Harry Potter's Albus Dumbledore, actor Michael Gambon, passes away at 82

Gambon's deep and drawling tones were instantly recognisable no matter what role he took on in a career spanning more than five decades. After the death of his predecessor, Richard Harris, in 2002, he was cast as the much-loved Dumbledore.

He once admitted to not having read any of J. K. Rowling's best-selling books, believing that it was safer to stick to the screenplay than to be affected by the books. That didn't stop him from channelling the spirit of Professor Dumbledore, a great wizard who fought evil in order to protect his students.

Despite the fact that the Potter role elevated Gambon's international fame and introduced him to a new generation of fans, he had long been regarded as one of Britain's leading actors. His career covered television, theatre, and radio, and he appeared in dozens of films ranging from Gosford Park to The King's Speech and the animated family picture Paddington.

In 1998, Gambon was knighted for services to drama.

Gambon, a multi-talented actor, received four prestigious British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards for his television work.

He rose to prominence in the United Kingdom after playing the lead in Dennis Potter's 1986 BBC series The Singing Detective, which is regarded as a classic of British television drama. Gambon received a BAFTA for best actor for his performance.

In 2010, he played King George V in the drama film The King's Speech. In 2015, he returned to J.K. Rowling's works, starring in the TV adaptation of her novel The Casual Vacancy.

When it came to his private life, the actor was always guarded. He married Anne Miller, and they had one son, Fergus. He later had two boys with set designer Philippa Hart.