Dumbledore actor Michael Gambon dies at 82. Here’s how his ‘Harry Potter’ castmates, J.K. Rowling reacted

Actor Michael Gambon — best known for his role as Albus Dumbledore in six of the “Harry Potter” movies — has died.

“We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon,” a statement from his family reads. “Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia. Michael was 82.”

Who was Michael Gambon?

Gambon was a prolific actor on both the screen and the stage. The Irish actor has over 150 TV and movie credits to his name, including his “career-changing role” as pulp thriller writer Philip Marlowe in the 1986 TV show “The Singing Detective,” according to Variety.

Gambon began his acting career as an original member of the Royal National Theatre, acting alongside Laurence Olivier, per Deadline.

Throughout his career, he was nominated for 13 Olivier Awards. He won three of the prestigious acting awards for “A Chorus of Disapproval” in 1985, “A View from the Bridge” in 1987 and “Man of the Moment” in 1990.

The actor took over the role of Albus Dumbledore in the “Harry Potter” movies after Richard Harris — who played the character for the first two movies — died in 2002. Gambon played Dumbledore in six out of the eight “Harry Potter” films.

J.K. Rowling reacts to Gambon’s death

Gambon also starred in the miniseries adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s “The Casual Vacancy.”

Rowling reacted to the “awful news” of Gambon’s death by calling him a “wonderful man in additional to being an outstanding actor.”

“I absolutely loved working with him, not only on Potter but also The Casual Vacancy. My deepest condolences go to Michael’s family and everyone who loved him,” Rowling stated.

Former ‘Harry Potter’ castmates react to Gambon’s death

Some of Michael Gambon’s co-stars from the “Harry Potter” films reacted on social media to the news of his death.

Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the films, paid tribute to the actor on Instagram.

“So sad to hear about Michael. He brought so much warmth and mischief to every day on set,” Grint wrote. “He captivated me as a kid and became a personal role model of mine for finding the fun and eccentricities in life. Sending all my love to his family, Rupert.”

James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley in the “Harry Potter” movies, also took to social media to remember the actor.

“Very sorry to hear about the passing of Michael Gambon. He was, on and off the camera, a legend,” Phelps wrote before sharing a memory of Gambon on the set of the sixth “Harry Potter” film.

Actor Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy, also reacted to Gambon’s death on social media.

“Magnificent Michael Gambon has died. I learned what acting could be from Michael in The Singing Detective — complex, vulnerable and utterly human,” Isaacs wrote. “The greatest thrill of being in the Potter films was that he knew my name and shared his fearless, filthy sense of fun with me.”

Fiona Shaw, who played Petunia Dursley, remembered Gambon as a “brilliant, magnificent trickster” in an interview on BBC Radio 4.

“I will remember him because he was also a gun maker, he could make guns, he always said he could fool the V&A into believing that they were 18th century guns,” Shaw said.

“So I will think of him as a trickster, just a brilliant, magnificent trickster, but with text, there was nothing like him, he could do anything.”

David Thewlis, who played Remus Lupin, called Gambon “simply the greatest actor” he had worked with.

“He was in my opinion the giant of them all. Goodnight Michael, I feel beyond privileged to have known and loved you,” Thewlis wrote.

Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley, said Gambon was “Dumbledore through and through.”

“I was forever in awe of Michael’s presence and performance. His deep mischievous voice between scenes would vibrate through the Great Hall,” Wright wrote on Instagram. “He was Dumbledore through and through a constant, warm and guiding figure. Rest in peace Michael. Sending love to your family ❤️”