Michael Gambon

Sir Michael Gambon (born October 19, 1940) is an actor perhaps best known worldwide for his role as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films; he is also a Beckett scholar. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, and immigrated with his family to the UK (after World War II had already been won) in 1945 at the age of 5. He attended Catholic school. His father was a policeman for a period of time.

Related Topics:
October 19 - 1940 - Albus Dumbledore - Harry Potter - Beckett - Dublin, Ireland - UK - World War II - 1945 - Catholic

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He made his film debut in the Laurence Olivier Othello in 1965. He then played romantic leads, notably in the early 1970s BBC television series, The Borderers, in which he was swashbuckling Gavin Ker. However, his craggy looks soon made him into a character actor, and it was not until Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective (1986) that he became a household name. Even after this success, for which he won a BAFTA award, his career was patchy, with big hits such as the 1989 film, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, which also starred Helen Mirren long before he was knighted, interspersed with far less notable work.

Related Topics:
Laurence Olivier - Othello - 1965 - 1970s - BBC - Character actor - Dennis Potter - The Singing Detective - 1986 - BAFTA - The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover - Helen Mirren

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He starred as Fyodor Dostoyevsky in the Hungarian director Károly Makk's movie The Gambler (1997) about the writing of Dostoyevsky's novella The Gambler.

Related Topics:
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - Károly Makk - The Gambler

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In recent years, films such as Dancing at Lughnasa (1998) and Plunkett and Macleane (1998), as well as television appearances in series such as Wives and Daughters (1999) (for which he won another BAFTA), a made for TV adaption of Beckett's Endgame (2001) and Perfect Strangers (2001), have made him one of Britain's most sought-after actors, as well as revealing his talent for comedy.

Related Topics:
Dancing at Lughnasa - 1998 - Plunkett and Macleane - Wives and Daughters - Beckett - Endgame - Perfect Strangers

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In 2004, he proved his versatility by appearing in five motion picture releases, including Wes Anderson's quirky comedy The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou; the British gangster flick Layer Cake; theatrical drama Being Julia; and CGI action fantasy Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Perhaps his most significant role in 2004, however, was Albus Dumbledore, Hogwart's headmaster in the third installment of JK Rowling's franchise, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, taking over from the late Irish actor Richard Harris.

Related Topics:
2004 - Wes Anderson - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou - Layer Cake - Being Julia - Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow - Albus Dumbledore - JK Rowling - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Irish - Richard Harris

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He has also recently appeared on the BBC's Top Gear programme in which he launched a Suzuki Liana airborne off the final corner. The final corner of the track at Dunsfold Park has now been named 'Gambon' after this feat.

Related Topics:
BBC - Top Gear - Suzuki

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He will reprise the role of Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, set for a November 2005 release in the US and UK.

Related Topics:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - November - 2005 - US - UK

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During his career, Gambon has appeared in film, television and theatre with an alumni of highly regarded actors, directors and writers: Maggie Smith, Miranda Richardson, Dennis Potter and Derek Jacobi have all appeared alongside the 'Great Gambon' on multiple occasions.

Related Topics:
Film - Television - Theatre - Maggie Smith - Miranda Richardson - Dennis Potter - Derek Jacobi

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Michael Gambon remains unmarried.

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