Sir Michael Gambon was an Irish-English actor best known worldwide for playing Professor Dumbledore in six of the “Harry Potter” films, from 2004 to 2011.
- Died: September 27, 2023 (Who else died on September 27?)
- Details of death: Died at a hospital after suffering pneumonia at the age of 82.
- We invite you to share condolences for Michael Gambon in our Guest Book.
Michael Gambon’s legacy
Gambon got his start studying with one of the greats, Sir Laurence Olivier, as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre in 1963. He quickly rose to prominence on the stage, performing such Shakespeare works as “Othello,” “Hamlet,” and “Macbeth,” along with shows like “A View from the Bridge” and “Man of the Moment.”
Gambon also began working in film early in his career, making his big screen debut in 1965 in an adaptation of “Othello.” He appeared in dozens of other movies and TV shows, though most of his career was devoted to the stage. He was involved in at least one stage production a year from the 1960s to the 2010s, usually at top UK theaters. On screen, he appeared in such films as “Gosford Park,” “Open Range,” and “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,” and in television shows like “Doctor Who,” “The Singing Detective,” and “Emma.” Gambon came to wider attention when he took over the role of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series. He played Hogwarts’ head wizard for six films, winning over millions of new fans in the process.
Over the course of a career that spanned more than six decades, Gambon was nominated for a Golden Globe and two Emmys, and he won three Olivier Awards out of 13 nominations, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four BAFTA Awards, among many others. Though an Irish citizen, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998.
Notable quote
“You just do it. That’s what acting is.”—from a 2014 interview with The Guardian
Tributes to Sir Michael Gambon
Full obituary: BBC News
