Michael Gambon Dead at 82: Inside the Actor's Life

Michael Gambon is no more: The Harry Potter actor is dead after a prolonged illness!  

It's the end of an era: Sir Michael Gambon, best known for starring in the fan-favorite Harry Potter franchise as Albus Dumbledore, is no longer in the world. The beloved actor's sad demise on 27 September has left the industry mourning for the loss. Among a host of A-listers who paid tributes to the veteran actor were his Harry Potter co-stars, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and author J.K Rowling. 

Born Michael John Gambon on October 19, 1940, in Cabra, Dublin, his father moved the family to London when Michael was six. Gambon honed his acting skills performing in amateur productions. An extensive and stellar stint in theatre catapulted Gambon to fame. The late actor garnered three Oliver awards after he became an eminent member of Laurence Olivier's National Theatre acting company in London.  

Michael Gambon's Career Throughout the Decades!   

Gambon rose to global recognition playing the virtuous Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series. But the actor's extraordinary flair to portray a character and his remarkable contribution to the craft was reckoned early in his stage career.   

Called the Great Gambon by Sir Ralph Richardson, Michael's theatre work includes his lauded roles in The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Alan Ayckbourn's A View From the Bridge, The Norman Conquests, The Life of Galileo, and more. Gambon's career trajectory ensued with more success in arthouse films, a list that includes memorable independent flicks like The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, and The Gambler.  

The Dublin-born actor's venture into major movies and mainstream cinema began in the early 20s after he landed coveted roles in mega-hits like Layer Cake, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Amazing Grace, and eventually, the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, in 2004.   

The industry mourns the loss of the genius actor!   

Gambon's role as Albus Dumbledore, which would become the trademark of his celebrity, was passed to him after the death of Richard Harris, who portrayed the character in the first two of the Harry Potter installments. Despite his burgeoning influence in the industry and engrossing impact on the audience, the beloved actor seldom talked about his life.  

"I just plod on and try to keep my mouth shut," the late actor said in one of his rare interviews. Michael's genius also spanned to the small screen. He had a slew of massive hits on television series as well. His lead role in the BBC drama The Singing Detective won him his first BAFTA.   

Michael's illustrious career and his unparalleled contribution to the industry are being remembered all around the world. While many lauded the late actor for his extensive and spectacular work in theatre and films, a legion hailed Gambon as an outstanding man in his personal life. "With the loss of Michael Gambon the world just became considerably less fun," Radcliffe wrote in his tribute.  

Was Michael Gambon Married?  

The Harry Potter alum was a notoriously private star. Gambon rarely gave the public any insights into his craft and business, let alone making his personal life accessible to the world. "I can't understand it. I'm always astonished that people want to know anything about me," Gambon once said.  

The publicity-shy actor protected his life behind the screen until the end of his life. Gambon's strict reticence, hence, created a widespread ambiguity among the media and his fans. While some described him as having a loving wife, many believed that the actor had a longtime girlfriend. 

The beloved actor's conjugal life was indeed complex. Since his quiet exit from the spotlight, due to a prolonged health battle, Gambon and his wife, Anne Miller, referred to as Lady Gambon, lived a serene life in their million-dollar mansion in Gravesend, Kent.   

The acclaimed theatre actor was reportedly only 22 when he married Anne, and later welcomed a son, Fergus, a ceramic expert. It was his wife and son who broke the tragic news of his passing. "We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, He died peacefully in hospital with his wife and son at his bedside," their statement read.  

Coming to the twisted part of Gambon's so-far idyllic life, the BAFTA winner allegedly had one more family with his girlfriend, set designer Philippa Hart. The intriguing story paints Gambon as a sorted gentleman who conducted the affair with transparency. The Irish-English actor and Hart reportedly connected on the sets of the 2000 film Longitude.   

Gambon was 25 years older than Hart but the difference didn't bother him a bit as he went public with her within a year of dating. His then-costars recalled the pair's blossoming relationship and the elation with which Gambon introduced Hart. The pair went on to welcome two sons, Thomas, and Williams, in 2007, and 2008.  

Sources close to Gambon revealed that in 2002, the Tony-nominated actor moved out of his Kent residence to live with Philippa in West London, and for the best part of ten years he lived there. Sir Gambon reportedly relocated to live with Anne in 2011 while keeping his relationship with Philippa intact. 

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