Harry Potter is 78, and that’s no trick

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Sometimes it’s a hassle being Harry Potter.

Especially when you’re a 78-year-old man who happens to share the name of a certain fictional boy wizard who is famous the world over.

Each time a new Harry Potter book or movie comes out, Bradenton resident Harry Potter starts getting phone calls from children, interview requests from the TV networks and autograph requests.

“The kids want to know if I’m Harry Potter,” he said. “I tell them I’ve been Harry Potter for darn near 80 years!”

But meeting a real Harry Potter can be a little puzzling for the kids. “They look at you, give you the once-over,” he said, laughing. “They can’t relate the one in the book to the one they see here. I guess I could buy me a pair of Harry Potter glasses.”