In depressing news, Dave Legeno, an actor who appeared in the first two Harry Potter films (as the werewolf Fenrir Greyback) as well as ‘Snatch,’ (as Bricktop’s henchman, John) was recently identified after his body was found in a remote hiking area of Death Valley. In addition to acting, the 50-year-old Legeno was a boxer and MMA fighter (“The Enforcer”) whose 4-3 record included wins over MMA legends Dan Severn, Kimo Leopoldo, and Herb Dean (yep, Herb doesn’t just ref, he also fights). Legeno had one daughter.
“The Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch received notification on Sunday [July 6] at approximately 7 a.m. that remains had been discovered in a remote wash west of Zabriskie Point in Death Valley,” read a statement given to THR.
“The reporting party was part of an unrelated two-person hiking group. Due to the remote area, California Highway Patrol helicopter H-82 out of Apple Valley was utilized to insert an Inyo County Sheriff’s Deputy, and also provided transportation of the body.
“The remains have been identified as David Legeno, a 50-year-old United Kingdom man. It appears that Legeno died of heat related issues, but the Inyo County Coroner will determine the final cause of death. There are no signs of foul play.” [THR]
I’m not going to pretend that me and Dave Legeno were best buds or that I had Dave Legeno posters on the wall of my dorm, but it is pretty shitty that a guy who started fighting MMA at the age of 42 could ultimately be submitted via sunlight. You see, this is why I refuse to do anything in nature ever. One time a friend asked me if I wanted to go camping and I punched him right in the belly. Nonetheless, if we can take solace in anything about this crappy story, it’s that the place where Legeno’s body was found was called “Manly Beacon,” which seems incredibly fitting.
Legeno in ‘Snatch.’
Legeno vs. Herb Dean.
Legeno in ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.’