Sir Michael Gambon RIP

[Purple Train]

The actor Sir Michael Gambon, probably best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in several of the Harry Potter films, has died at the age of 82.

Harry Potter actor Sir Michael Gambon dies aged 82

The actor, a four-time Bafta award winner, was best known for playing Dumbledore in the hit film series.

www.bbc.co.uk

The actor Sir Michael Gambon has died in hospital aged 82, his family say.

He was best known for playing Professor Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films.

Sir Michael, who was born in Dublin, worked in TV, film, theatre and radio over his five-decade career. He had won four Baftas.

As well as his starring role in Harry Potter, based on the JK Rowling novels, Sir Michael played French detective Jules Maigret in ITV series Maigret. He is also known for his role as Philip Marlow in Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective on the BBC.

He began his career as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre in London and went on to star in a number of Shakespeare plays.

He was knighted for services to the entertainment industry in 1998.

I, and I suspect many other people of similar vintage, loved his portrayal of Dumbledore. He always seemed like a particularly warm and jovial gentleman in interviews, with a wicked sense of humour. And, of course, an icon for very different reasons to viewers of Top Gear!

In my opinion, he must go down as one of the acting greats of our generation, and certainly made his distinctive mark across the entire board: from stage, to screen, to radio. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

 

[Herefordian]

Dreadfully sad news. Sir Michael was one of my favourite actors of all time.

You've summed him up perfectly, in my view. Absolutely agree he was an acting great.

For me, his standout performances were The Singing Detective, Longitude and Perfect Strangers. Fabulous.

Rest in peace, Sir Michael.

 

[D1511]

Another vote for The Singing Detective...A dark masterpiece.
RIP....the ranks of proper Thespians are dwindling these days.....

 

[JD2168]

RIP to Sir Michael Gambon. A truly great actor.

I also remember his appearance on Top Gear on BBC2 that was so memorable (he nearly rolled a Suzuki Liana) he had the final corner of the Top Gear Test Track renamed Gambon Corner in his honour.

 

[Bald Rick]

I bumped into him once, literally. A quick exchange of “Sorry”. Absolute gent.

There’s a terrific anecdote doing the rounds about when he was a young actor and shared a breakfast table with Laurence Olivier. I won’t repeat it as it has, ahem, improper language. But it is hilarious. Google “Gambon Olivier Anecdote” and click the Guardian link from 2004.

 

[Purple Train]

I bumped into him once, literally. A quick exchange of “Sorry”. Absolute gent.

There’s a terrific anecdote doing the rounds about when he was a young actor and shared a breakfast table with Laurence Olivier. I won’t repeat it as it has, ahem, improper language. But it is hilarious. Google “Gambon Olivier Anecdote” and click the Guardian link from 2004.

My favourite of his "tall tales" (as he would tell to the media) was the one he related on his second appearance on Top Gear: he "was in the Royal Ballet" but his career ended when he "fell off the stage and went through a kettledrum". That being said, his response to being asked about homosexuality (having played Oscar Wilde) is also glorious!

 

[D6130]

For me, his standout performances were The Singing Detective, Longitude and Perfect Strangers.

I'm old enough to remember his swashbuckling portrayal of young Jamie Kerr in BBC 2's historical drama series 'The Borderers' in the late 1960s....which I think may have been the first series to be made and broadcast in colour.

 

[Busaholic]

I remember the swathes of cigarette smoke hanging round in the air when he used to be interviewed on TV, God knows how long ago that was. The great thing for me was that he didn't seem to take himself too seriously, but he was still a seriously great actor,