Richard Harris’ son has paid tribute to Sir Michael Gambon – who succeeded his father in portraying Harry Potter’s Dumbledore – saying the star was a ‘brilliant actor’.
Gambon died at the age of 82 after suffering a ‘bout of pneumonia’, his family confirmed earlier today.
A statement on behalf of his wife Lady Gambon and son Fergus Gambon, issued by publicist Clair Dobbs, said: “We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon.
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“Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia. Michael was 82.
“We ask that you respect our privacy at this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love.”
In the wake of his death, tributes have come pouring in the for the late star – who was best known for taking over from Richard Harris in the Harry Potter film franchise, playing Professor Albus Dumbledore.
Former co-star James Phelps posted on social media to say Gambon had once helped him prepare for a role when in between scenes on set, while the official Harry Potter Twitter account said Gambon brought ‘immeasurable joy’ to fans all over the world with his ‘humour, kindness and grace’.
And Jared Harris, the son of Gambon’s Dumbledore predecessor, also took to Twitter to share his thoughts, having retweeted a ‘hilarious’ clip of him being interviewed on Top Gear, in which he admitted he ‘hated’ interviews.
“It’s awful, so I just tell lies,” he said with a smirk in the resurfaced footage, before recalling a time he fibbed to interviewers, including one time he claimed to be a ballet dancer with the Royal Ballet.
Harris wrote: “Hilarious! A brilliant actor. 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.”
Gambon appeared on Top Gear in 2009, when Jeremy Clarkson was still hosting the show alongside Richard Hammond and James May.
His appearance as a 'star in a reasonably priced car' came in the same year that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince arrived in theatres, and saw him sit down with Clarkson to chat about films, cars and his lap around the Top Gear track.
Gambon didn't have the smoothest journey around the track, at one point careering off it altogether, but it proved iconic enough for the team to name a corner after him.
Topics: TV and Film, Celebrity, Harry Potter
Jess Hardiman