Michael Gambon, Professor Albus Dumbledore of Harry Potter, has died at the age of 82

Sir Michael GambonBritish actor who played an iconic role Professor Albus Dumbledore in 6 out of 8 legend films Harry Potterdied today at the age of 82. The actor passed away in hospital after developing pneumonia.

His family gave the sad news in a touching statement: “We are saddened to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon,” his wife wrote. Anne and the son Fergus. “Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia. Michael is 82 years old. We ask that you respect our privacy during this painful time and we thank you for your messages of support and love.”

Gambon’s career did not begin in the cinema, but in the theater, where he occupied many roles in the comedies of Alan Ayckbourn. In 1980, he took part in the production of Galileo by John Dexter, and in later years he played King Lear, Othello and other characters for the Royal National Theater and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He appeared frequently on TV before trying his hand at important film roles in the late eighties. He had previously been offered the role of James Bond after George Lazenby, in the 1970s, but was turned down because the producers feared that, by hiring him who was unknown at the time, they would repeat the failure of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

In his career, Michael Gambon has been nominated many times for the Laurence Olivier Theater Award (winning three); he was awarded twice by the London Evening Standard Theater for best actor and, equally, received the London Critics Circle Theater Award, again for best actor. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (Member of The British Order) in 1980, and then the higher level of Commander of the British Order.

Among his most famous films are: The cook, the thief, his wife and her lover (1989) by Peter Greenaway, Sleepy Hollow (1999) by Tim Burton, in which he played Baltus Van Tassel, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2010). Since 2004 Michael Gambon replaced Richard Harris, who died two years earlier, in the role of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film saga and played the role in all six subsequent films of the saga. On television he also played Philip Marlow in the BBC series The Singing Detectivefor which he was awarded the British Academy Television Award for best actor, and Inspector Maigret in the 1992 television series of the same name.

In 2010, he starred in a successful film The king saiddirected by Tom Hooper and the 2012 film Quartet, the directorial debut of Dustin Hoffman. Since 2015 he has acted in television series Confidenceand in the same year he also starred in television miniseries The empty seat, based on the novel by JK Rowling. In 2016 he returned to cinema with the film dad’s army by Oliver Parker.

In 2017 he is acting in movies The Viceroy’s Palacedirected by Gurinder Chadha and the film Victoria and Abdul along with Judi Dench, he also takes part in the blockbuster Kingsman – The Golden Circle. In 2018 he was one of the movie stars King of Thieves with Michael Caine and Jim Broadbent. In 2019 he participated in Judythe Judy Garland biopic.

Source: Various