Michael Gambon
Born
October 19, 1940 (age 82)
Died
September 27, 2023
Birthplace
Cabra, Dublin, Ireland

Michael Gambon

Sir Michael John Gambon (October 19, 1940 – September 27, 2023) was an Irish-English actor. Gambon started his acting career with Laurence Olivier as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre. Over his six-decade-long career, he received three Olivier Awards and four BAFTA TV Awards. In 1998, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to drama.

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 gained wider recognition 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's list of Ireland's greatest film actors.

Movies

Doctor Who at the Proms
Doctor Who at the Proms
2024 ★ 7.2
Kazran Sardick (archive footage)
Judy
Judy
2019 ★ 6.7
Bernard Delfont
Cordelia
Cordelia
2019 ★ 5.0
Mr. Moses
The Death & Life of John F. Donovan
The Death & Life of John F. Donovan
2019 ★ 6.9
Man in Diner
Johnny English Strikes Again
Johnny English Strikes Again
2018 ★ 6.3
Agent Five
King of Thieves
King of Thieves
2018 ★ 5.5
Billy 'The Fish' Lincoln
Citizen Lane
Citizen Lane
2018 ★ 7.0
Lord Ardilaun
The Last Witness
The Last Witness
2018 ★ 5.9
Frank Hamilton
Paddington 2
Paddington 2
2017 ★ 7.5
Uncle Pastuzo (voice)
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
2017 ★ 7.0
Arthur
Victoria & Abdul
Victoria & Abdul
2017 ★ 6.9
Lord Salisbury
Mad to Be Normal
Mad to Be Normal
2017 ★ 5.9
Sidney Kotok
Viceroy's House
Viceroy's House
2017 ★ 6.6
General Hastings Ismay
Churchill's Secret
Churchill's Secret
2016 ★ 6.3
Winston Churchill
Dad's Army
Dad's Army
2016 ★ 5.0
Private Godfrey
Hail, Caesar!
Hail, Caesar!
2016 ★ 5.9
Narrator (voice)
Unity
Unity
2015 ★ 7.5
Narrator (voice)
On Angel Wings
On Angel Wings
2014 ★ 3.0
Grandfather
Paddington
Paddington
2014 ★ 7.1
Uncle Pastuzo (voice)
Common
Common
2014 ★ 6.5
Judge
Lucan
Lucan
2013 ★ 6.0
John Burke
National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stage
National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stage
2013 ★ 6.2
Hirst
Quartet
Quartet
2012 ★ 6.5
Cedric Livingston
Page Eight
Page Eight
2011 ★ 6.6
Benedict Baron
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
2011 ★ 8.1
Albus Dumbledore
Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol
Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol
2010 ★ 7.9
Old Kazran / Elliot Sardick
The King's Speech
The King's Speech
2010 ★ 7.7
King George V
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
2010 ★ 7.7
Albus Dumbledore
The Book of Eli
The Book of Eli
2010 ★ 6.8
George
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Fantastic Mr. Fox
2009 ★ 7.8
Franklin Bean (voice)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
2009 ★ 7.7
Albus Dumbledore
Brideshead Revisited
Brideshead Revisited
2008 ★ 6.3
Lord Marchmain
Joe's Palace
Joe's Palace
2007 ★ 5.9
Elliot Graham
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
2007 ★ 7.7
Albus Dumbledore
The Alps - Climb of Your Life
The Alps - Climb of Your Life
2007 ★ 6.8
Narrator (voice)
Celebration
Celebration
2007 ★ 6.3
Lambert
The Baker
The Baker
2007 ★ 6.4
Leo
The Good Night
The Good Night
2007 ★ 5.3
Alan Weigert
The Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd
2006 ★ 6.4
Dr. Fredericks
John Duffy's Brother
John Duffy's Brother
2006
Narrator
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
2006 ★ 6.9
Lord Charles Fox
The Omen
The Omen
2006 ★ 5.6
Bugenhagen
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
2005 ★ 7.8
Albus Dumbledore
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
2004 ★ 7.1
Oseary Drakoulias
Stories of Lost Souls
Stories of Lost Souls
2004 ★ 5.6
Larry
Layer Cake
Layer Cake
2004 ★ 6.9
Eddie Temple
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
2004 ★ 5.9
Paley
Being Julia
Being Julia
2004 ★ 6.4
Jimmie Langton
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2004 ★ 8.0
Albus Dumbledore
Little Wolf's Book of Badness
