Actor Warwick Davis reveals wife’s death in heartbreaking statement

“I miss her hugs”: Beloved British actor Warwick Davis has announced the death of his wife, aged just 53.

Warwick Davis and Samantha Davis. Picture: Tim Whitby/Getty

Warwick Davis’ wife Samantha has died aged 53.

In a heartbreaking statement, the Tenable star said his “favourite human” passed away on March 24.

The couple met on the set of the movie Willow in 1988 and married three years later.

“Her passing has left a huge hole in our lives as a family. I miss her hugs”, Warwick, 54, said.

He added: “She was a unique character, always seeing the sunny side of life she had a wicked sense of humour and always laughed at my bad jokes.

“Without Sammy, there would have been no Tenable quiz show, no Willow series. No Idiot Abroad Series 3.”

Warwick said Samantha was his “most trusted confidant and an ardent supporter of everything I did in my career”.

The couple’s children, Harrison and Annabelle, added: “Mum is our best friend and we’re honoured to have received a love like hers

“Her love and happiness carried us through our whole lives”.

Warwick's most recent Instagram post showed a "long overdue date night" with his "beautiful wife."

Samantha was best known for her roles in Through the Dragon’s Eye, ShortFellas and Honky Sausages.

Her dad Peter, who was also extra alongside his daughter in Willow, was Warwick’s business partner.

Samantha had achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that causes disproportionate dwarfism.

Warwick has previously opened up about his wife’s health after she was rushed to hospital with sepsis in 2018.

The actor told The Sun that her health dramatically declined ahead of a family caravan holiday.

The couple with their two children in 2022. Picture: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Speaking of the horror a few years later, he said: “The next few hours were the longest of my life as I waited on the ward with our children in the empty space left by Sam’s hospital bed.

“I hoped it would not symbolise a future for us without her.”

Sam had numerous operation in her lifetime due to her condition.

It is thought she contracted sepsis after a decompression surgery on her spine.

Samantha said previously: “We went home a week later and suddenly I couldn’t feel my legs.

“I thought I was still recovering from the surgery so I went to bed, but the next day I felt awful, as though I had been hit by a truck.

“I stayed in bed all day while Warwick and Harrison went to a family party and the next morning I woke at 4am feeling even worse.

Davis has had an accomplished film and TV career …

… and is a frequent Ricky Gervais collaborator.

“As the day went on I couldn’t concentrate, I lay on the sofa and when I tried to get up I collapsed on the floor.”

Meanwhile, Warwick, co-founder of charity Little People UK, has often spoken out about the health battles related to his condition, as well his wife’s.

He was born with Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED), an extremely rare genetic form of dwarfism, which has been inherited by both their daughter Annabelle and son Harrison.

Warwick credited his wife for many of his career achievements. Picture: Getty

He told the Guardian in 2015: “You look at somebody with dwarfism, the first thing that strikes you is probably that they’re short, and that’s it. But that’s the tip of the iceberg.

“It gets worse. Could be a cleft palate, hearing loss – or you end up in a wheelchair.”

“As you get older, it gets worse,” he said. “My hips are dislocated. Very painful knees.”

In a heartwarming birthday message, Sam once highlighted their unique romance with a tribute to her “beautiful inside and out” husband.

She wrote: “You are the bravest, most caring and sensitive person I know.

“You amaze us all everyday with your courage and strength. I love you to the moon and back. Always and forever yours.”

To mark her birthday, Warwick also tweeted a tribute to his “beautiful wife”.

He added: “I so admire how she faces life’s challenges with dignity, energy & courage – she’s an inspiration.”

Their dad has previously spoken movingly about how the combination of both his and Samantha’s conditions have resulted in the deaths of two of their babies.

The first, Lloyd, sadly died after nine days as his lungs were too small to support normal function.

They also lost another son, George, when Samantha was 19 weeks pregnant.

He said: “It’s something that a baby won’t survive. But Lloyd survived for nine days, but yeah he was beautiful.

“It was a tough time. And yeah, we had a stillborn too.”

Warwick insisted the tragedies brought him closer to his wife, and said: “That kind of stuff just makes you stronger.”

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as Actor Warwick Davis reveals wife’s death in heartbreaking statement