Michael Gambon

Michael Gambon was an Irish-English actor who was known for his versatility and expressive voice. He started his acting career with Laurence Olivier as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre in 1962. He performed in many plays by William Shakespeare, Harold Pinter, Tom Stoppard, Alan Ayckbourn and others, winning three Olivier Awards and a Tony Award nomination. He also appeared in more than 100 films and television shows, including The Singing Detective, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, The Insider, Gosford Park, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The King's Speech, and Victoria & Abdul. He was best known to younger audiences for playing Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series, replacing Richard Harris after his death. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for his services to drama, and received many other honours and accolades. He was described by Ralph Richardson as "The Great Gambon" and by The Irish Times as one of Ireland's greatest film actors. He died in 2023 at the age of 82, after suffering from complications from pneumonia. He was cremated and his ashes were placed in a display urn at Golders Green Crematorium. He is remembered as one of the most talented and influential actors of his generation, and a pioneer of modern theatre and cinema.