RIP Michael Gambon: Harry Potter’s Albus Dumbledore star passes away, aged 82

Michael Gambon, best known for playing the powerful wizard Albus Dumbledore and the headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Wizardry, in the movie adaptations of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series, passed away on September 28. He was 82. His publicist issued a statement by his family, stating that he had died following a bout of pneumonia. “We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside,” the statement read.

Knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1999 for his services in drama, Gambon had an acting career spanning six decades, during which he received three Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four BAFTA Awards. Michael, interestingly, was not the first choice to play Dumbledore and stepped into the role only after fellow British actor Richard Harris, who was in the first two movies, passed away. Subsequently, Michael played Potter’s greatest support system in the remaining 6 movies.

And while Harry Potter is attributed as his most popular work, Gambon’s repertoire included several theatre productions, following which he ventured into television and films. His other film work included the film adaptation of Dad's Army, the King's Speech, in which he played King George V, father of the stammering King George VI and Gosford Park, among others. He had also played French detective Jules Maigret in the popular ITV series Maigret, as well as Philip Marlow in BBC’s The Singing Detective.

The actor made his professional stage debut in the Gate Theatre's 1962 production of Othello and went on to become renowned actor-director Laurence Olivier’s mentee. His powerful voice and commanding stage/screen presence were considered his biggest assets. Known as the Great Gambon in theatre circles, the actors last stage performance was in the 2012 play All That Fall.