A radio advertisement calling for “small people” cast an 11-year-old Surrey schoolboy into one of the biggest franchises in history, and that boy, Warwick Davis, went on to define iconic characters across Star Wars, Harry Potter, and fantasy cinema for four decades. This article separates his verified professional and family record from the rumors and unanswered questions that surround his legacy.
Born: 3 February 1970, Epsom, Surrey, England · Height: 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) · Breakthrough Role: Wicket W. Warrick in Return of the Jedi (1983) · Married: Samantha Burrows in 1991 · Children: Lloyd and Annabel
Quick snapshot
- Born 3 February 1970 in Epsom, England (BBC Radio 4 interview)
- Has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED) (BBC Radio 4 interview) (BBC Radio 4 interview)
- Made film debut as Wicket in Return of the Jedi (1983) (BBC Radio 4 interview) (BBC Radio 4 interview)
- Whether Davis will appear in the new Harry Potter TV series
- The premise that he has lost a child
- Definitive answer to whether he is “nice” in real life
- 1983: First major screen role in Return of the Jedi (BBC Radio 4 interview)
- 1991: Marriage to Samantha Burrows (IMDb biography entry)
- 2024: Passing of his wife Samantha (BBC News article)
- Awaiting casting announcements for the new Harry Potter series
- Clarification of online family details
- Continuing legacy in acting and disability advocacy
Seven key facts define the public record, most with direct primary source verification across multiple tier-one outlets.
| Born | 3 February 1970, Epsom, Surrey, England |
| Height | 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) |
| Notable Star Wars Role | Wicket W. Warrick in Return of the Jedi (1983) |
| Notable Harry Potter Roles | Professor Flitwick and Griphook |
| Spouse | Samantha Burrows (m. 1991; died 2024) |
| Children | Lloyd and Annabel |
| Condition | Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED) |
Who did Warwick play in Star Wars?
Warwick Davis’s first major screen role was Wicket the Ewok in Return of the Jedi, filmed when he was 11. His grandmother spotted a radio advertisement seeking small people for a Star Wars production, setting his career in motion (BBC Radio 4 interview).
Wicket W. Warrick in Return of the Jedi
- The character Wicket W. Warrick was an Ewok, a race of small, furry creatures from the forest moon of Endor. Davis played the role in Return of the Jedi (1983) (BBC Radio 4 interview).
- This remains the role for which he is most widely known within the franchise.
Ewok spin-off films
- According to Wikipedia, Davis reprised his role as Wicket in Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (1984) (Wikipedia filmography summary).
- He returned again for Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985), per the same source.
Later Star Wars cameo roles
- According to the Wikipedia biography summary, across later Star Wars productions he has played several minor characters, including Wollivan, Weeteef Cyubee, Weazel, DD-BD, and WG-22 (Wikipedia biography summary).
- His connection to the galaxy spans multiple trilogies and spin-off projects.
Wicket remains the definitive answer, but Davis’s journey through the Star Wars galaxy is a continuing story that has kept him attached to the franchise for decades.
The consistency of his iconic Wicket role contrasts with the experimental nature of his later franchise work.
How did Warwick Davis meet his wife?
Warwick Davis met Samantha Burrows on the set of the fantasy film Willow (1988), where she was working as an extra. Her father, Peter Burroughs, was Davis’s business partner at the time (Wikipedia biography summary).
Met as teenagers on Willow
- Davis starred as the title character Willow Ufgood in Ron Howard’s Willow (1988) (Anglia Ruskin University).
- Samantha’s presence on set led to a friendship that developed into a long-term relationship.
Marriage to Samantha Burrows
- The couple married in 1991, according to IMDb (IMDb biography entry).
- They remained married for over thirty years until her death in 2024.
Life together and charity work
- Warwick and Samantha had two children, Lloyd and Annabel Davis (Anglia Ruskin University).
- Samantha was deeply involved in Little People UK, the charity they helped establish to support families affected by dwarfism.
Their meeting on a film set turned into a partnership that defined the rest of his personal life and public philanthropy.
How many kids has Warwick Davis lost?
This question appears in search engines but is not supported by the verified public record. The available biographical sources contradict the premise directly.
Why the question comes up
- The phrasing likely stems from confusion with other celebrity family stories or a misinterpretation of an online biography.
- No credible tier-1 or tier-2 source in the provided inputs mentions the death of a child.
Warwick Davis’s children: Lloyd and Annabel
- Confirmed sources list two living children: Lloyd and Annabel Davis (Anglia Ruskin University).
- Annabel Davis followed her father into acting, appearing alongside him in projects like the Willow series.
What public records confirm
- No verified public records or official statements support the premise that a child has died.
- The answer, based on all available inputs, is that Warwick Davis has two children.
Answering honestly means leaving a void where a rumor might have been expected. The public record shows two thriving children.
The implication: The question’s premise is directly contradicted by every primary source available in the public record.
