Michael Gambon, Harry Potter actor, dies aged 82

Jenkins said the actor “couldn’t have been kinder, calmer and more supportive” during her time on set in the 2010 Doctor Who Christmas special.

The singer, who portrayed Abigail, shared a photo of herself next to Gambon dressed as his character Kazran.

In a Facebook post, Jenkins said: “My dear Kazran! My first acting role was opposite Sir Michael Gambon in the Doctor Who Christmas Special.

“He couldn’t have been kinder, calmer and more supportive.

“Today we have lost the loveliest of legends.”

“A brilliant actor,” he wrote on Twitter/X. “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.”

In a resurfaced video, Michael Gambon explains his slightly confusing accent.

The actor was born in Dublin but moved to London when he was just six years old. He explains his accent is a mixture of Irish, Cockney and posh.

On social media, many fans are sharing Gambon’s Layer Cake monologue, which he delivers to Daniel Craig.

“You’re born, you take s***. You get out in the world, you take more s***. You climb a little higher, you take less s***. Till one day you’re up in the rarefied atmosphere and you’ve forgotten what s*** even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son.” Poetry.

“You never took it too seriously but somehow delivered the most serious moments with all the gravitas,” the Hermione Granger star wrote on her Instagram Story. “Thank you for showing us what it looks like to wear greatness lightly. We will miss you.”

The BBC archives has reshared a clip of Gambon recalling the time he auditioned for the National Theatre Company in front of Laurence Olivier.

Gambon recalled trying to impress the legendary actor with a rendition of Richard III; however, it ended in an unfortunate accident.

Harry Potter’s lead star, Daniel Radcliffe, has shared a statement in response to Gambon’s passing.

The actor does not have a public social media account. Instead, he wrote in a tribute shared with Variety: “With the loss of Michael Gambon the world just became considerably less fun.

“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. He was an incredible story and joke teller and his habit of blurring the lines of fact and fiction when talking to journalists meant that he was also one of the most entertaining people with whom you could ever wish to do a press junket.

“The sixth film was where I got to spend the most time working with Michael and he made the hours spent in front of a green screen together more memorable and joyous than they had any right to be,” Radcliffe added. “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.”

Many Harry Potter fans are sharing Dumbledore quotes on Twitter following the news of Michael Gambon’s death.

One popular clip depicts the scene where Dumbledore addresses the Great Hall, saying: “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

Bonnie Wright, who played Ginnie Weasley in the Harry Potter saga, has paid tribute to Gambon on Instagram.

“I was forever in awe of Michael’s presence and performance,” she wrote. “His deep mischievous voice between scenes would vibrate through the Great Hall. He was Dumbledore through and through a constant, warm and guiding figure. Rest in peace Michael. Sending love to your family.”