow, died tragically on March 24.
Star Wars actor Davis has paid a moving tribute to his “favorite human” to whom he was married for more than 30 years and with whom he shared three children.
“His passing has left a huge void in our family lives. I miss his hugs,” the 54-year-old said in a statement to the BBC.
He described Sammy, as he called him, as his “most trusted confidant and a strong supporter of everything I have done in my career.”
“She was a unique character, always seeing the sunny side of life, she had a bad sense of humor and was always laughing at my bad jokes,” Davis added.
The couple’s children, Harrison and Annabelle, said his “love and happiness carried us through our lives.” “Mom is our best friend and we are honored to have received a love like hers,” they added.
Davis said he felt like he could accomplish anything with his wife by his side, likening it to feeling like he had a “superpower.”
Wife of Harry Potter star Warwick Davis has died aged 53. Samantha Davis, who was also an actress, met her husband while playing an uncredited role in his 1988 film Willow.
Warwick and Samantha Davis with their children Harrison and Annabelle at the premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi in California in 2017
Warwick Davis and his wife Samantha Burroughs on their wedding day in 1991
He said her mobility had been reduced in recent years, but explained how she was determined not to let it get her down.
She came close to death in 2019 when she fell ill with sepsis before a family vacation.
Davis previously recounted how he and the couple’s children “kind of said goodbye” at her bedside before she passed away.
The actor and his wife lost their baby son Lloyd just nine days after his birth in 1991, the year they married.
Davis said in 2022 he wouldn’t wish the “devastating” experience on anyone and added: “You never get over it.”
He and Samantha met when Davis played the role of wizard Willow Ufgood in the 1988 film named after the character.
Samantha and her father Peter – who is Davis’ business partner – played minor roles as villagers.
She also played an uncredited role as a goblin in 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, in which Davis last played Filius Flitwick, the Hogwarts charms professor.
In 1989, she took part in the BBC educational series Through the Dragon’s Eye.
Davis and Mr Burroughs, 77, co-founded Willow Management in 1995 with the aim of changing the way people with dwarfism were portrayed on screen.
Mr. Burroughs is also an actor and has appeared both on stage and in television and film productions, including The Legend of King Arthur, Hamlet and as an Ewok in the 1983 Star Wars film Return of the Jedi.
Davis and his wife have a daughter together, actress Annabelle, 27, and son Harrison, 21.
Samantha Davis and Warwick Davis attend the ITV Palooza! held at the Royal Festival Hall on October 16, 2018
Harrison also appeared as a goblin in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Annabelle played Lacey Lloyd in Hollyoaks until January this year.
Speaking about the death of her first son to People in 2022, Davis said: “I think it brings you closer, or something like that, but it’s an experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone, it’s devastating.”
“You learn to live with it, eventually over time you are able to better understand why it happened and accept it a little more, but you never get over it.
“I think the losses have shaped our family dynamic, we love Annabelle and Harrison all the more because they are here with us.”
Lloyd inherited dwarfism from both his parents and died from complications caused by the disease.
The couple lost a second child – who they named George – when Samantha suffered a miscarriage at 20 weeks in 1993.
Samantha Davis with her husband when he starred in Spamalot at the Playhouse Theater in London, 2013
Warwick Davis, his wife Samantha, his daughter Annabelle and his son Harrison attend the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Leicester Square on December 16, 2015.
Warwick with his wife Samantha and their children Harrison and Annabelle at the screening of the Disney+ series Willow
Davis and his wife Samantha at the London Palladium in 2015
Samantha Davis came close to death in 2019 when she fell ill with sepsis before a family vacation. Above: Her daughter hugs her at the hospital
Davis added: “We will always remember what happened with George and Lloyd. We will always be grateful to have had them for the short time we had.
The star previously said the tragedies made him and Samantha stronger as a couple.
Speaking on Bear Grylls’ Bear’s Mission TV show in 2018, he said: “Before Annabelle and Harrison, we had a little boy, Lloyd, who inherited both of our conditions… and that’s something that proves fatal.
“It’s something a baby won’t survive.” But Lloyd who he lived for survived nine days, but yes, he was handsome… but it was a difficult time. And yes, we also had a stillbirth.
The star said he and his wife survived the painful time together, saying: “Those kinds of things, it makes you stronger (as a couple).”
Davis was born with an extremely rare condition called congenital spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (SED), in which bone endings fail to form. This meant he never grew taller than 3 feet 6 inches.
His wife suffered from another form of dwarfism called achondroplasia.
Samantha fell ill with sepsis before a family caravan holiday in 2019.
She initially thought her symptoms were caused by the stress of preparing for the trip.
When her exhaustion left her unable to stand without support, her husband called an after-hours doctor and she was rushed to hospital.
Davis said in 2022: “The next few hours were the longest of my life as I waited on the ward with our children in the empty space left by Sam’s hospital bed.” I hoped that would not symbolize for us a future without it.
He continues: Our family gathered at his bedside; although optimistic, we were sort of saying goodbye in case Sam didn’t survive.
Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick in Harry Potter. He played the Charms Professor in all the Harry Potter films.
Davis with Val Kilmer in the 1988 film Willow. He met his future wife Samantha while filming the film
Warwick Davis meets King Charles, then Prince of Wales, at Willow’s charity premiere
Warwick Davis as the wizard Willow Ufgood in the 1988 film Willow
Davis reprized his role as Ufgood in the television series Willow, which aired in 2022 but was later canceled after just one season.
“It’s so hard to see someone you love more than anything in the world fighting to stay alive without even having the strength to turn over in their bed.”
Doctors were concerned about a scar on Samantha’s back from a recent spinal operation she had. Davis said it was “inflamed with liquid, red and hot to the touch.”
Tests came back showing Sam had deadly Streptococcus bacteria and meningitis, meaning she needed emergency surgery.
However, she recovered and was treated by Davis for three months.
Davis reprized his role as Ufgood in the television series Willow, which aired in 2022 but was later canceled after just one season.
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