Michael Gambon effortlessly stepped into the role of Harry Potter’s Professor Albus Dumbledore in the franchise’s third installment. After the late Irish actor died at the age of 82 on Thursday, September 28, countless celebrities and fans reacted to his death. While many grieved the loss of such a renowned performer, others celebrated his life and career, as it spanned over six decades.
From Michael’s Harry Potter costars to his other friends and family members, read all of the heartfelt tributes to Michael below.
Jason Isaacs
Jason — who portrayed Lucius Malfoy — took to X (previously known as Twitter) to provide a statement, calling Michael “magnificent.”
“I learned what acting could be from Michael in The Singing Detective — complex, vulnerable and utterly human,” Jason tweeted. “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.”
Jared Harris
Jared’s late father, Richard Harris, was the first one to portray Dumbledore until his death in 2002. Shortly thereafter, Michael stepped into the role.
“A brilliant actor,” Jared tweeted. “I saw him on stage several times, and he lives unforgettably in my memory. He took over Dumbledore from my father, which was fitting as he overtook Brando as my father’s favorite actor.”
James Phelps
James, who portrayed Fred Weasley, took to X to recall a sweet memory with his former co-star.
“Whilst shooting [Harry Potter] 6, I worked on the AD department for the whole shoot (apart from the days I was acting,” James began. And for that reason, I spent many hours with Michael during the shoot. He was always very funny and very welcoming to share any knowledge he had. One day, we were shooting Dumbledore’s final clock tower scene, obviously quite an intense scene. In between set ups, Michael asked what I was up to that weekend. As it happened, my brother and I were reading Peter and the Wolf with the Manchester Halle orchestra. ‘Do you have the script with you?’ He asked. I did. ‘I’ve done that, let’s [go] through it, and if you like, I can give some notes.’ So, we spent what we should have been his downtime going over my weekend gig. It is a memoir I’ve always had as one of my highlights of my HP days [sic].”
Rupert Grint
Rupert took to Instagram to pen a thoughtful note for Michael and his family.
“So sad to hear about Michael,” the actor who portrayed Ron Weasley wrote. “He brought so much warmth and mischief to every day on set. 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.”
In other news – Actor Michael Gambon has died
British-Irish actor Michael Gambon, best known to global audiences for playing the wise professor Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movie franchise and whose career was launched by his mentor Laurence Olivier, died aged 82 on Thursday.
He died peacefully in hospital, PA Media reported citing a family statement. Gambon began his acting on the stage in the early 1960s and later moved into TV and film. Notable film roles include a psychotic mob leader in Peter Greenaway’s The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover in 1989 and the elderly King George V in Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech in 2010. Read More
