(DailyDig.com) – An actor from the United Kingdom, Sir Michael Gambon, 82, has died from pneumonia. He was best recognized for his portrayal of Albus Dumbledore in the “Harry Potter” films.
Gambon’s publicist released a statement on September 28 from his family, stating that the actor died in the company of Anne, his wife, and his son Fergus. Thank you for your kind words, but please give them space at this difficult time.
For the first few years of his 60-year career, Gambon shared the stage alongside Sir Laurence Olivier. Later in his career, he became a fan favorite among younger viewers for his portrayal of Dumbledore in six “Harry Potter” films.
After fellow Irish thespian Richard Harris’s death, Gambon stepped in as Dumbledore and quickly gained international fame. He said that he just wore a beard and acted as himself when he portrayed Hogwarts’ headmaster.
The fact that Gambon came from such meager beginnings makes his ascent to fame all the more impressive. He finished school at age 15 to pursue engineering, something his working-class Dublin parents strongly supported. He was born in Ireland but spent his formative years in London’s Camden neighborhood, among other Irish expatriates. When he initially started working, he was an apprentice toolmaker. Over the course of his life, he maintained a deep interest in vintage automobiles, clocks, and firearms.
His many Shakespearean roles, especially “Othello,” earned him 13 Olivier Award nominations. Not only did he feature in a number of successful TV series, but he also auditioned as James Bond in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” in 1968. The producer, Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli, had him try out for the role, but he turned it down because he said that he didn’t have nice hair and he was a little fat. George Lazenby won the job instead. Gambon was knighted in 1999 for his portrayal of the French investigator Jules Maigret in “Maigret.”
In addition to his two Emmy awards, Gambon has won many British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs) for Best Actor.
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