Harry Potter’s Maggie Smith Died Exactly 1 Year After Dumbledore Actor Michael Gambon

Harry Potter fans have picked up on a connection between Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon that goes past their beloved film roles.

The two actors died on the exact same date — Sept. 27 — exactly one year apart, with Smith this year at age 89 and Gambon in 2023, at age 82.

Smith played the no-nonsense Professor Minerva McGonagall in the blockbuster fantasy franchise. Her character was the formidable Hogwarts transfiguration teacher, head of Gryffindor house and, later, headmistress, taking over the latter position from Professor Albus Dumbledore.

Gambon took over the role of Dumbledore, McGonagall’s longtime colleague and friend, beginning with 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He succeeded Richard Harris, who played Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films, before his death in 2002 at age 72.

Gambon died “peacefully” in the hospital late in the evening of Sept. 27, 2023, a representative for the Irish-born British actor confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE the following day, issued on behalf of his wife and son.

“We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon,” the statement began. “Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia. Michael was 82.”

The statement concluded, “We ask that you respect our privacy at this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love.”

Smith’s sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, confirmed the news of her death on the same date this year, saying in a statement that their mother “passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.”

“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother,” the brothers added, in part.

A British actress with more than 80 film, television and stage credits to her name over the span of 70-plus years, Smith racked up accolades that included two Academy Awards (from a total of six nominations), four Golden Globe Awards, four Emmy Awards and a Tony Award.

She was introduced to a new generation of moviegoers in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), and went on to reprise her role of McGonagall in the remaining seven films in the franchise.

And her personality mix of sweetness and stature was exactly what drew director Chris Columbus to Smith when he was casting that first Harry Potter film.

In an early 2000s clip posted to YouTube, Columbus — who directed the first two Harry Potter movies, including Sorcerer’s Stone and 2002’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets — reflected on “what we needed” from McGonagall.

“Someone that you were intimidated by but someone who had a real sense of warmth and heart,” Columbus, now 66, said of where he landed. “And that’s exactly who Maggie is. And I thought, this is perfect for McGonagall.”