Daniel Radcliffe and more Harry Potter actors are paying tribute to the late Michael Gambon, who played Albus Dumbledore in the franchise.
It was announced this morning that Michael Gambon had died at the age of 82. Tributes have poured in for the late actor from all corners of Hollywood, including those with whom he worked on the Harry Potter movies.
Michael Gambon is known as Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. He took over the role from Richard Harris, who played the character in the first two films before his death. Stepping into such a memorable role with another actor is no small feat, but Gambon quickly made Dumbledore his own.
In a statement, Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe paid tribute to Michael Gambon. “With the loss of Michael Gambon the world was not much more fun,” wrote Radcliffe. “Michael Gambon was one of the most brilliant, effortless actors I ever got to work with, but despite his immense talent, what I remember most about him is how much fun he had. it was work.“
Radcliffe continued, “It was silly, irreverent and funny. He loved his job, but he didn’t seem to be defined by it. He was a wonderful storyteller and joker and his habit of blurring the lines of fact and fiction when speaking to journalists meant that he was also one of the most interesting people you could want to wardrobe with. The sixth film was where I got to spend the most time working with Michael and it made the hours I spent in front of a green screen together more memorable and happy than it should have been have them. I am so sad to hear of his passing, but I am so grateful to be one of the lucky ones who got to work with him.“
Harry Potter creator JK Rowling offered her own suggestion to Michael Gambon on it Twitter. “I just heard the terrible news about Michael Gambon,” Rowling wrote. “The first time I ever laid eyes on him was in King Lear, in 1982, and if you had told me then that this great actor would appear in anything I wrote, I would have thought you were mad. Michael was a wonderful person as well as a fantastic actor, and I really enjoyed working with him, not only on Potter but also The Casual Vacancy. My deepest condolences go out to Michael’s family and everyone who loved him.“
Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, said, “So sorry to hear about Michael. He brought so much warmth and confidence to every day on set. He captured me as a child and became my personal model for finding the fun and special things in life. Sending all my love to his family.“
Lucius Malfoy’s Jason Isaacs said, “Michael Gambon has died. I learned what acting could be from Michael in The Singing Detective – complex, vulnerable and completely human. The greatest joy in the Potter films was that he knew my name and shared his fearless, dirty fun with me.“
David Yates, who directed the last four films of the Harry Potter franchise, said, “Michael was a mischievous actor, fun, but also very thoughtful. I got the sense that he was frustrated, somehow, by all the hustle and bustle that surrounded the world of Potter, but he poured his heart into creating a memorable, brutal, soulful Dumbledore. He was also great fun on set, pragmatic, accessible, funny, down to earth, and despite his extraordinary talent, he made the young actors around him feel at ease. He was one of the greats, and we will all miss him.“
