UK actor Paul Grant has passed away. The 4-foot-4 actor popular for his roles in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone died at the age of 56 after a prolonged battle with drugs and alcohol addiction.
His daughter, Sophie Jayne Grant, 28, confirmed his tragic demise in a statement to The Sun: “I’m devastated. My dad was a legend in so many ways.
He always brought a smile and laughter to everyone’s face. My dad, I love you so much. Sleep tight.”
Grant’s girlfriend Maria Dwyer, 64, paid tribute to the actor, saying: “Paul was the love of my life. The funniest man I know. He made my life complete. Life is never going to be the same without him.”
Paul Grant Cause Of Death
The cause of death has not been disclosed. However, Grant was found collapsed outside King’s Cross station in north London on Thursday afternoon.
Paramedics rushed Grant to the hospital, where he was declared brain dead, though he was kept on life support until Sunday. He was later pronounced dead at 3.49am on Monday.
A London ambulance service spokesperson said: “We were called at 2.08pm on Thursday 16 March to reports of an incident at St Pancras Station, Euston Road.
We sent an ambulance crew and a medic in a response car. We treated a man at the scene and took him to hospital as a priority.”
Grant is speculated to have died of addiction due to his past issues with drugs and alcohol. The actor, who famously played an Ewok in Return of the Jedi opened up about his troubles in 2014 when photos of him snorting cocaine surfaced online.
“I need help. I’ve been on cocaine and it has just got worse,” Grant confessed to Sunday Mirror at the time. “I’m drinking and smoking what I can get.”
“I had a family, I was married, now I’m divorced. I’ve lost everything… I don’t know what I want at the moment. I had money, I blew it all, I spent it on drugs and prostitutes.”
Grant is survived by his girlfriend Maria Dwyer, his two daughters and one son, as well as his stepchildren and grandchildren. The family have opened a Gofund Me to help raise funds for his funeral.
Condolences to his family.
