Harry Potter Stars React To The Death Of Michael Gambon
Fans and film industry colleagues are mourning the loss of "Harry Potter" actor Michael Gambon, who died at age 82 on September 28. Gambon played the pivotal role of Professor Albus Dumbledore in the film series, taking over from Richard Harris in 2004's "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" after the latter died in 2002.
"Harry Potter" book series author J.K. Rowling issued a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, "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 addition 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."
Also reacting to the sad news was Gambon's fellow "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe, noting how the actor made the profession such a joy. "With the loss of Michael Gambon the world just became considerably less fun," he noted in a statement to Variety. "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 was silly, irreverent, and hilarious. He loved his job but never seemed defined by it."
Radcliffe ended his statement by saying how much he appreciated acting with Gambon. "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."
Grint and Watson remembered Gambon for his warmth and kindness
Ron Weasley actor Rupert Grint also paid tribute to Michael Gambon on Instagram, echoing Daniel Radcliffe's sentiments about how Gambon made work so much fun. "So sad to hear about Michael. He brought so much warmth and mischief to every day on set," he said. "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."
Meanwhile, Hermione Granger actor Emma Watson issued a statement, noting the amazing balance Gambon showcased as a performer. "Kind kind kind Michael Gambon," she said in a story posted to Instagram. "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."
Additionally, Jason Issacs, who starred in the films as Lucius Malfoy — the villainous father of Hogwarts student Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) — celebrated Gambon's acting prowess and sense of humor. "Magnificent Michael Gambon has died. I learned what acting could be from Michael in 'The Singing Detective' — complex, vulnerable, and utterly human," he wrote on X. "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."
Gambon generously helped James Phelps in a break from filming
Also paying tribute to Michael Gambon was James Phelps, who played Weasley twin Fred opposite his brother, Oliver, who played George. Phelps recalled how generous Gambon was with his time in between takes on the pivotal Astronomy Tower scene in 2009's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." While Fred isn't in that sequence, Phelps shared that in addition to his role, he worked in the assistant director department, so he was on set, and in between setups, Gambon asked him what his weekend plans were.
"As it happened, my brother and I were reading 'Peter and the Wolf' with the Manchester Halle orchestra. 'Do you have the script with you?' [he] asked, I did, [and he said,] 'I've done that, let's go through it, and if you like, I can give [you] some notes.' So we spent what should have been his downtime going over my weekend gig," Phelps wrote on X. "It is a memory I've always had as one of the highlights of my 'HP' days."
Jared Harris, the actor son of original Professor Dumbledore actor Richard Harris, paid his respects to Gambon as well. In a post on X, Jared Harris wrote, "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 [overtook] Brando as my father's [favorite] actor."