One of the most important figures behind the magic of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films has passed away.
Stuart Craig, the Oscar-winning production designer who literally built the Wizarding World as we know it—on screen and beyond—has died at the age of 83.
The news was confirmed by the British Film Designers Guild and later echoed by Wizarding World Direct, who wrote on X:
“Stuart Craig has sadly passed away at the age of 83. He was the production designer for all of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. We owe him all the locations such as Hogwarts, Gringotts, Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic and much more…”
Stuart Craig has sadly passed away at the age of 83
He was the production designer for all of the HARRY POTTER and FANTASTIC BEASTS films
He owe him all the locations such as Hogwarts, Gringotts, Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic and much more… pic.twitter.com/hjyI1I4yPb
— Wizarding World Direct (@WW_Direct) September 9, 2025
For Harry Potter fans, theme park-goers, and anyone who has ever dreamed of stepping into the magical world of wands and wizardry, this is a gut punch. While J.K. Rowling imagined the world, Stuart Craig made it real.
He Didn’t Just Design Hogwarts — He Designed a Generation’s Imagination
Let’s be clear: without Stuart Craig, the Wizarding World wouldn’t look or feel the way it does. From the very first moments of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 2001, Craig was the man behind the magic—creating a cinematic Hogwarts that was gothic, grand, and completely unforgettable.
Diagon Alley? That was him. The Ministry of Magic? Him. The shimmering white vaults of Gringotts? Also him. Every corridor, classroom, fireplace, and enchanted staircase came through Craig’s hands, and each one became iconic.
He didn’t stop with the main series. He went on to design every single Fantastic Beasts film, expanding the universe from Britain to the U.S., France, Germany, and beyond. Through his work, fans saw what 1920s wizarding New York looked like. He gave us the gritty details of Grindelwald’s rise, the deep lore of magical Europe, and the architectural gravitas to make every frame believable.
This wasn’t just set design — this was world-building on a massive scale.
Stuart Craig Was Already a Legend Before Harry Potter Came Along
Craig wasn’t new to the game when Warner Bros. handed him the keys to the Wizarding World. In fact, he was already a heavyweight in film circles. He had three Oscars under his belt and a whopping ten nominations.
His first nomination came in 1980 for David Lynch’s The Elephant Man, a hauntingly beautiful black-and-white biopic that proved Craig’s talent for storytelling through architecture and space.
Just a few years later, he won his first Academy Award for his work on Gandhi (1982), the sweeping historical epic that demanded authenticity, scale, and visual impact. That win was followed by two more Oscars—for Dangerous Liaisons(1988), dripping in aristocratic French opulence, and The English Patient (1996), with its stark desert romance and wartime decay.
Not bad for a guy who started out designing sci-fi sets in the ’70s.
From the Big Screen to Theme Parks: His Work Went Global
If you’ve ever walked through The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios—whether in Orlando, Hollywood, or Osaka—you were literally walking through Stuart Craig’s designs. The theme parks were based on his original production sets and were created with his input, translating his movie magic into real-life, walkable, edible, photo-op-ready destinations.
The butterbeer stand in Hogsmeade? The cobblestone magic shops in Diagon Alley? The glowing entrance to Gringotts? All of it stems from the world Craig built on screen—and he brought that same design philosophy to the theme park experience: authentic, immersive, and unforgettable.
And let’s not forget how many Disney fans made their way across the aisle to enjoy Craig’s creations. You can love Cinderella Castle and still lose your mind the first time you see Hogwarts up close.
His Career Spanned Generations and Genres
Though Craig is now forever linked to the Wizarding World, his resume was as eclectic as it was impressive.
He worked on:
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Notting Hill (yes, that Notting Hill)
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Chaplin, starring Robert Downey Jr.
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Shadowlands, with Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger
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Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
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The Mission, Cry Freedom, Mary Reilly, Cal, The Avengers (1998), and many others
His aesthetic was never tied to a single look. Whether he was designing a posh London townhouse or a fog-drenched 1800s courtroom, he knew how to make spaces speak. You might not have noticed the sets in every one of these films—and that’s exactly the point. When Stuart Craig was at work, you were immersed. Nothing felt like a soundstage.
A Soft-Spoken Legend in a Loud Industry
Craig wasn’t flashy. He didn’t need to be. He let his work do the talking. But those who worked with him describe him as generous, kind, and endlessly supportive.
According to fellow production designer Neil Lamont, Craig was “a true gentleman… always taking the time to share his knowledge and support those around him.” In a business full of egos, Craig was the one everyone wanted to work with. Quiet, classy, and brilliant.
He mentored up-and-coming designers, helped bring in new talent, and was known to be hands-on even late into his career. He never phoned it in. Not once.
Survived by Family, Remembered by the World
Stuart Craig is survived by his wife, Patricia Stangroom, and their two children. But his legacy is global. Every time someone picks up a wand at a theme park, re-watches the Harry Potter movies, or strolls through a fan-made recreation of Hogwarts at a convention, they’re walking through his world.
In the same way Disney fans look to Mary Blair, Marc Davis, or Joe Rohde as creative icons, Wizarding World fans—and film lovers at large—will remember Craig as the man who made the magic feel real.
He didn’t just design sets. He built dreams—and made them feel like home.
Rest in peace, Stuart Craig. The castle stands because of you.
