Gambon, Michael (1940-2023), was a well-respected Irish actor. Gambon began acting in the theater in the 1960’s. He also appeared in many motion pictures and television programs throughout his career. Gambon’s famous stage roles included Coriolanus, King Lear, Macbeth, and Othello in plays by the English playwright William Shakespeare. He also played the wizard Albus Dumbledore in several films in the “Harry Potter” film series (2001-2011), based on novels by the British author J. K. Rowling. Gambon was knighted in 1998 for services to drama.
Michael John Gambon was born on Oct. 19, 1940, in Dublin, Ireland. He later moved with his family to England. Gambon attended St. Aloysius School for Boys in London, England. He made his stage debut in 1962, in a production of Othello at the Gate Theatre in Dublin. Gambon joined the National Theatre Company in London when it was founded in 1963. He remained with the company until 1967. He then began acting in repertory companies, such as the Birmingham Repertory and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Gambon had leading roles in The Norman Conquests (1973), in 1974; and Just Between Ourselves (1976), in 1977. Both plays were written by the English playwright Alan Ayckbourn. In 1980, Gambon played the title role in The Life of Galileo (1943), by the German playwright Bertolt Brecht. In 1988, he had a leading role in Uncle Vanya (1899), by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. Gambon acted on Broadway, in New York City, in 1996. He appeared in the play Skylight (1995), by the British playwright David Hare. Gambon also acted in the play when it opened in London in 1995.
Gambon acted in many motion pictures, including The Beast Must Die (1974); The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover (1989); Toys (1992); The Insider (1999); Last September (2000); Gosford Park (2001); The Good Shepherd (2006); Brideshead Revisited (2008); The King’s Speech (2010); and Quartet (2012). Gambon starred in many television programs, including the miniseries The Singing Detective (1986) and Restless (2012). He won several acting awards for The Singing Detective, which was written by the British playwright Dennis Potter. Gambon died on Sept. 27, 2023.
