Daniel Radcliffe & more Harry Potter actors pay tribute to Michael Gambon

Last Updated on October 3, 2023

It was revealed this morning that Michael Gambon had died at the age of 82. Tributes to the late actor have poured in from all corners of Hollywood, including those he worked with on the Harry Potter movies.

Michael Gambon is best known as Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. He took over the role from Richard Harris, who played the character in the first two movies before he passed away. Stepping into a role played so memorably by another actor is no small thing, but Gambon quickly made Dumbledore his own.

In a statement, Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe paid tribute to Michael Gambon. “With the loss of Michael Gambon the world just became considerably less fun,” Radcliffe wrote. “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.“

Radcliffe continued, “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. 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.“

Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling offered her own tribute to Michael Gambon on Twitter. “I’ve just heard the awful news about Michael Gambon,” Rowling wrote. “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 additional 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.“

Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, said, “So sad to hear about Michael. He brought so much warmth and mischief to every day on set. 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.“

Lucius Malfoy’s Jason Isaacs added, “Magnificent Michael Gambon has died. I learned what acting could be from Michael in The Singing Detective – complex, vulnerable and utterly human. 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.“

David Yates, who directed the final four films of the Harry Potter franchise, said, “Michael was a mischievous, playful, yet also deeply thoughtful actor. I got the sense he was bemused, somewhat amused, by all the fuss and hoopla surrounding the world of Potter, yet he poured his heart into creating a memorable, subversive, soulful Dumbledore. He was also enormous fun on set,  pragmatic, accessible, funny, down to earth, and despite his enormous talent, effortlessly made all of the younger actors around him feel at ease. He was one of the greats, and we’ll all miss him.“