Harry Potter actor Michael Gambon dead at 82

Michael Gambon, who played Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films during a 50 year acting career, has died aged 82.

Harry Potter star Michael Gambon has died peacefully in hospital aged 82, his family have announced.

The star, who famously played Dumbledore in many of the Harry Potter films, passed away after contracting pneumonia.

He had been acting for more than half a century.

A statement on behalf of his wife Anne Miller and son Fergus Gambon said: “We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon.

Michael Gambon alongside Daniel Radcliffe in the blockbuster movie hit.

The iconic actor died peacefully in hospital aged 82.

“Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia.

“We ask that you respect our privacy at this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love.”

Gambon also had two other children with his long term partner Philippa Hart.

Celebrities including Helen Mirren, Harry Potter author JK Rowing, the film franchise’s main star Daniel Radcliffe and others have paid tribute to Gambon.

The actor played Dumbledore (pictured) in five of the Harry Potter films.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1940, Gambon first qualified as an engineer and toolmaker before discovering acting.

The legendary star quickly rose to fame thanks to his distinctive booming voice and powerful presence on both stage and screen.

He made his film debut in Shakespeare’s Othello alongside Laurence Olivier in 1965, and since then had roles in a variety of Hollywood movies. His films have included The Cook, The Thief, The Wife and Her Lover, Sleepy Hollow, Fantastic Mr Fox, The King’s Speech, and Paddington.

His first appearance in the JK Rowling franchise came in The Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004 where he took over the role of Dumbledore from the late Richard Harris, who died after the Chamber of Secrets. He would appear in four more instalments.

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. pic.twitter.com/1CoTF3zeTo

— Harry Potter (@harrypotter) September 28, 2023

The official Harry Potter Twitter/X account praised Gambon after news broke of this death.

“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.”

‘Naughty, but funny’

The creator of Harry Potter, author JK Rowling, said she “loved working with” Gambon. Not only was he in the Harry Potter films but also a TV adaptation of Rowling’s novel The Casual Vacancy.

“The first time I ever laid eyes on him was in King Lear, in 1982, and if you’d told me then that brilliant actor would appear in anything I’d written, I’d have thought you were insane,” she said on Twitter.

I've just heard the awful news about Michael Gambon. The first time I ever laid eyes on him was in King Lear, in 1982, and if you'd told me then that brilliant actor would appear in anything I'd written, I'd have thought you were insane. Michael was a wonderful man in additional…

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 28, 2023

Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter said Gambon was a “brilliant, effortless actor”.

“Despite his immense talent, the thing I will remember most about him is how much fun he had doing his job.”

Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the wizarding films, said Gambon “brought so much warmth and mischief to every day on set”.

“He was silly, irreverent and hilarious. He loved his job, but never seemed defined by it.”

James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley, relayed a story about how Gambon helped him rehearse a script despite the star being busy on the set of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

“He was, on and off the camera, a legend,” said Phelps, who added that Gambon was always “very funny and were welcoming to share any knowledge he had”.

Oscar winning actor Helen Mirren praised Gambon telling the BBC he was “naughty but very, very funny”.

She starred with him on the 1989 film The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover.

Mirren said Gambon was “utterly realistic” about how his advancing age was affecting his work.

“He found it increasingly difficult to remember lines, which I have the greatest of sympathy with, and that sort of took him away from theatre”.

Sir Michael Gambon is survived by wife Anne Miller and his three children.

Gambon appeared in numerous TV shows including an award-winning role in the BBC’s 1986 series The Singing Detective where he played the lead role of an author suffering from a chronic skin condition.

Away from the screen, Gambon was a qualified pilot and car enthusiast.

On British motoring show Top Gear he raced a Suzuki Liana on a test track so aggressively it went around a corner on two wheels. That corner was then named “Gambon Corner”.

Long time Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson said he was sad to hear of Gambon’s passing.

“He was hugely amusing, and such a tremendous guest, we even named a corner after him.”

I’m so sad to hear that Michael Gambon has died. He was hugely amusing, and such a tremendous guest, we even named a corner after him.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) September 28, 2023

Throughout his career the actor would regularly appear in Shakespeare productions with the National Theatre – delighting audiences up and down the country.

The 82-year-old won four BAFTAs for his TV work, three Oliver Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Award’s.

In 1998 he was knighted in The Queen‘s New Years’ Honours for services to drama.

Sir Michael Gambon is survived by wife Anne Miller and son Fergus. He also had a relationship with Philippa Hart with who he had two children, the youngest of which is a young teenager.

With The Sun.