Actor Michael Gambon, best known for playing Professor Albus Dumbledore in multiple “Harry Potter” movies, has died at age 82.
Gambon’s wife, Anne Miller, and son Fergus said in a statement released by publicist Clair Dobbs: “We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. 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 was 82. We ask that you respect our privacy at this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love.”
Gambon was known for his extensive catalog of work across TV, film and radio, including the lead role in 1986’s widely acclaimed “The Singing Detective” in which he played Philip Marlow, a writer suffering from a debilitating skin condition whose imagination provided the only escape from his pain. Gambon’s role in ‘The Singing Detective’ would make him a household name in Britain.
Gambon was perhaps best known for his role as s Hogwarts’ headmaster Dumbledore in the “Harry Potter” film franchise, a role he took up following the death of Richard Harris in 2002. Gambon’s portrayed Dumbledore for six of the eight “Harry Potter” films.
Gambon won the Laurence Olivier Award three times and the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award twice. He also won four British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards (BAFTAs) for his television work, and was nominated for two Emmy awards. He also won three Olivier Awards and two ensemble cast Screen Actors Guild Awards — for 2001’s “Gosford Park” and “The King’s Speech.” Gambon was knighted for his services to drama in 1998. He retired from the stage in 2015 after struggling to remember his lines in front of an audience because of his advancing age.
Gambon is survived by wife Anne Miller and their son, Fergus. He is also survived by two sons he had with set designer Philippa Hart.
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