:Rob Knox

{{Infobox person

| name = Rob Knox

| image = Rob Knox in Harry Potter (cropped).png

| caption = Knox on the set of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2008

| birth_name = Robert Arthur Knox

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1989|8|9}}

| birth_place = Kent, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|05|24|1989|08|09|df=y}}

| death_place = {{Nowrap|Sidcup, London, England}}

| death_cause = Murder by stabbing

| othername =

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 2000–2008

| website =

}}

Robert Arthur Knox (21 August 1989 – 24 May 2008) was an English actor who portrayed the character of Marcus Belby in the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7150000/newsid_7152200/7152288.stm|title=More Potter film casting revealed|access-date=19 December 2007|publisher=Newsround|date=19 December 2007|archive-date=26 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226163504/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7150000/newsid_7152200/7152288.stm|url-status=live}} and had signed to appear in its sequel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.{{cite news|first=David|last=Brown|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4004409.ece|title=Family of murdered Robert Knox speak out|work=The Times|location=London|date=26 May 2008|access-date=27 May 2008}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Having studied at Beths Grammar School, Bexley, Knox began acting aged 11, gaining small roles in British television shows like The Bill, After You've Gone and Trust Me, I'm a Teenager. His first cinematic appearance was as an extra in King Arthur (2004).

Knox died after being stabbed outside a bar in Sidcup, Southeast London, in May 2008, when he intervened in a fight to protect his brother. His murder attracted widespread attention in the British press, and his assailant, Karl Norman Bishop, was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum 20-year non-parole period.{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/story/675396/actors-killer-smirks-as-hes-jailed-for-life|title=Actor's Killer Smirks As He's Jailed For Life|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107112218/https://news.sky.com/story/675396/actors-killer-smirks-as-hes-jailed-for-life|archivedate=7 November 2014|date=5 March 2009|publisher=Sky News}} An annual film festival, the Rob Knox Film Festival, was created in 2008 to commemorate him, by the Rob Knox Foundation which helps fund training for young local people in the arts.

Early life and career

Knox was born to Colin and Sally Knox in 1989. He was a pupil at Beths Grammar School, Bexley. He had been acting since the age of 11, and his first credited role was a small part in an episode of the ITV police drama The Bill and he also appeared in the Channel 4 reality show Trust Me, I'm a Teenager, and the BBC comedy After You've Gone. He had previously appeared as an extra in a number of productions. The first film Knox appeared in was King Arthur in 2004. He also appeared on Tonight with Trevor McDonald.

Harry Potter

In 2007, casting began for the role of Marcus Belby in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the film adaptation of British author J. K. Rowling's best-selling novel and the sixth instalment of the Harry Potter film series.{{cite web | last=Buchanan | first=Jason | year=2009 | title=Overview of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | publisher=AllMovie | url=http://allmovie.com/work/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-357831 | access-date=14 May 2010 | archive-date=23 March 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323082808/http://www.allmovie.com/work/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-357831 | url-status=live }}

Knox posthumously appeared in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009).

Although his character does not appear in the seventh novel, Knox had signed on to reprise his role as Marcus Belby in the production of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Death

=Murder=

Knox died at the age of 18 after he was stabbed outside the Metro Bar in Sidcup, Southeast London, on 24 May 2008. He had intervened in a fight to protect his 17-year-old brother Jamie, who was being threatened by a man armed with two kitchen knives.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7418311.stm|title=Potter film actor killed in fight|access-date=24 May 2008|date=24 May 2008|publisher=BBC News|archive-date=28 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228015316/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7418311.stm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2008-05-24|title=Harry Potter film actor killed in fight outside bar in Sidcup, Kent|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/may/24/ukcrime|access-date=2021-02-06|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=18 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118013628/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/may/24/ukcrime|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2020778/Harry-Potter-actor-killed-in-Sidcup-knife-attack.html|title=Harry Potter actor killed in Sidcup knife attack|website=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 May 2008 |access-date=2 April 2018|archive-date=29 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229211123/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2020778/Harry-Potter-actor-killed-in-Sidcup-knife-attack.html|url-status=live}} Warner Bros. released a statement concerning his death: "We are all shocked and saddened by this news and at this time our sympathies are with his family".

=Arrest and trial of Karl Bishop=

Karl Norman Bishop (born 1987 in Lewisham,{{Cite web|url=http://www.findmypast.com/BirthsMarriagesDeaths.jsp|title=Births England and Wales 1984–2006|access-date=4 March 2009|archive-date=23 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823064352/http://www.findmypast.com/BirthsMarriagesDeaths.jsp|url-status=dead}} Southeast London),[http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641317214?f=rss "Harry Potter Actor's Murder: Man In Court"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212213058/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641317214 |date=12 February 2009 }}, News.Sky.com, 27 May 2008 from Carlton Road, Sidcup, was charged with the murder. He was taken into custody, and remained there until his trial, which began in February 2009.[http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/whereilive/southeast/bexley/4107174.SIDCUP__Man_to_stand_trial_for_murder_of_Harry_Potter_actor_Rob_Knox/ "SIDCUP: Man to stand trial for murder of Harry Potter actor Rob Knox"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604030711/http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/whereilive/southeast/bexley/4107174.SIDCUP__Man_to_stand_trial_for_murder_of_Harry_Potter_actor_Rob_Knox/ |date=4 June 2011 }}, ThisIsLocalLondon.com 6 February 2009 Bishop was found guilty of murder on 4 March 2009,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7922408.stm 'Potter actor's parents' anguish'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414083804/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7922408.stm |date=14 April 2009 }} BBC News, 4 March 2009{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article5847911.ece |last=Bannerman |first=Lucy |title="Karl Bishop guilty of killing Harry Potter actor Robert Knox" |work=The Times|location=London |date=5 March 2009 |access-date=13 March 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and received a life sentence with a minimum of 20 years before being considered for parole.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7924573.stm 'Life term for Potter actor killer'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310194706/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7924573.stm |date=10 March 2009 }} BBC News, 5 March 2009 Police reported that he showed no remorse for the crime.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7902646.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Actor accused showed 'no remorse' | date=20 February 2009 | access-date=5 October 2011 | archive-date=26 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226172117/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7902646.stm | url-status=live }}

Media

=Documentary=

{{citation |title=(K)nox: The Rob Knox Story |date=April 2021|title-link=(K)nox: The Rob Knox Story}}, an ITVX Documentary.{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/watch/knox-the-rob-knox-story/10a3796|title=Knox: The Rob Knox Story|publisher=ITVX|date=23 February 2023|access-date=22 February 2024|archive-date=22 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222214511/https://www.itv.com/watch/knox-the-rob-knox-story/10a3796|url-status=live}}

Filmography

colspan="4" style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Film
class="wikitable"
style="background:#ccc;"\| Year ! style="background:#ccc;"\| Title ! style="background:#ccc;"\| Role ! style="background:#ccc;"\| Notes
2004	King Arthur	extra	Uncredited
2009	Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince	Marcus Belby	Released posthumously
2021	(K)nox: The Rob Knox Story	Himself	Released posthumously
colspan="4" style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Television
style="background:#ccc;"\| Year ! style="background:#ccc;"\| Title ! style="background:#ccc;"\| Role ! style="background:#ccc;"\| Notes
	The Bill	Unknown	1 episode
2003	Trust me I'm a Teenager	Himself
2007	After You've Gone	Josh	2 episodes