Little Wolf's Book of Badness
2003 ★ 7.5
Uncle Bigbad (voice)
Path to War
Path to War
2003 ★ 6.7
Lyndon Johnson
Sylvia
Sylvia
2003 ★ 5.7
Professor Thomas
Open Range
Open Range
2003 ★ 7.2
Denton Baxter
Deep Blue
Deep Blue
2003 ★ 6.8
Narrator (voice)
The Actors
The Actors
2003 ★ 5.5
Barreller
Ali G Indahouse
Ali G Indahouse
2002 ★ 6.1
Prime Minister
Charlotte Gray
Charlotte Gray
2001 ★ 6.1
Levade
Gosford Park
Gosford Park
2001 ★ 6.8
William McCordle
Christmas Carol: The Movie
Christmas Carol: The Movie
2001 ★ 5.2
Ghost of Christmas Present (voice)
High Heels and Low Lifes
High Heels and Low Lifes
2001 ★ 6.1
Kerrigan
Endgame
Endgame
2000 ★ 6.8
Hamm
The Last September
The Last September
2000 ★ 4.9
Sir Richard Naylor
Longitude
Longitude
2000 ★ 7.4
John Harrison
Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow
1999 ★ 7.2
Baltus Van Tassel
The Insider
The Insider
1999 ★ 7.5
Thomas Sandefur
Plunkett & MacLeane
Plunkett & MacLeane
1999 ★ 6.1
Lord Gibson
Dead on Time
Dead on Time
1999
Maurice Silverman
Dancing at Lughnasa
Dancing at Lughnasa
1998 ★ 5.9
Father Jack Mundy
A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway
A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway
1998
Narrator (voice)
The Gambler
The Gambler
1997 ★ 4.5
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Wings of the Dove
The Wings of the Dove
1997 ★ 6.6
Lionel Croy
The Willows in Winter
The Willows in Winter
1996 ★ 6.6
Badger
Nothing Personal
Nothing Personal
1996 ★ 4.3
Leonard
Midnight in Saint Petersburg
Midnight in Saint Petersburg
1996 ★ 5.0
Alex
Two Deaths
Two Deaths
1996 ★ 5.0
Daniel Pavenic
Mary Reilly
Mary Reilly
1996 ★ 5.8
Mary’s Father
The Innocent Sleep
The Innocent Sleep
1996 ★ 4.0
Det. Insp. Matheson
The Wind in the Willows
The Wind in the Willows
1995 ★ 7.0
Badger
Bullet to Beijing
Bullet to Beijing
1995 ★ 5.0
Alexei
A Man of No Importance
A Man of No Importance
1994 ★ 6.0
Ivor J. Carney
Squanto: A Warrior's Tale
Squanto: A Warrior's Tale
1994 ★ 6.7
Sir George
The Browning Version
The Browning Version
1994 ★ 6.4
Dr. Frobisher
Clean Slate
Clean Slate
1994 ★ 5.8
Cornell
The Entertainer
The Entertainer
1993 ★ 7.0
Archie Rice
Toys
Toys
1992 ★ 5.3
General Zevo
Mobsters
Mobsters
1991 ★ 6.2
Don Salvatore Faranzano
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
1989 ★ 7.3
Albert Spica
A Dry White Season
A Dry White Season
1989 ★ 6.6
Magistrate
The Heat of the Day
The Heat of the Day
1989
Harrison
The Rachel Papers
The Rachel Papers
1989 ★ 5.0
Doctor Knowd
Paris by Night
Paris by Night
1989 ★ 4.3
Gerald Paige
Monster Maker
Monster Maker
1989 ★ 6.5
Ultragorgon
Mountain Language
Mountain Language
1988 ★ 4.0
Sergeant
Missing Link
Missing Link
1988 ★ 6.2
Narrator (voice)
Ghosts
Ghosts
1987
Pastor Manders
Turtle Diary
Turtle Diary
1985 ★ 6.2
George Fairbairn
Forbidden Passion: The Oscar Wilde Movie
Forbidden Passion: The Oscar Wilde Movie
1985
Absurd Person Singular
Absurd Person Singular
1985 ★ 8.0
Geoffrey
The Breadwinner
The Breadwinner
1982
Charles Battle
One of These Nights I'm Gonna Get an Early Day
One of These Nights I'm Gonna Get an Early Day
1978
Kenny
The Seagull
The Seagull
1978
Trigorin
French Without Tears
French Without Tears
1976
Lt Cmdr Rogers
Tiptoe Through the Tulips
Tiptoe Through the Tulips
1976
Piers
In the Labyrinth
In the Labyrinth
1976
Duncan Harrison
The Other Woman
The Other Woman
1976 ★ 3.0
Robin
The Secret Agent
The Secret Agent
1975
Tom Ossipon
Bold Face: Condensed
Bold Face: Condensed
1974
John
The Beast Must Die
The Beast Must Die
1974 ★ 5.4
Jan Jarmokowski
The Catholics
The Catholics
1973 ★ 5.8
Brother Kevin
Nothing But the Night
Nothing But the Night
1973 ★ 6.1
Insp. Grant
Cows
Cows
1972
Max
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream
1971
Theseus
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
1967
Gregory
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing
1967 ★ 5.5
Other Watchman
Othello
Othello
1965 ★ 6.2

