Though it may not be a name attached to posters on the walls of teenage girls, or being bandied around for award nominations, Robert Knox is a name that is sadly make its way into the news.

Only 18 years young, Knox played a minor role in this year’s Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, to be released later this year in November. Portraying the character Marcus Belby, who’s described as “thin and nervous-looking” (HBP, page 143), this was Knox’s first movie role.

It appears that Knox, 18, his little brother Jamie, 16, and friends were attacked by a 21-year-old man wielding two knives. Lee Howard, a friend of Knox’s, noted that “We were in the bar, just having a drink on a Friday night as normal, when word went round someone was coming down, tooled up with knives … One went up to Jamie and said, ‘I’m going to get you. I’m going to slit your throat.’”

What followed next saw Knox end up taking what appears to be three stab wounds in the chest, as he tried to defend his little brother, who had apparently been hit by a chair by one of the attackers.

In a statement released by Knox’s parents, the 18-year-old was described as “kind and thoughtful” and one who “would always help out others.”

“The life and soul of the party, he was very outgoing, loved sports, and would always strike up a conversation with people. He was respectful to others and adored by all his family and friends.”

One of the attackers, aged 21, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

From all of us here at Geeks of Doom, and throughout the Harry Potter community of fans, our deepest and heartfelt prayers go out to the friends and family of Robert Knox.