"Professor Dumbledore" from Harry Potter Films Passes Away

Sir Michael Gambon has passed away at the age of 82 in a hospital. He was best known for his portrayal of Professor Albus Dumbledore in six out of eight Harry Potter films.

Daily Mail reported this.

In a statement on behalf of his wife, Lady Gambon, and his son, Fergus, issued by the actor's impresario Claire Dobbs, it read: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Sir Michael Gambon. A beloved husband and father, Michael peacefully passed away in the hospital due to pneumonia. Michael was 82 years old."

Gambon was born in Dublin in 1940, and his father relocated to London during World War II, serving as a police officer in the reserves. After the war, Gambon's mother brought him to England.

He left school at the age of 15 and, unlike many of his peers, did not receive formal training at drama school. Instead, he gained experience by performing in amateur productions.

At the age of 16, Michael began working in an amateur theatre, initially constructing sets before stepping onto the stage, taking on minor roles at the Unity Theatre and the Tower Theatre in London.

His first professional roles came as he pretended to be more experienced than he actually was. Gambon made his debut in Dublin in a small role in "Othello." At the age of 22, he made his West End debut.

His role in Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge" in 1987 earned Gambon an Olivier Award.

Gambon also appeared in Alan Ayckbourn's epic trilogy "The Norman Conquests."

Among his other significant roles were Galileo in Bertolt Brecht's "Life of Galileo" at the National Theatre in 1980 and a restaurateur in David Hare's play "Skylight," which earned him a Tony Award nomination on Broadway in the mid-1990s.

Gambon also stood out in Peter Greenaway's art-house film "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover" (1989) and later appeared in several major films, including "Sleepy Hollow," "The Insider," and "Gosford Park."

In 1998, Gambon was knighted for his services to the entertainment industry.

But it was his role as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films that brought him widespread recognition. He took over the role from Richard Harris following his death in 2002.

Scottish author J.K. Rowling, the creator of the Harry Potter saga, wrote: "I saw Michael Gambon on stage in 'King Lear' in 1982 for the first time, and if you had told me then that this brilliant actor would appear in a film adaptation of one of my books, I would have thought you were insane."

"I am very sad to hear that he has passed away, but I am very grateful to have been one of the lucky ones to work with him," added Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter. He also described Gambon as one of the brightest, most easy-going actors he had ever worked with.