Stars including Jeremy Clarkson, Piers Morgan and Harry Potter actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have paid tribute to Sir Michael Gambon following the news of his death aged 82.
On Thursday it was revealed that distinguished actor Sir Michael, best known for playing the role of Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films from 2004 to 2011, had died peacefully in hospital with his cause of death being pneumonia.
He is also known for playing French detective Jules Maigret in ITV series Maigret, and for his 1986 role as Philip Marlow in Dennis Potter’s The Singing Detective.
The news of his death was met with an outpouring of grief from fans and fellow celebrities.
Daniel Radcliffe hailed him as ‘one of the most brilliant, effortless actors’ he ever worked with as he paid tribute.
‘With the loss of Michael Gambon the world just became considerably less fun,’ 34-year-old Radcliffe said in a statement.
‘Michael Gambon was one of the most brilliant, effortless actors I’ve ever had the privilege of working with, but despite his immense talent, the thing I will remember most about him is how much fun he had doing his job.’
He described Sir Michael as ‘silly, irreverent and hilarious’, as well as ‘an incredible story and joke teller’.
‘His habit of blurring the lines of fact and fiction when talking to journalists meant that he was also one of the most entertaining people with whom you could ever wish to do a press junket,’ Radcliffe added.
‘The sixth film was where I got to spend the most time working with Michael and he made the hours spent in front of a green screen together more memorable and joyous than they had any right to be. I’m so sad to hear he has passed, but I am so grateful for the fact that I am one of the lucky people who got to work with him.’
Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, expressed his sorrow over losing a ‘personal role model’ in Sir Michael.
‘So sad to hear about Michael.’ he began. ‘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.’
Meanwhile, Hermione star Watson wrote on her Instagram stories: ‘Kind kind kind Michael Gambon.
‘You never took it too seriously but somehow delivered the most serious moments with all the gravitas.
‘Thank you for showing us what it looks like to wear greatness lightly. We will miss you.’
Former Top Gear host Clarkson also paid tribute to the legendary actor on X, formerly known as Twitter.
‘I’m so sad to hear that Michael Gambon has died. He was hugely amusing, and such a tremendous guest, we even named a corner after him,’ he said, referencingan iconic episode of Top Gear where the actor was the ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’.
The episode saw Sir Michael nearly flip over a Suzuki Liana at the final corner, and it has been named Gambon Corner ever since.
Morgan also recalled a hilarious exchange he once had with the late star.
His tweet read: ‘RIP Michael Gambon, 82. A true acting great. He once told me: “All I’ve ever wanted to do was act – but these modern celebrities want a quick buck with no talent or hard work required. It’s awful.”
‘”What would you call this type of person?” I asked. “I’d call them a cretin”.’
Fred Weasley actor James Phelps emotionally recalled a time Sir Michael helped him recite lines for a project.
Afshan Azad, who played Padma Patil in Harry Potter, called Sir Michael an ‘icon’ and ‘legend’ writing: ‘What an absolute honour to say I shared the same room and screen as you for many years.’
Percy Weasley actor Chris Rankin added: ‘Sad to hear we’ve lost the great Michael Gambon.’
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling also took to X to pay tribute, writing: ‘I’ve just heard the awful news about Michael Gambon.
‘The first time I ever laid eyes on him was in King Lear, in 1982, and if you’d told me then that brilliant actor would appear in anything I’d written, I’d have thought you were insane.
‘Michael was a wonderful man in additional to being an outstanding actor, and I absolutely loved working with him, not only on Potter but also The Casual Vacancy.
‘My deepest condolences go to Michael’s family and everyone who loved him.’
Jason Isaacs, who played villain Lucius Malfoy in the wizarding franchise also paid his respects.
‘Magnificent Michael Gambon has died,’ he wrote on X.
‘I learned what acting could be from Michael in The Singing Detective – complex, vulnerable and utterly human. 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.’
Sir Michael took over the role of Dumbledore from Richard Harris, who died after the second film. Now, Harris’ son Jared Harris, who is also an actor, has also paid tribute.
‘A brilliant actor,’ he wrote. ‘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 over took Brando as my father’s favourite actor.’
Fiona Shaw, who played Harry Potter’s aunt Petunia Dursley in the films, told Radio 4: ‘I will remember him because he was also a gun maker – he could make guns, he always said he could fool the V&A (Museum) into believing that they were 18th century guns.
‘So I will think of him as a trickster, just brilliant, magnificent trickster, but with text, there was nothing like him – he could do anything.’
‘He took over from Richard Harris (as Albus Dumbledore) and of course, he began to mimic Richard Harris, who had recently died, and he would do his accent, the slight Irish accent.
‘Which of course he always loved having an excuse to do because his family had come from Ireland, and gone to live in Camden.
‘He just loved the precariousness of reality and unreality and, of course, that made him a very great actor.
‘He did once say to me in a car, “I know I go on a lot about this and that, but actually in the end, there is only acting.”
‘I think he was always pretending that he didn’t take it seriously, but he took it profoundly seriously, I think.’
Comedian David Baddiel tweeted: ‘First time I ever went to see any Theatre with a capital T it was Michael Gambon in Brecht’s Life Of Galileo at The National in 1980. It’s still the best stage acting I’ve ever seen. RIP.’
A message shared on Doctor Who’s official Twitter page read: ‘We’re sad to report the passing of Sir Michael Gambon, who appeared in A Christmas Carol in 2010.’
Singer Katherine Jenkins – who starred alongside Sir Michael in A Christmas Carol –also remembered the legendary actor, as she posted a picture of them together.
‘My dear Kazran! My first acting role was opposite Sir Michael Gambon in the Doctor Who Christmas Special,’ she wrote.
‘He couldn’t have been kinder, calmer and more supportive. Today we have lost the loveliest of legends.’
Withnail and I actor Richard E Grant also took to social media to share what looked to be a personal photo he took of the late actor, and wrote: ‘Sir Michael Gambon – THE GREAT GAMBON.’
Born in Dublin before moving to London as a child with his family, Sir Michael first qualified as an engineering technician before switching his focus to a career on the stage.
Starting his acting career with Laurence Olivier as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre, over his six-decade-long career Sir Michael received three Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four Bafta Awards.
In 1999, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to drama.
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A statement issued on behalf of his widow Lady Gambon and son Fergus Gambon confirmed the news of his death earlier today.
‘We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon,’ it read. ‘Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia.’
Sir Michael leaves behind partner Phillipa Hart, as well as three children.
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