JK Rowling and many of the actors who starred in the Harry Potter franchise, including Daniel Radcliffe, who played the role of ‘Harry Potter’ and Rupert Grint, who played his friend ‘RonWeasley’, have reacted to the news of Michael Gambon’s death.

The British-Irish actor, who played the role of the Hogwarts headmaster ‘Albus Dumbledore’ in six of the eight Potter films, died on Thursday, September 28, at the age of 82, his wife and son announced.

Through the actor’s publicist, they said: “We are saddened to announce the passing of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, Michael passed away peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside following a bout of pneumonia. Michael is 82 years old. We ask that you respect our privacy during this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love.”

Gambon began his most famous role as Dumbledore in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’, the third film in the series, after the death of the role’s original star, Richard Harris, in 2002.

Daniel Radcliffe said the “brilliant and driven” actor “loves his job but never seems to define it”.

Emma Watson thanks Sir Michael for “showing us what it means to dress elegantly in an understated way”.

Writer JK Rowling praises him as a “wonderful man” and a “brilliant actor”.

Another Potter star, Fiona Shaw, said that Sir Michael proved throughout his long and varied life that he “could do anything” as an actor.

The Dublin-born actor, who died in hospital after contracting pneumonia, worked in television, film, theater and radio throughout his six-decade career .He has won four Baftas.

Sir Michael’s family moved to London when he was a child, but he had his first stage performance in Ireland, in the play ‘Othello’ in Dublin in 1962.

His career flourished when he became one among the original members of Laurence Olivier’s Group; the troupe of the National Theater in London. He went on to win three Olivier Awards for his performances under the National Theater productions.

Although he always considered his stage work most important, he won several acclaims for a series of important television and film roles in the 1980s and 1990s.

These include the groundbreaking drama and controversial BBC One film, ‘The Singing Detective’, in which he played the eponymous detective in a complex story by writer Dennis Potter.

He played a very different detective, ‘Parisian Jules Maigret’, in two ITV series adaptations of Georges Simenon’s classic novels, and portrayed the character of ‘Oscar Wilde’ in 1985 in a three-part BBC Two series focusing on the writer’s  trial and imprisonment.

One of his most memorable films was his role as a gluttonous and unforgiving “thief” in ‘The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover’. Dame Helen Mirren – who played the adulterous wife of him, saying he was a “naughty” person. But very, very funny.”

In an interview with Laura Kuenssberg this weekend, Dame Helen recalled how he “constantly made her laugh” during filming as well as when they were on stage in ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ seven years ago.

She added that they had recently discussed aging and how it affected their work; Sir Michael was “completely realistic” about his situation, she said. “He had increasing difficulty remembering his lines, which I sympathize with the most, and that drove him away from the theater,” she added.

 

‘Magnificent Trickster’

But when another giant of cinema, Richard Harris, died in 2002, Sir Michael accepted the challenge to succeed him as ‘Dumbledore’ – headmaster of Hogwarts – in the hit ‘Harry Potter’ series. “Michael is a wonderful man in addition to being an excellent actor, and I really loved working with him, not only on ‘Potter’ but also on ‘The Occasional Vacancy’,” recalled Dame Helen Mirren.

As ‘Harry Potter’, Daniel Radcliffe worked with Sir Michael throughout his teenage years and he released a statement that read: “Michael Gambon is one of the most brilliant and successful actors I have yet seen. never had the honour. to work with, but despite his immense talent, the thing I will remember most about him is that he had so much fun  doing his job.”

Recalling Sir Michael’s habit of “blurring the lines between fact and fiction” when speaking to journalists at a press conference, Radcliffe added: “He was silly, irreverent and funny. He loves his job, but he never seems to define it.”

Emma Watson, who plays ‘Hermione Grainger’, said in an Instagram post: “You never take it too seriously, but on the other hand, somehow, you conveyed the most serious moments with full solemnity.”

Rupert Grint said his “personal role model”  “brought a lot of warmth and mischievous for every day on set”.

