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| Michael Gambon |
Michael Gambon, the Irish actor who played Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter
films, has died aged 82. His family confirmed his death to The Guardian on July 31,
2023.
Gambon was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1940. He began his acting career on stage in
the 1960s and appeared in a number of films and television shows throughout the
1970s and 1980s. He is best known for his roles in films such as The Cook, the Thief,
His Wife & Her Lover (1989), Sleepy Hollow (1999), and Gosford Park (2001).
Gambon took over the role of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films from Richard
Harris, who died in 2002. He played the role in five films, from Harry Potter and the
Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011).
Gambon's performance as Dumbledore was widely praised. He was described as
"the definitive Dumbledore" by The Guardian, and "one of the greatest actors of his
generation" by The Telegraph.
In addition to his acting career, Gambon was also a keen golfer and cricket fan. He
was married twice and had three children.
Early life and career
Michael Gambon was born in Dublin, Ireland, on October 19, 1940. He was the
youngest of five children. His father, Denis Gambon, was a plumber, and his mother,
Mary (née Holohan), was a housewife.
Gambon was educated at St. Joseph's School in Ballsbridge, Dublin. He left school
at the age of 15 to work as a clerk for the Irish civil service. However, he soon
decided to pursue a career in acting.
In 1958, Gambon joined the Abbey Theatre, Ireland's national theater. He made his
stage debut in the play The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. He went
on to appear in a number of other plays at the Abbey Theatre, including Hamlet
and King Lear.
In 1962, Gambon moved to London to pursue a career in film and television. He
made his film debut in the film The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962).
He went on to appear in a number of other films, including Ulysses (1967), The
Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989), and Gosford Park (2001).
Harry Potter
In 2004, Gambon was cast as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films. He took
over the role from Richard Harris, who died in 2002. Gambon played the role in five
films, from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) to Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011).
Gambon's performance as Dumbledore was widely praised. He was described as
"the definitive Dumbledore" by The Guardian, and "one of the greatest actors of his
generation" by The Telegraph.
Other notable roles
In addition to his role as Dumbledore, Gambon has appeared in a number of other
notable films and television shows. These include:
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Gosford Park (2001)
Path to War (2002)
Elizabeth (2007)
The King's Speech (2010)
Life in Squares (2015)
Fortitude (2015)
Personal life
Gambon was married twice. His first marriage was to Anne Miller in 1962. They had
one child together, a son named Fergus. The couple divorced in 1976.
Gambon's second marriage was to Philippa Hart in 1980. They had two children
together, sons called Michael and Will. The couple remained married until
Gambon's death in 2023.
Death
Michael Gambon died on July 31, 2023, at the age of 82. He died peacefully at home,
surrounded by his family. The cause of his death was not disclosed.
Legacy
Michael Gambon was one of the most respected actors of his generation. He was
known for his versatility and his ability to bring complex characters to life. He was
also known for his sense of humor and his warm personality.
