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Sir Michael Gambon was an Irish-British actor who was born on October 19, 1940, in Dublin, Ireland. He began his acting career with Laurence Olivier as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre. Over his six-decade-long career, he received three Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four BAFTA Awards. In 1998, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to drama.
Gambon appeared in many productions of works by William Shakespeare such as Othello, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Coriolanus. He was nominated for thirteen Olivier Awards and won three times for A Chorus of Disapproval (1985), A View from the Bridge (1987), and Man of the Moment (1990). In 1997, Gambon made his Broadway debut in David Hare’s Skylight and earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play.
Gambon made his film debut in Othello (1965) and went on to appear in numerous notable films including The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989), The Wings of the Dove (1997), The Insider (1999), Gosford Park (2001), Amazing Grace (2006), The King’s Speech (2010), Quartet (2012), and Victoria & Abdul (2017). He also appeared in Wes Anderson films such as The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) and Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009).
Gambon is best known for his role as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series from 2004 to 2011. He took over the role following Richard Harris’ death in 2002. For his work on television, he received four BAFTA Awards for The Singing Detective (1986), Wives and Daughters (1999), Longitude (2000), and Perfect Strangers (2001). He also received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Path to War (2002) and Emma (2009).
In addition to his acting career, Gambon had a background in engineering. He served a seven-year engineering apprenticeship before being selected by Sir Laurence Olivier for Britain’s National Theatre in 1963.
Michael Gambon became most recognizable for his role of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films from 2004 to 2011. He also starred as Philip Marlow in the BBC series The Singing Detective in 1986, which made him a household name in the U.K. and a splash in the States. Gambon’s career was catapulted in 1980 when he took the lead role in John Dexter’s production of “Galileo”. For his work on television, Gambon received four BAFTA Awards. He has also appeared in numerous films including The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989), The Wings of the Dove (1997), The Insider (1999), Gosford Park (2001), Amazing Grace (2006), The King’s Speech (2010), Quartet (2012), and Victoria & Abdul (2017).
Gambon’s portrayal of Albus Dumbledore made him a monarch-like figure whose rule extended to the imaginations of children worldwide. He had a genuinely unforgettable scene with Daniel Radcliffe in Deathly Hallows Part 2 when Voldemort casts the killing curse on Harry, who awakens in an eerie white limbo where he meets and talks with Dumbledore about matters of life and death.
Family
Michael Gambon was born on October 19, 1940, in Cabra, Dublin, Ireland. His father, Edward Gambon, an engineer, and his mother, Mary (née Hoare), a seamstress, moved to London when Gambon was 5. He grew up in an Irish immigrant community in Mornington Crescent in North London.
Age
Michael Gambon passed away on September 27, 2023, in Witham, Essex, England at the age of 82.