Michael Gambon, Dumbledore in the ‘Harry Potter’ Films, Dies at 82

Delhi: Michael Gambon, the Irish-born actor who drew acclaim from both audiences and peers for his stage and screen work, and who won even wider renown as Angus Dumbledore, the firm but kindly headmaster of the Hogwarts wizarding school, in the “Harry Potter” films, died on Wednesday night. He was 82.

Mr. Gambon’s family confirmed his death in a brief statement issued on Thursday through a public relations company. “Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife, Anne, and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia,” the statement said. It did not identify the hospital where he died.

Gambon, born in Ireland, began his illustrious acting career in theatre, making his first appearance on stage in a production of “Othello” at the Gates Theatre in the Irish capital Dublin in 1962.

He became well known in Britain for playing a French detective in the ITV series Maigret, and for his 1986 role as Philip Marlow in screenwriter Dennis Potter’s The Singing Detective.

He put in a memorable performance in the BBC’s 2015 adaptation of JK Rowling’s “The Casual Vacancy”, while his theatre credentials include appearances in Alan Ayckbourn’s “The Norman Conquests”, “The Life Of Galileo” and Nicholas Hytner’s National Theatre productions of “Henry IV”.

But he won global acclaim for his performances as Dumbledore in the wildly popular Harry Potter films, beginning with 1997’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Gambon was knighted for his contribution to the entertainment industry in 1998.