Jason Isaacs, who plays ‘Lucius Malfoy’ in the series, wrote on social networks: “I learned acting from Michael in ‘The Singing Detective’ – complex, vulnerable and completely human. The greatest joy of being in the Potter movies is that he knows my name and shares with me his sense of fearless, dirty fun.”

Fiona Shaw, who plays ‘Petunia Dursley’ in the film, told BBC Radio 4’s ‘The World at One’: “He changed his career dramatically and was never judgmental about what he did, he was a joy to play.” She said she would always think of him “as a conman, just a brilliant, splendid conman”, adding: “With the line there was nothing like it. He had can do anything.”

James Phelps, who plays ‘Fred Weasley’ in the film, called Sir Michael a “legend” in his tribute on the social media platform of ‘X’, formerly known as ‘Twitter’. He also recalls that how Sir Michael once asked him to go over his lines one weekend when he was playing a part in the Manchester Halle Orchestra’s production of ‘Peter and the Wolf’. “We spent what should have been free time on my weekend concert. It’s a memory I’ve always considered one of the highlights of my days (with ‘Harry Potter’)”, he recalled.

Dame Joan Collins, who played Sir Michael’s wife in the 1993 BBC sitcom ‘Mama’s Back’, called him “a wonderful actor and very funny”.

Dame Eileen Atkins, a long-time friend of Sir Michael, told BBC Radio 4’s ‘The World at One’ that he was “a wonderful actor, but he always pretended not to take it very seriously” and that he had an incredible stage presence. “All he had to do was step on stage and immediately command the entire audience,” she said. “There was something very soft about him, this big man could look very intimidating – but there was something very soft inside Michael.” She added: “I will always remember this man.”

 

“The Great Gambon”

His other film work that he did alongside the Potter films over the next few years included the big screen adaptations of ‘Dad’s Army’ and the ‘King’s Speech’, in which he plays ‘King George V’, ‘Sr. of  King George Stuttering VI’. He was nominated for an Emmy for his role as ‘Mr. Woodhouse’ in the 2010 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’, ​​and as ‘President Lyndon B Johnson’ in ‘Path to War’ in 2002. He also received a 1997 Tony Award nomination for his performance in David Hare’s play ’Skylight’.

He was knighted for services to entertainment in 1998. Although born in Ireland, he became a British citizen as a child. The actor, known as “The Great Gambon” in acting circles, last appeared on stage in 2012 in  Samuel Beckett’s play ‘All That Fall in London’.

American actor Ryan Phillippe says he feels “very lucky” to work with Sir Michael at ‘Gosford Park’. He recalled that at that time Sir Michael was in his 60s and he was only 25, but they were “as close as school friends because of his irrepressible youthful spirit”.

“The ride home from work, in a classic convertible, at breakneck speed, with the Stones loud on the radio, will stay with me forever..Rest in peace my friend,” he said in a post on the social media platform of ‘X’.

Many actors outside the franchise who worked with Gambon or admired his talent also paid tribute to the late star. Dame Helen Mirren recalls working with Gambon on the 1982 film ‘Antony and Cleopatra’, calling him an “extraordinary actor”.

Sir Michael also appeared in the psychological drama ‘Cordelia’ and the Judy Garland biopic ‘Judy’, both released in 2019. He also featured in the crime drama ‘King Of Thieves’ alongside Sir Michael Caine and Jim Broadbent in 2018, and in the film action ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ in 2017.

He starred in the BBC family drama ‘Perfect Strangers’ in 2002, as a watchmaker hoping to win a prize in the Channel’s Longitude 4 in 2001, the 2000 BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s  ‘Wives And Daughters’  and the 1 BBC television series ‘The Singing Detective’.

He also had a role in director Wes Anderson’s 2004 comedy ‘The Singing Detective’, ‘Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou’ and ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’ in 2009.

Thus, ends the legacy of a great actor, who has been inspiring and still continues to inspire generations and generations of actors in the domain of perfect display of artistry and craftsmanship. Therefore, it would not be a hyperbole to say that he was an institution of acting in himself.