Legendary actor Sir Michael Gambon has peacefully passed away in a hospital at the age of 82. His departure came after a battle with pneumonia.
In a statement released by publicist Clair Dobbs on behalf of his wife, Lady Gambon, and son, Fergus Gambon, they expressed their profound grief as they announced the passing of Sir Michael Gambon.
“Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia. Michael was 82.”
He is most famously known for his portrayal of Albus Dumbledore, the revered headmaster of Hogwarts, starting with the third instalment of J.K. Rowling’s iconic Harry Potter franchise, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” He assumed this role following the passing of Richard Harris, who had previously portrayed Dumbledore. Gambon continued to embody the character in subsequent films, including “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” in 2005, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” in 2007, and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” He concluded his tenure as Dumbledore in the epic finale, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2,” which were released in 2010 and 2011.
In his own words, Gambon once shared his approach to the role, revealing that when playing Dumbledore, he found it unnecessary to adopt a different persona. Instead, he simply added Dumbledore’s iconic beard and let his own personality shine through, viewing each of his roles as a unique expression of himself rather than a complete transformation. This perspective provided a distinctive authenticity to his portrayal and challenged traditional notions of character acting.
More about Sir Michael Gambon
Sir Michael John Gambon CBE (19 October 1940 – 28 September 2023) was an esteemed Irish actor whose illustrious career spanned six decades. He began his journey in the world of acting alongside the legendary Laurence Olivier as one of the founding members of the Royal National Theatre. Throughout his remarkable career, Gambon garnered a multitude of accolades, including three Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four BAFTA Awards, showcasing his exceptional talent and contributions to the world of entertainment. In 1999, he received the honour of knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his outstanding services to the realm of drama. His legacy in the world of theatre and film remains enduring and celebrated.
He married mathematician Anne Miller in 1962 when he was just 22 years old. Known for his guarded approach to his personal life, he once responded to an interviewer’s question about his wife by asking, “What wife?” The couple made their home in Gravesend, Kent, and together, they had one son named Fergus. Fergus Gambon later gained recognition as a ceramics expert on the BBC series “Antiques Roadshow.”
Gambon was a qualified private pilot.
Source: DailyMail