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Sir Michael Gambon is dead. The British actor died at the age of 82. He gained international fame through the role of Albus Dumbledore in the »Harry Potter« franchise, as a powerful wizard and caring headmaster. This photo shows him at a premiere in 2011.
Photo: Joel Ryan / AP
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Gambon as Dumbledore alongside the main character of the films, Harry Potter, played by Daniel Radcliffe. Parts of the cast commemorate Gambon publicly, including Radcliffe.
Photograph:
Mary Evans Picture Library / Ronald Grant / IMAGO
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In a statement, Radcliffe said Gambon was one of the most brilliant and lighthearted actors he had worked with, according to the BBC. "Despite his great talent, what I remember most is how much he enjoyed his job," Radcliffe said.
Photo: Isabelle Vautier / Starface / IMAGO
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Together with Emma Watson (center as Hermione Granger) and Rubert Grint (right as Ron Weasley), Radcliffe formed a trio in the fight against dark magic in the seven films. Watson and Grint also spoke publicly about Gambon's death.
Photo: Cinema Publishers Collection / IMAGO
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Watson wrote on her Instagram story, "You never took it too seriously, but somehow managed to fill the most serious moments with all the gravitas."
Photo: D. Van Tine / Future Image / IMAGO
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For Grint, Gambon was a "personal role model". Gambon "brought so much warmth and mischief to every day of shooting," Grint wrote on Instagram.
Photo: John Angelillo / UPI Photo / IMAGO
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As Fred Weasley, James Phelphs (left) and twin brother Oliver (played George Weasley) played a cheeky and joking pair of twins – with a wink, tolerated by headmaster Dumbledore.
Photo: Warner Bros. / Everett Collection / IMAGO
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James Phelps described Gambon as a legend in front of and off the camera at X. In a small memory, Phelps drew the picture of an actor who cared for his young colleagues and gave them tips.
Photo: Bernd Settnik / picture alliance/dpa
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As Death Eater Lucius Malfoy (left), Jason Isaacs played an opponent of Dumbledor, here with role son and Harry Potter permanent enemy Draco Malfoy.
Photo: Courtesy Warner Bros. / Cinema PublishersCollection / IMAGO
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As a fellow actor, Isaacs has nothing but respect for Gambon. In the British series "The Singing Detective," he learned from Gambon "what acting can be – complex, vulnerable, and absolutely human," Isaacs wrote at X. The biggest thrill about the Potter films was that he knew my name and shared his outrageous, dirty sense of humour with me."
Photo: Fred Duval / IMAGO/ZUMA Wire
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As the unsympathetic Aunt Petunia (right), Fiona Shaw managed to turn an entire generation of "Harry Potter" fans against her role. Petunia lobbied against Harry being allowed to go to Hogwarts under Headmaster Dumbledore.
Photo: ZUMA Press / IMAGO
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Shaw told the BBC that Gambon had "varied his career in remarkable ways". Gambon "never judged what he did, he just played." He was a "con artist," one with text. There was no one like him. He could do anything."
Photo: Martyn Wheatley / i-Images / i Images / IMAGO
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With her books, JK Rowling, who has been criticized for years for her remarks about trans people, created the "Harry Potter" universe – and also the character through which Gambon gained international fame. At X, she paid tribute to a "wonderful man" and an "outstanding actor".
Photo: Fred Duval / IMAGO/ZUMA Wire
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