Biography for Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore)

Date of Birth

19 October 1940, Dublin, Ireland

Height

6' (1.83 m)

Mini Biography

After joining the National Theatre, under the Artistic Directorship of Sir Laurence Olivier, Gambon went on to appear in a number of leading roles in plays written by Alan Ayckbourn. His career was catapulted in 1980 when he took the lead role in John Dexter's production of "Galileo". Since then, Gambon has regularly appeared at the Royal National Theatre and the RSC. Roles include, King Lear, Othello, Mark Anthony and Volpone. He was described by the late Sir Ralph Richardson as being "The Great Gambon" and he is now considered to be one of the British theatre's leading lights. He was made a CBE in 1992.

Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. In 2002, was named the successor to the late Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series. His Potter debut will be in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). He as awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1986 (1985 season) for Best Comedy Performance for "A Chorus of Disapproval". Other awards include:

• the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1988 (1987 season) for Best Actor in a New Play for his performance in "A View from the Bridge".

• the 1987 London Evening Standard Theater Award for Best Actor for his performance in A View from the Bridge.

• the 2000 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama) for Best Actor for his performance in The Caretaker at the Comedy Theatre and Cressida at the Albery Theatre.

•  the 1990 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Best Actor for his performance in Man of the Moment.

• the 1995 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance in Volpone.

He graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London, England. He has twice played two roles previously played by Richard Harris. The character of Jules Margaret, which Richard Harris played in a 1988 TV movie and secondly Albus Dumbledore of the Harry Potter Movies. For years he used to carry around what he said was a signed photograph of Robert De Niro, claiming to have met him, though the two had never in fact met. In The Good Shepherd (2006), he is directed by DeNiro.

Finally, he holds a private pilot's license and flies his own plane regularly when not filming on location. In 2007 he was nominated for Best Actor at the ESB/Irish Times Theatre awards for his role in the stage adaptation of Samuel Becketts Eh Joe.