Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe leads tributes after Michael Gambon death
Harry Potter star Michael Gambon has died at the age of 82 following "a bout of pneumonia" and several of his former castmates have been sharing tributes.
The actor was best known for his portrayal of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the Wizarding World movies, after taking over the role from the late Richard Harris.
News of Gambon's death was announced on Thursday (September 28) in a statement issued on behalf of his wife and son which described him as a "beloved husband and father".
Among those paying tribute was Daniel Radcliffe, who told Entertainment Weekly: "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."
Radcliffe went on to describe the process of working closest with Gambon on the set of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
"The sixth film was where I got to spend the most time working with Michael," Radcliffe wrote. "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."
Emma Watson penned a beautiful remembrance of "kind, kind Michael Gambon" on her Instagram Story late Thursday.
"You never took it too seriously but somehow delivered the most serious moments with all the gravitas," she wrote. "Thank you for showing us what it looks like to wear greatness lightly. We will miss you."
Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, shared some heartwarming memories of working with Gambon.
"Magnificent Michael Gambon has died," he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). "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."
Similarly, Fred Weasley actor James Phelps described Gambon as "a legend" both on and off camera.
Reflecting on their time working together, Phelps recalled an occasion when Gambon helped him with his acting skills.
"He was always very funny and very welcoming to share any knowledge he had," he wrote. "One day we were shooting Dumbledore's final clock tower scene, obviously quite an intense scene. In between set ups Michael asked what I was up to that weekend. As it happened my brother and I were reading Peter and the Wolf with the Manchester Halle orchestra."
Phelps explained how Gambon offered to run through the script with him and give him some notes.
"So we spent what should have been his downtime going over my weekend gig," he recalled. "It is a memory I've always had as one of the highlights of my HP days."
Fiona Shaw, who famously played Harry Potter’s Aunt Petunia Dursley, spoke of her fondness for Gambon during an interview on BBC Radio 4.
"I will think of him as a trickster, just brilliant, magnificent trickster," she remarked. "There was nothing like him, he could do anything."
Stanislav Yanevski, who played Viktor Krum in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, shared his own tribute on his Instagram Story.
"I am very sad to hear that we've lost another legend. Sir Michael Gambon," he wrote. "I am so grateful to have shared the same set with you and will treasure all the great memories, laughter and lessons forever."
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