Michael Gambon dead: Dumbledore actor from Harry Potter dies at 82

Michael Gambon, the actor most known for portraying Dumbledore for a majority of the Harry Potter films, has died at the age of 82, his publicist announced Thursday.

“We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon,” a statement from his family read. “Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside.”

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Gambon worked in the world of acting for over 50 years, beginning in 1963 and retiring from the field in 2015. He died following “a bout of pneumonia,” according to his family.

“We are incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Michael Gambon. He brought immeasurable joy to Harry Potter fans from all over the world with his humour, kindness and grace. We will forever hold his memory in our hearts,” a statement on the film’s Instagram account read.

The actor began playing Dumbledore, the mentor character of Harry Potter, in the third film of the series, 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The role of Dumbledore was played in the first two movies by Richard Harris, who died in 2002.

Beyond Dumbledore, Gambon also played roles in a multitude of movies, including voicing a character in 2014’s Paddington and playing King George V in 2010’s The King’s Speech, which was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won four of them, including Best Picture. In 1998, Gambon was knighted for his services to drama.

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Gambon’s death comes less than a year after Robbie Coltrane, the actor who played Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, died in October 2022. A month later, actor Leslie Phillips, who voiced the Sorting Hat in the franchise, died at 98.