Potter star Harris in final trip to Bahamas

The life of Richard Harris, the flamboyant Limerick-born Hollywood star who died on Friday aged 72, will be commemorated at a private family funeral in London before his ashes are taken back to be scattered at his home in the Bahamas.

The twice-Oscar-nominated actor, who died of cancer after completing his last role as Professor Dumbledore in the latest Harry Potter movie, The Chamber of Secrets, will be given a public send- off at two memorial services, to be held in London and Dublin. Dates for the services have yet to be announced.

The producer of the Harry Potter movies, David Heyman, said of Harris yesterday: "He is Dumbledore in many people's eyes. In truth, he will be irreplaceable. We will find a new Dumbledore but there will only be one Richard Harris."

The actor, who once described his philosophy on life as "get laid, get pissed, move on", was as famous for his fast living, hard drinking and acerbic wit as for his performances. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1963 for his role in This Sporting Life, and in 1990 for The Field.

Harris retained his fighting spirit to the end, Heyman discovered during a recent hospital visit. The producer recalled: "He did threaten to kill me if I recast [Dumbledore]. I cannot even repeat what he said."

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