…he never had any qualifications
By Frank Ulom
Sir Michael Gambon, one of the star actors of the Harry Porter film series is dead, THE PARADISE NEWS learned.
Gambon who played Prof. Albus Dumbledore in the famous Harry Porter film series died on Thursday, September 28, 2023, at the age of 82.
According to reports, the Irish-born actor died in hospital after a bout of pneumonia.
“We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. 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,” a statement on behalf of his wife, Lady Gambon, and son, Fergus, issued by publicist Clair Dobbs, said.
The Great Gambon, as he’s fondly called has been mourned by Harry Porter co-stars, including Daniel Radcliff who played Harry Porter, who said: “brilliant, effortless actor…loved his job but never seemed defined by it.”
Another, Emma Watson, thanked Sir Gambon for “showing us what it looks like to wear greatness lightly.”
Harry Porter writer, JK Rowling described Gambon as a “wonderful man” and “outstanding actor.”
Gambon has won several awards including BAFTA but he never had any qualifications.
According to Wikipedia, Michael John Gambon was born in the Cabra suburb of Dublin on 19 October 1940. His mother, Mary (née Hoare), was a seamstress, while his father, Edward Gambon, was an engineering operative during World War II.
His father decided to seek work in the rebuilding of London, and moved the family to Mornington Crescent in London’s Camden borough when Gambon was six.
His father arranged for him to be made a British citizen, a decision that would later allow him to receive a substantive (rather than honorary) knighthood.
Brought up as a strict Catholic, he attended St. Aloysius Boys’ School in Somers Town and served at the altar. He then matriculated to St Aloysius’ College in Highgate, whose former pupils include actor Peter Sellers. He later moved to North End, Kent, where he attended Crayford Secondary School but left with no qualifications at the age of 15.
He then gained an apprenticeship as a toolmaker with Vickers-Armstrong. By the time he was 21, he was a qualified engineering technician. He kept the job for a further year, acquiring a lifelong passion for collecting antique guns, clocks, watches and classic cars.
At age 24, Gambon wrote a letter to Micheál Mac Liammóir, the Irish theatre impresario who ran Dublin’s Gate Theatre, accompanied by a CV describing a rich and wholly imaginary theatre career: he was taken on.
Gambon appeared in many productions of works by William Shakespeare such as Othello, Hamlet, Macbeth and Coriolanus. Gambon was nominated for thirteen Olivier Awards, winning three times for A Chorus of Disapproval (1985), A View from the Bridge (1987), and Man of the Moment (1990). In 1997, Gambon made his Broadway debut in David Hare’s Skylight, earning a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play nomination.
Gambon made his film debut in Othello (1965). His other notable films include The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989), The Wings of the Dove (1997), The Insider (1999), Gosford Park (2001), Amazing Grace (2006), The King’s Speech (2010), Quartet (2012), and Victoria & Abdul (2017). Gambon also appeared in the Wes Anderson films The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) and Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009). Gambon enhanced his stardom through his role of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series from 2004 to 2011, replacing Richard Harris following his death in 2002.
For his work on television, he received four BAFTA Awards for The Singing Detective (1986), Wives and Daughters (1999), Longitude (2000), and Perfect Strangers (2001). He also received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Path to War (2002) and Emma (2009). Gambon’s other notable projects include Cranford (2007) and The Casual Vacancy (2015). In 2017, he received the Irish Film & Television Academy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2020, he was listed at No. 27 on The Irish Times’ list of Ireland’s greatest film actors.
