Stuart Norman Craig (14 April 1942 – 7 September 2025) was a British production designer. In a career spanning a half-century, he won three Academy Awards and three BAFTAs. He was particularly known for his work with Stephenie McMillan on the Harry Potter films, and with Anna Pinnock on the Fantastic Beasts films.
Life and career Background Stuart Norman Craig was born in Norwich on 14 April 1942. His film career started upon his graduation from the Royal College of Art in 1966.
In 1966, Craig married Patricia Stangroom, with whom he had two children. He died from Parkinson's disease at his home in Windsor, Berkshire, on 7 September 2025, at the age of 83.Stuart Craig Dies; Oscar-Winning Production Designer From Harry Potter Franchise & ‘The English Patient’ Was 83
Career Craig was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, and won three: in 1982 for Gandhi, in 1988 for Dangerous Liaisons, and in 1996 for The English Patient. He was nominated for a BAFTA award sixteen times, including for the first six and last Potter films, and won three times: in 1980 for The Elephant Man, in 2005 for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and in 2016 for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
For his work on The English Patient, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2, Craig was nominated for an Art Directors Guild award and won the same for The English Patient and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. The Guild has also honoured Craig with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the awards ceremony on 16 February 2008.
At Potter author J. K. Rowling's request, he worked with Universal Creative team to design the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park. Rowling said in a December 2007 interview on the Potter podcast PotterCast, "The key thing for me was that, if there was to be a theme park, that Stuart Craig … would be involved. … More than involved, that he would pretty much design it. Because I love the look of the films; they really mirror what’s been in my imagination for all these years".
Craig was nominated for a BAFTA Award for six films in a row, namely the first six Harry Potter films.
Filmography As art director A Bridge Too Far (1977) Superman (1978)
As production designer Year Title Director1980 Saturn 3 Stanley Donen The Elephant Man David Lynch 1982 Gandhi Richard Attenborough1984 Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes Hugh Hudson Cal Pat O'Connor 1986 The Mission Roland Joffé 1987 Cry Freedom Richard Attenborough1988 Dangerous Liaisons Stephen Frears Stars and Bars Pat O'Connor 1990 Memphis Belle Michael Caton-Jones 1992 Chaplin Richard Attenborough1993 The Secret Garden Agnieszka Holland Shadowlands Richard Attenborough1996 Mary Reilly Stephen Frears The English Patient Anthony Minghella In Love and War Richard Attenborough 1998 The Avengers Jeremiah S. Chechik 1999 Notting Hill Roger Michell 2000 The Legend of Bagger Vance Robert Redford 2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Chris Columbus 2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Alfonso Cuarón 2005Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Mike Newell 2007 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix David Yates 2009 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 2010 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 2012 Gambit Michael Hoffman2016 The Legend of TarzanDavid YatesFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2018Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald 2022Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Awards and nominations Academy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.1980Best Art Direction The Elephant Man 1982 Gandhi 1986 The Mission 1988 Dangerous Liaisons 1992 Chaplin 1996The English Patient2001Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 2005Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire2010Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 12011Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 22016Best Production DesignFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
British Academy Film Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.1980Best Production Design The Elephant Man 1982 Gandhi 1984 Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes 1986 The Mission 1989 Dangerous Liaisons 1992 Chaplin 1996The English Patient 2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 2005Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 2007Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 2009Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 2016Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2018 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
See also List of Academy Award winners and nominees from Great Britain
References
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