Sir Michael Gambon, the Irish British actor who played Dumbledore in six Harry Potter films, has died. He was 82.
“We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon,” said his wife, Lady Gambon, and son Fergus Gambon in a statement. “Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia.”
Gambon was a prolific actor of stage and screen, earning over 150 TV and film credits over the course of his six-decade career. He began as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre and was mentored by Laurence Olivier. He’d go on to win three Olivier awards, four BAFTAs, and two Screen Actors Guild awards. Some memorable credits of Gambon’s include Sleepy Hollow (1999), Gosford Park (2001), Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), The King’s Speech (2010), and the Paddington films.
However, the most high-profile role of his career was Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise. Gambon took over the role in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban after the death of Richard Harris, who played the Hogwarts headmaster in the first two films of the franchise. Gambon would play Dumbledore in the series’ remaining six films.
“I’d never seen any of the previous films, but working on the series was huge fun—and for lots of dosh,” he told the UK’s The Independent.
The Harry Potter social media account posted the following regarding Gambon’s death. “We are incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Michael Gambon. He brought immeasurable joy to Harry Potter fans from all over the world with his humour, kindness and grace. We will forever hold his memory in our hearts.”
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Gambon’s Harry Potter cast mates including Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, and Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy, paid tribute to the late actor on social media. Daniel Radcliffe issued the following statement to Variety on Gambon’s passing:
“With the loss of Michael Gambon the world just became considerably less fun,” wrote Radcliffe. “Michael Gambon was one of the most brilliant, effortless actors I’ve ever had the privilege of working with, but despite his immense talent, the thing I will remember most about him is how much fun he had doing his job. He was silly, irreverent and hilarious. He loved his job, but never seemed defined by it. He was an incredible story and joke teller and his habit of blurring the lines of fact and fiction when talking to journalists meant that he was also one of the most entertaining people with whom you could ever wish to do a press junket.”
“The sixth film was where I got to spend the most time working with Michael and he made the hours spent in front of a green screen together more memorable and joyous than they had any right to be,” Radcliffe added. “I’m so sad to hear he has passed, but I am so grateful for the fact that I am one of the lucky people who got to work with him.”
