Michael Gambon, known to many as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies, has passed at the age of 82 after a bout of pneumonia.
A statement released by his publicist on behalf of his wife Lady Anne Gambon and son Fergus read: "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, born in Dublin on 19 October 1940 to an engineer and a seamstress, pursued a career in acting in his early 20s.
"He began writing letters to various theatrical companies, enclosing the most outrageous CVs detailing his fictional prowess as a performer," reported BBC.
In 1967, Gambon joined the Birmingham Repertory Company where he landed roles in the productions of Othello, Macbeth, and Coriolanus. His role in BBC's The Borderers earned him an invitation to audition for James Bond. Sean Connery had earlier decided to quit the franchise.
In 1974, he was cast as Tom in Alan Ayckbourn's trilogy The Norman Conquests. He later appeared in Peter Hall's production of Harold Pinter's Betrayal which opened on the South Bank in 1978.
Gambon further established his name as an acclaimed actor with his performances in The Life of Galileo and The Singing Detective, for which he won a BAFTA.
Added the BBC: "He played the violent gangster Albert Spica in Peter Greenaway's dark crime comedy The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover in 1989, and throughout the 1990s there were a number of other leading film roles. These included Toys, in which he played alongside Robin Williams, as well as Plunkett & Macleane, Sleepy Hollow and Gosford Park. He also appeared as Inspector Maigret in an ITV adaptation of Georges Simenon's books which ran for two series."
In 1998, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the arts.
His role as Mr Woodhouse in BBC's adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma earned him an Emmy. He took up the role of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise following the death of Richard Harris in 2002.
Awful news
"I've just heard the awful news about Michael Gambon. The first time I ever laid eyes on him was in King Lear, in 1982, and if you'd told me then that a brilliant actor would appear in anything I'd written, I'd have thought you were insane. Michael was a wonderful man in addition to being an outstanding actor, and I absolutely loved working with him, not only on Potter but also The Casual Vacancy. My deepest condolences go to Michael's family and everyone who loved him," JK Rowling wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
"With the loss of Michael Gambon, the world just became considerably less fun. Michael Gambon was one of the most brilliant, effortless actors I've ever had the privilege of working with, but despite his immense talent, the thing I will remember most about him is how much fun he had doing his job," Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter, told Page Six in a statement.
Emma Watson, who appeared in the films as Hermione Granger, posted on Instagram: "Kind kind kind Michael Gambon. You never took it too seriously but somehow delivered the most serious moments with all the gravitas. Thank you for showing us what it looks like to wear greatness lightly. We will miss you."
Rupert Grint, who starred as Ron Weasley, said, "So sad to hear about Michael. He brought so much warmth and mischief to every day on set. He captivated me as a kid and became a personal role model of mine for finding the fun and eccentricities in life. Sending all my love to his family."
Jason Isaacs, who portrayed Lucius Malfoy, wrote: "Magnificent Michael Gambon has died. I learned what acting could be from Michael in The Singing Detective — complex, vulnerable, and utterly human. The greatest thrill of being in the Potter films was that he knew my name and shared his fearless, filthy sense of fun with me."
And James Phelps, the actor who played Fred Weasley, shared a small anecdote of Gambon on set and declared: "Very sorry to hear about the passing of Michael Gambon. He was, on and off the camera, a legend."