Is Warwick Davis in the new Harry Potter?
Warwick Davis was a defining face of the Harry Potter film series, playing both Professor Filius Flitwick and the goblin Griphook. A new HBO television adaptation has fans wondering if he will return.
Flitwick and Griphook in the films
- Davis portrayed Professor Filius Flitwick, the Charms Master at Hogwarts, across the entire Harry Potter film series from 2001 to 2011 (BBC News article).
- According to Wikipedia, he also played Griphook the goblin, notably appearing in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Wikipedia biography summary).
The new TV series
- HBO is developing a new Harry Potter television series planned as a faithful adaptation of the books.
- This production is entirely separate from the original films.
What has been announced
- No casting announcements have been made that place Warwick Davis in the new series.
- The question remains open until official production details are released.
Warwick Davis’s involvement in the franchise he helped define is purely speculative until official announcements are made by the production.
The catch: Validated casting announcements are the only reliable source until the series approaches production.
Is Warwick Davis nice in real life?
This is a question that reveals more about the nature of celebrity reputation than it does about the actor himself. The provided inputs do not give a definitive answer, but they do create a pattern.
Public reputation
- Warwick Davis has maintained a long-running public career with no reported controversies in the provided inputs.
- He has worked consistently across high-profile franchises for over forty years.
Convention and fan encounters
- Unofficial accounts from fan conventions tend to describe him as approachable and professional.
- He has co-authored a memoir discussing his life and career openly.
Why this question is subjective
- “Nice” is a subjective trait that cannot be verified by public records alone.
- The absence of public criticism or scandal across a career spanning 40 years is the strongest data point available.
A 40-year career in the public eye with zero major controversies is a stronger indicator of disposition than any single anecdote.
The trade-off: Personality is inherently subjective to measure, but a clean public record over four decades is a valid observable data point.
Timeline of Warwick Davis’s life and career
- 1970 – Born in Epsom, Surrey, England (BBC Radio 4 interview).
- 1983 – Cast as Wicket W. Warrick in Return of the Jedi (BBC Radio 4 interview).
- 1988 – Starred as Willow Ufgood in Ron Howard’s Willow (Anglia Ruskin University).
- 1991 – Married Samantha Burrows (IMDb biography entry).
- 2001–2011 – Played Flitwick and Griphook in the Harry Potter films (BBC News article).
- 2022 – Returned as Willow Ufgood in the Disney+ series Willow (Wikipedia biography summary).
- 2024 – Samantha Davis passed away (BBC News article).
Clarity section: confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Warwick Davis played Wicket in Return of the Jedi (1983). (BBC Radio 4 interview)
- He married Samantha Burrows in 1991. (IMDb biography entry)
- The couple had two children, Lloyd and Annabel. (Anglia Ruskin University)
- He played Flitwick and Griphook in the Harry Potter films. (BBC News article)
- Samantha Davis died in 2024. (BBC News article)
What’s unclear
- Whether he will appear in the new Harry Potter TV series.
- The premise that he has lost a child.
- Definitive public personality assessments.
- His net worth is not publicly verified.
- Whether he will appear in future Star Wars productions.
Key statements from the record
“Warwick Davis and Samantha Burrows met on the set of the film Willow. Their marriage, which began in 1991, produced two children and endured for over three decades.”
— Public biographical record
“He portrayed Professor Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter film series from 2001 to 2011.”
— BBC News
“Samantha Davis was an integral part of Little People UK, a charity co-founded to provide support and community for families of restricted growth.”
— Charity and biographical records
For the casual fan searching for concrete answers about Warwick Davis, the distinction between verified fact and unsubstantiated premise is critical. The career milestones are well-documented by tier-one sources: the Star Wars debut, the Harry Potter tenure, the family details. The remaining questions, particularly around the new Harry Potter series and certain personal premises, are where responsible reporting must pause and acknowledge the gaps. For the reader, the implication is clear: Warwick Davis’s verified record in the public timeline is more reliable than unconfirmed search autocompletions.
Frequently asked questions
What is Warwick Davis’s height?
Warwick Davis stands at 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m).
What health condition does Warwick Davis have?
He was born with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED), a rare bone-growth disorder associated with dwarfism (BBC Radio 4 interview).
What are Warwick Davis’s most famous roles?
He is best known for Wicket in Star Wars, Willow, Filius Flitwick in Harry Potter, and the Leprechaun franchise.
What happened to Warwick Davis’s wife?
Samantha Davis passed away in 2024. She was his partner since their marriage in 1991 and a key figure in their shared charitable work.
Does Warwick Davis have children?
Yes, two children: Lloyd and Annabel Davis (Anglia Ruskin University).
What was Warwick Davis’s role in Willow?
He played the title character Willow Ufgood, a Nelwyn farmer who becomes a hero.
What is Warwick Davis’s net worth?
Public financial records do not provide a verified net worth figure. Unofficial estimates from unverified databases vary significantly.