Michael Gambon, veteran actor who played Dumbledore in 'Harry Potter,' dies at 82

Veteran actor Michael Gambon, who was known to many for his portrayal of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight "Harry Potter" films, has died, his publicist said Thursday. He was 82.

A statement by his family, issued by his publicist to the Associated Press, said he died following "a bout of pneumonia."

"We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside," his family said.

The Irish actor was cast as the much-loved Dumbledore after the death of his predecessor, Richard Harris, in 2002. Gambon started his role as the magical mentor in 2004 with "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" through the final film, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2."

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No matter what role he took on in a career that lasted more than five decades, Gambon was always instantly recognizable by the deep and drawling tones of his voice. Although the Potter role raised Gambon’s international profile and introduced him to a new generation of fans, he had long been recognized as one of Britain’s leading actors. His work spanned TV, theater and radio, and he starred in dozens of films from "Gosford Park" to the animated family movie "Paddington."

Gambon got his start in theater as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre in London. His first major role was as the lead in "The Life of Galileo" in 1980. He went on to star in many productions of William Shakespeare's work and earned three Olivier Awards for his acting in London's theater scene. Gambon later made his debut on Broadway in 1997.

The prestigious actor made his film debut in 1965 "Othello," based on the Shakespeare play of the same name. Other prominent roles include "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover," "The Insider," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," and "The King's Speech," for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2011.

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Gambon's success was just as noteworthy in television. He won four BAFTA Awards for best actor for his roles in 1986's "The Singing Detective," "Wives and Daughters" in 1999, "Longitude" in 2000 and "Perfect Strangers" in 2001. The actor also earned two Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

In 2015 he returned to the works of J.K. Rowling, taking a leading role in the TV adaptation of her book "The Casual Vacancy." Gambon retired from the stage in 2015 after struggling to remember his lines in front of an audience due to his advancing age. He once told the Sunday Times Magazine: "It's a horrible thing to admit, but I can’t do it. It breaks my heart."

He was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Irish Film & Television Academy in 2017. Gambon's last onscreen roles were in the 2019 films "Judy" and "Cordelia," according to IMDB.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Gambon death: Albus Dumbledore actor in Harry Potter was 82