FILE PHOTO: Actor Michael Gambon attends a Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Peter Hall at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, September 11, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File photo
LONDON — The world mourns the loss of British-Irish actor Michael Gambon, who passed away at the age of 82 on Thursday. Best known for portraying the wise professor Albus Dumbledore in the popular “Harry Potter” movie franchise, Gambon’s career was launched by his mentor Laurence Olivier. According to a family statement reported by PA Media, Gambon died peacefully in the hospital.
Gambon’s acting journey began on the stage in the early 1960s before transitioning to television and film. Notable film roles include a psychotic mob leader in Peter Greenaway’s “The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover” in 1989 and the elderly King George V in Tom Hooper’s “The King’s Speech” in 2010. However, his most iconic role was that of Dumbledore in the “Harry Potter” franchise, taking over from the late Richard Harris in 2004.
Michael John Gambon was born on October 19, 1940, in Dublin, Ireland, to a seamstress mother and an engineer father. The family relocated to Camden Town in London when Gambon was six years old. He left school at the age of 15 to pursue an engineering apprenticeship, but he had always known that he would act. Gambon drew inspiration from American actors Marlon Brando and James Dean, who he believed captured the essence of teenage angst.
In 1962, Gambon auditioned for Olivier, a renowned Shakespearean actor, who subsequently made him one of the founding members of the National Theatre at the Old Vic. Gambon established his reputation on the stage, gaining recognition for his portrayal of Galileo in John Dexter’s “Life of Galileo” in 1980. His popularity soared in the 1980s with his lead role in the TV show “The Singing Detective,” where he played a writer battling a debilitating skin condition.
Throughout his career, Gambon received numerous accolades, including four BAFTAs, three Olivier Awards, and two ensemble cast Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was appointed a Commander of the British Empire in 1992 and was knighted for his contributions to drama in 1998. Despite these honors, Gambon remained humble and often delighted in inventing stories, such as a friendship with the Pope.
Gambon retired from the stage in 2015 due to long-term memory issues but continued acting onscreen until 2019. In an interview in 2002, he expressed his gratitude for his work and felt like the luckiest man in the world.
Gambon is survived by his wife, Anne Miller, with whom he had a son. Although they never divorced, Gambon had another partner, Philippa Hart, a set designer 25 years his junior, with whom he had two children.
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