Sir Michael Gambon is an Irish-born British stage and film actor, known for his portrayal of Dumbledore. Harry Potter The movie is dead. He was 82 years old.
Gambon died “peacefully” at the hospital, his representative confirmed to PEOPLE in a statement on behalf of his wife, Lady Gambon, and son Fergus.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon,” the statement shared on Thursday began. “Beloved husband and father Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus by his side following a bout of pneumonia. Michael was 82 years old.”
The statement concluded: “We ask that you respect our privacy during this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love.”
Born in Cabra, Dublin, Ireland, in 1940, Gambon has had an illustrious career in theater and television, as well as memorable roles in films such as 1992’s. Toys1999s Sleepy Hollow2001’s Gosford Park and the 2010s king’s speechHere he played King George V and was among the actors to win the SAG Award for outstanding performance in a motion picture.
He has also been nominated twice for Emmy Awards and won four BAFTA Awards. Gambon received the Richard Harris Award from the British Independent Film Awards in 2012; This is an honor given to an actor who has made a significant contribution to British films throughout his career. He received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth in 1998.
The actor found his best-known role in this film. Potter franchise in 2004 when he took over the role of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. prisoner of azkaban After the death of Richard Harris in October 2002, Harris portrayed Dumbledore in the first two films of the series.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In 2009, Gambon told the Associated Press that he did not realize the impact of the fantasy franchise when he agreed to play Dumbledore and had come to appreciate the role. Potter heritage.
“They called me and said, ‘Are you going to do it?’ “Like any job, I said, ‘Sure.’ Then you find yourself in the middle of this thing,” he said. “I’ve played quite a few con artists and murderers, and it’s quite interesting. Then Dumbledore is the opposite, right? He’s a good guy.” . old man.”
“This will stand out as a happy memory, being with something for so long and having a world-wide love for it. You can never forget it,” Gambon said.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2014, Gambon opened up about his acting, especially how he made himself cry during an emotional scene.
“Just do it. That’s what acting is,” he said at the time. “But I have to admit that I’m trying to create a strong image. The one that often comes to mind is a little girl in uniform during the Vietnam War whose clothes and body were burned by an aerial bomb. She recovered and is now a doctor, which makes me feel like I’m not taking advantage of someone else’s tragedy.”
Gambon is survived by his wife, Lady Gambon, and his son, Fergus, as well as two children, Will and Tom, with Philippa Hart.