Michael Gambon, Who Played Dumbledore in Harry Potter, Passes Away at 82

Michael Gambon, who is best known for playing Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, has passed away today. The British-Irish actor was aged 82 and breathed his last in hospital after a battle with pneumonia.

Gambon started his career in acting through theatre. His first appearance on stage was during a theatrical production of Othello. Later, he rose to prominence by playing the role of a French detective in the television series Maigret. He also received critical acclaim for playing Philip Marlow in the 1986 film, The Singing Detective.

He is best known for portraying Professor Albus Dumbledore in five of the eight Harry Potter movies. Gambon first appeared as Dumbledore in the third Harry Potter film, titled Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He was cast after the sudden demise of actor Richard Harris, who played Dumbledore in the first two films.

Gambon’s portrayal as Dumbledore has been widely loved and appreciated by fans and critics alike. Gambon did not appear in Deathly Hallows Part 1, as his character passed away in the previous film, The Half-Blood Prince. However, he made a special appearance in the last film in an imaginary sequence. His performance in the Deathly Hallows Part 2, where he speaks to Harry in the imaginary scene, is still considered one of the most iconic scenes in the Harry Potter films.

Apart from the Harry Potter series, Gambon also starred in BBC’s adaptation of Rowling’s other novel, The Casual Vacancy, written under the pen-name Robert Galbraith. Apart from his work in films, Gambon continued to work in the theatrical productions, such as Henry IV and The Life of Galileo. Michael Gambon was officially knighted by the government for his immense contribution to the entertainment industry in 1998.

James Phelps, who worked with Gambon in Harry Potter as Fred Weasley, shared a memory of his time working with him on X. Check out his tweet:

Jason Isaacs, known for playing Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, also shared his thoughts on the actor’s demise. Here’s the tweet:

We deeply regret the demise of Michael Gambon and convey our deepest condolences to his friends and family. Let’s all raise our wands for the man who made Professor Dumbledore iconic for us. In the words of his most popular character, “To a well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”