While Michael Gambon is best known for his portrayal of Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films, his vast filmography of work includes many other gems that may have been overshadowed by his popularity as Dumbledore.
The actor, who breathed his last yesterday, must be remembered for delivering multiple world class performances. The best way to pay tribute to a legend of his caliber is to remember him through his diverse and magical filmography. If you’re wondering where to start and want to explore more of Gambon’s incredible filmography, you’re at the right place.
In this article, we’ve listed all of Gambon’s best work apart from the Harry Potter series. We assure you that Professor Dumbledore has a lot of magic in store for you and you won’t be disappointed!
This list features some of Gambon’s best work for both the big screen and television. It follows no particular order. You can take your pick based on which synopsis interests you the most!
1The King’s Speech (2010)
The King’s Speech is a remarkable film that explores the historical and personal challenges faced by King George VI, who had to overcome a stammer to deliver public speeches.
Michael Gambon portrays King George V, the father of the main character. Gambon’s performance is impressive and adds to the film’s artistic merit and commercial success. The film received critical acclaim and won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, out of 12 nominations.
2 Path to War (2002)
Path to War is a historical television film that depicts the perspective and choices of President Lyndon B. Johnson and his advisers during the Vietnam War. The film was released on HBO and received praise for its realistic and nuanced portrayal of the political and personal dilemmas faced by the president and his cabinet.
Michael Gambon, who played President Johnson, delivered an exceptional performance that humanized the iconic leader. The film is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of television cinema and one of Gambon’s most memorable roles.
3Churchill’s Secret (2016)
Churchill’s Secret is a historical drama film directed by Charles Sutridge, a three-time Emmy nominee. The film is based on a true event in the life of Winston Churchill, the prime minister of Britain, who suffered a stroke in 1953 and tried to conceal it from the public.
Michael Gambon plays the role of Winston Churchill, and gives a remarkable performance that captures the stubbornness and vulnerability of the leader. Gambon portrays both the personal and political aspects of Churchill’s life with sensitivity and accuracy, despite not resembling him physically. The film is one of Gambon’s most significant lead roles to date, and it adheres to the historical facts of the event.
4The Wings of the Dove (1997)
The Wings of the Dove is a 1997 film adaptation of the Henry James novel of the same name. The film tells the story of a woman who schemes to marry her lover, who is poor, by using her terminally ill friend as a pawn.
Michael Gambon plays the role of the dying father of the main character, Kate, and delivers a compelling and crucial performance that enhances the film’s quality. The film is one of Gambon’s best films, which was praised for its cinematography, costumes, and performances, and received four nominations at the Academy Awards.
5Gosford Park (2001)
Gosford Park is a film by Robert Altman that combines comedy, mystery, and drama in a story of a murder at a lavish English estate. The film was a commercial and critical hit, garnering seven nominations at the Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Michael Gambon portrays Sir William McCordle, a rich and influential industrialist and baronet, with his usual flair and dedication.
6The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (1989)
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover is a 1989 film by Peter Greenaway that explores the themes of crime, violence, and adultery in a dark and provocative way.
The film is one of the most acclaimed NC-17-rated movies ever made and features Michael Gambon in a prominent role. Gambon plays Albert Spica, a brutal and vengeful gangster, who mistreats his wife and her lover. His performance is outstanding and contributes to the film’s artistic and commercial success.
7The Singing Detective (1986)
The Singing Detective is a BBC serial drama that starred Michael Gambon as Philip Marlow, a mystery writer who suffers from severe psoriatic arthritis. The pain of his condition and his treatment leads him to hallucinate a fantasy world where he is a detective in a noir-style story.
The show is a complex and often surreal exploration of Marlow’s psyche, blending noir elements with dark humor and musical interludes. The show was a huge success and boosted Gambon’s career as an actor.
8Fantastic Mr. Fox
Fantastic Mr. Fox is Wes Anderson’s much-celebrated adaptation of the classic Roald Dahl novel of the same name. The animated film features Michael Gambon lending his voice to one of the most prominent characters.
Gambon plays Bean, one of the three farmers who are the main antagonists in the film. While Fantastic Mr. Fox is widely considered to be children’s literature both as a book and a film, it has deep philosophical lessons.
Anderson adds his own metafictional touch to it, and Gambon shines as Bean. His performance received immense critical acclaim and the film can easily be considered one of his best works.
9Page Eight (2011)
Page Eight is a British film by David Hare that deals with the political and ethical issues of espionage and intelligence. The film stars Michael Gambon as Benedict Baron, the Director General of MI5, who dies after discovering a secret report that exposes a conspiracy within the agency.
Gambon delivers a superb performance as the charismatic and principled leader, whose death triggers the main plot of the film. The film is a gripping and award-winning thriller that showcases Gambon’s talent and versatility.
10The Insider (1999)
The Insider is a film by Michael Mann that dramatizes the true story of Jeffrey Wigand, a former tobacco executive who exposed the industry’s lies and cover-ups. The film features Al Pacino and Russell Crowe in the lead roles, and Michael Gambon in a supporting role as the CEO of the Brown & Williamson tobacco company, who tries to silence Wigand.
The film is a powerful and acclaimed drama that showcases Gambon’s ability to play a complex and ruthless villain. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards but failed to achieve commercial success. The film is widely considered as one of Gambon’s best films and one of Mann’s finest works.
11The Casual Vacancy (2015)
The Harry Potter series is not the only work of Rowling in which Gambon starred in his career. He was a part of the 2015 BBC British miniseries, The Casual Vacancy, based on J.K Rowling’s 2012 novel of the same name (written under the penname Robert Galbraith).
Gambon plays Howard Mollison in the series, who is an adulterous parish council leader and the owner of a delicatessen. The critics and even Rowling herself has spoken highly of Gambon’s performance in the series, although the series did not gain enough limelight.
12Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol (2010)
Michael Gambon appeared as a guest star in the British sci-fi series Doctor Who in the 2010 episode “A Christmas Carol”. Gambon played Kazran Sardick, a bitter and powerful man who can control the clouds that endanger a space liner with 4,000 passengers.
The Doctor tries to change Sardick’s heart by taking him on a time-traveling journey that reveals his past and future. The episode was praised for its emotional and inventive story and is considered one of the best Doctor Who Christmas specials.
13The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
Michael Gambon played the role of Oseary Drakoulias, the producer and financier of Steve Zissou’s oceanographic documentaries. The film marks his first collaboration with Wes Anderson, which was later followed by Fantastic Mr. Fox.
The film revolves around Zissou, a Jacques Cousteau-like adventurer who seeks revenge on a mythical shark that killed his partner. Gambon’s character is a wealthy and eccentric man who tries to help Zissou with his funding problems, but also has to deal with creditors, pirates, and rival filmmakers. Gambon’s performance is humorous and charming, and he adds to the film’s quirky and whimsical tone.
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