TV Series

Little Women
Little Women
2017 ★ 7.1
Mr. Laurence
3 Episodes
Fearless
Fearless
2017 ★ 6.7
Sir Alistair McKinnon
6 Episodes
The Nightmare Worlds of H.G. Wells
The Nightmare Worlds of H.G. Wells
2016 ★ 6.2
Elderly Philosopher
1 Episode
The Casual Vacancy
The Casual Vacancy
2015 ★ 6.1
Howard Mollison
3 Episodes
Fortitude
Fortitude
2015 ★ 6.8
Henry Tyson
11 Episodes
Quirke
Quirke
2014 ★ 5.9
Judge Garret Griffin
3 Episodes
Lucan
Lucan
2013 ★ 7.2
John Burke
1 Episode
The Frame
The Frame
2013 ★ 10.0
Professor Albus Dumbledore
1 Episode
Restless
Restless
2012 ★ 7.2
Baron Mansfield / Lucas Romer
2 Episodes
The Hollow Crown
The Hollow Crown
2012 ★ 7.4
Mortimer
1 Episode
Luck
Luck
2012 ★ 6.7
Michael
9 Episodes
Emma
Emma
2009 ★ 7.6
Mr. Woodhouse
4 Episodes
Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire
Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire
2009 ★ 6.1
Narrator
1 Episode
Cranford
Cranford
2007 ★ 8.2
Thomas Holbrook
2 Episodes
Angels in America
Angels in America
2003 ★ 7.6
Prior Walter Ancestor #1
2 Episodes
The Lost Prince
The Lost Prince
2003 ★ 7.1
King Edward VII
2 Episodes
Perfect Strangers
Perfect Strangers
2001 ★ 6.3
Raymond
3 Episodes
Longitude
Longitude
2000 ★ 7.0
John Harrison
2 Episodes
Wives and Daughters
Wives and Daughters
1999 ★ 7.3
Squire Hamley
6 Episodes
Samson and Delilah
Samson and Delilah
1996 ★ 6.0
Re Hamun
2 Episodes
Faith
Faith
1994 ★ 10.0
Peter John Moreton
2 Episodes
Maigret
Maigret
1992 ★ 7.1
Chief Inspector Maigret
12 Episodes
The Storyteller: Greek Myths
The Storyteller: Greek Myths
1991 ★ 8.2
The Storyteller
4 Episodes
Performance
Performance
1991 ★ 6.0
Archie Rice
1 Episode
About Face
About Face
1989 ★ 6.0
1 Episode
The Jim Henson Hour
The Jim Henson Hour
1989 ★ 8.8
Ultragorgon (voice)
1 Episode
The Singing Detective
The Singing Detective
1986 ★ 7.5
Philip Marlow
6 Episodes
Theatre Night
Theatre Night
1985
Pastor Manders
1 Episode
Oscar
Oscar
1985 ★ 3.3
Oscar Wilde
3 Episodes
Bergerac
Bergerac
1981 ★ 6.7
Jarvis McLeod
1 Episode
Minder
Minder
1979 ★ 6.8
Tommy Hambury
1 Episode
Tales of the Unexpected
Tales of the Unexpected
1979 ★ 6.7
Andrew
1 Episode
The Other One
The Other One
1977 ★ 7.0
Brian Bryant
13 Episodes
Zodiac
Zodiac
1974 ★ 5.0
Reuben Keiser
1 Episode
Arthur of the Britons
Arthur of the Britons
1972 ★ 7.3
Roland
1 Episode
Play for Today
Play for Today
1970 ★ 6.3
Piers
1 Episode
Softly Softly: Task Force
Softly Softly: Task Force
1969 ★ 6.0
Cranley
1 Episode
The Borderers
The Borderers
1968
Gavin Ker
26 Episodes
Softly, Softly
Softly, Softly
1966 ★ 5.0
1 Episode
BBC Play of the Month
BBC Play of the Month
1965 ★ 5.0
Gregory
1 Episode
Public Eye
Public Eye
1965 ★ 7.8
1 Episode