Actor who played Dumbledore Michael Gambon dies at 82

Irish-born actor Michael Gambon died peacefully in hospital at the age of 82, his family have confirmed.

Born in Cabra, Dublin, Gambon won four BAFTA television awards during a career spanning five decades, during which he played Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films.

Top lines

Michael Gambon, the Irish actor who played Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise, has died peacefully at the age of 82.

READ MORE – Foe release date confirmed: Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan give impressive performances in first trailer

A statement issued on behalf of his wife Anne Gambon and son Fergus Gambon said: “We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon.

“A 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.

“We ask that you respect our privacy during this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love.”

The Cabra native’s most famous roles include French detective Jules Maigret in the ITV series Maigret and his starring role in the BBC series The Singing Detective.

He has held British citizenship since childhood and received a knighthood in 1998 for his services to the entertainment industry. His stage career began in 1962 with a production of Othello at Dublin’s Gate Theatre.

Known in certain acting circles as “The Great Gambon”, he last appeared on stage in 2012 in the London production of Samuel Beckett’s All That Autumn.

Tributes have poured in for the famous actor, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar calling him: “A great actor. Whether he was playing Beckett, Dennis Potter or Harry Potter, he gave every performance his all.”

Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson paid tribute to him on Twitter, writing: “So sad to hear Michael Gambon has died. He was so funny and such an amazing guest that we even named a corner after him.”

Sign up for our culture and entertainment newsletter