Harry Potter star Warwick Davis is suing a London hospital alleging medical negligence following the death of his wife, Samantha.
Samantha Davis, 53, who was also an actress, died on March 24 last year.
Warwick, 54, has commissioned the Irwin Mitchell law firm to represent his family following Samantha’s death, and medical negligence lawyer Madeline Nugent is working with them to further investigate the circumstances of her death.
Coroner Mrs Jean Harkin today said her inquest would answer questions about the circumstances surrounding Samantha’s death.
Warwick and his daughter Annabelle, 27, were due to take part in the proceedings, which took place remotely from West London’s Inner Coroner’s Court today.
However, the hearing was adjourned before any evidence was presented to the court as Warwick was unable to connect remotely.
The Davis family’s lawyer, William Chapman, told the court that Warwick’s internet connection for the “Teams hearing” kept “crashing.”
And the lawyer suggested the hearing be adjourned to ensure Warwick could follow the investigation and contribute fully.
Samantha Davis (pictured with Warwick), who met her husband on the set of their 1988 film Willow. She died at age 53 in March 2024. Warwick is now suing the hospital that treated her.
Warwick with wife Samantha and children Harrison and Annabelle at screening of Disney+ series Willow in 2022
Warwick Davis and his wife Samantha on their wedding day in 1991. They were married for more than three decades.
Jean Harkin, assistant coroner, accepted an adjournment, telling the court: “Warwick Davis would most likely like to be part of this inquest process.”
‘At the next hearing I will make sure there is nothing in my diary that day… I will give it a full day when I record (the investigation) again.’
William Chapman responded: “We are happy with your suggestion and thank you,” adding that the family would like the process to be done remotely again.
The inquest, which has been adjourned to a future date “as quickly as possible”, is expected to determine whether the treatment Samantha received at University College London Hospital for a spinal condition contributed to her death.
She fell ill with sepsis in 2019, which led to her receiving treatment in intensive care. This followed operations on his spine which were carried out at University College London Hospital.
Samantha met her husband of 33 years when she had an uncredited role in his 1988 film Willow.
The couple married in 1991 and had three children, Lloyd, Harrison and Annabelle, but tragically the eldest died just nine days after birth.
Warwick said in 2022 that she would not wish the “devastating” experience of losing her son on anyone, adding: “You never get over it.”
Star Wars actor Warwick paid an emotional tribute to Samantha, who he described as his “favourite human”, following her death last year.
The couple’s children said they felt “honored to have received love like hers.”
During their 33-year marriage, they had three children, one of whom tragically died shortly after birth. The couple appears in the photo in 1996.
Warwick Davis and his wife Samantha are pictured with their children at the European premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in London in December 2015.
“His passing has left a huge void in our lives as a family,” the 54-year-old said in a statement. “I miss his hugs.”
He described Sammy, as he called her, as his “most trusted confidant and a fervent supporter of everything I did in my career.”
And he added: “She was a unique character, she always saw the happy side of life. She had a wicked sense of humor and always laughed at my bad jokes.
The couple’s children, Harrison and Annabelle, said “their love and happiness accompanied us throughout our lives.” “Mom is our best friend and we feel honored to have received love like hers,” they added.
Samantha was diagnosed with achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that causes dwarfism, when she was a child.
Her husband suffers from a similar condition, congenital spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. It meant he never grew taller than 3 feet 6 inches.
After Samantha’s death, Warwick He said he felt like he could accomplish anything with his wife by his side and that he felt like he had a “superpower.”
The Star Wars actor and his wife, who married in 1991
Warwick and Samantha Davis with their children Harrison and Annabelle at the Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiere in California in 2017
Warwick Davis and his wife Samantha at the BAFTA Children’s Awards in November 2011
Samantha Davis with her husband when she starred in Spamalot at the Playhouse Theater in London in 2013.
Warwick said his wife’s mobility had been affected in recent years, but shared that she was determined not to let it get her down.
He and Samantha, co-founder of the charity Little People UK, met when Warwick played sorceress Willow Ufgood in the 1988 film that bears the character’s name.
Samantha and her father Peter Burroughs, Warwick’s business partner, had minor roles as villagers.
He also had an uncredited role as an elf in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in 2011, in which Davis played Filius Flitwick, Hogwarts’ charms professor, for the last time.
In 1989, he took part in the BBC educational series Through The Dragon’s Eye.
Warwick and Peter, 77, co-founded Willow Management in 1995 with the aim of changing the way people with dwarfism were portrayed on screen.
Peter is also an actor and has appeared in film and television productions including The Legend Of King Arthur; Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; and the 1983 Star Wars film Return of the Jedi, in which he played an Ewok.