Top 10 Curiosities About Michael Gambon, the Eternal Dumbledore!

Leaving a legion of Harry Potter fans, our beloved eternal Hogwarts headmaster departed on the last day of September 28, 2023.

As a tribute to our eternal Dumbledore, we have gathered here various curiosities to remember Michael Gambon's career because as in the words of Albus Dumbledore, he not only lived dreaming, he truly lived.

1- Knighted

Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 knighted Michael Gambon for "services to the drama." He considered the gesture a pleasant gift, but did not use the title sir.

He was also named a Commander of the British Empire in 1992.

2- Rejected to play James Bond

Producer Albert Broccoli in 1969 invited the actor to play James Bond, but Michael declined the role. Only in 2016, he revealed that he didn't see himself as the character because he didn't have beautiful hair and a slim body.

3- Appeared on Top Gear

Michael was passionate about cars, which led him to appear on the television show Top Gear in December 2002. In the episode, he drove a Suzuki Liana and was so fast that he flew off the last corner.

Due to this event, the last corner of the program's test track was named Gambon.

4- Retired due to memory problems

In 2015, he retired from theaters, citing problems with memorizing and learning lines. However, until 2019, he continued to act in TV and film.

5- $20 Million

Gambon built his wealth through hard work and a successful career in theater, film, and TV. According to Celebrity Net Worth magazine, he was reportedly worth $20 million at the time of his death.

6- Two Public Relationships

The actor had two women in his life. In 1962, he married Lady Anne Gambon, with whom he had a son. In 2001, during the filming of Gosford Park, he met Philippa Hart, with whom he began a second relationship. With Philippa, they had two children, the first in 2007 and the second in 2009.

Although she initially disagreed with the second relationship, Lady Anne accepted her husband's new romance over time.

7- Aircraft Pilot

In addition to his passion for cars, Gambon also held a Pilot's License, allowing him to fly both civilian and military aircraft.

8- Award Winner

Throughout his acting career, Michael received numerous awards, including the Satellite Award for Best Ensemble in 2002 for the movie Gosford Park.

But the highlight is his 4 wins in BAFTA Awards nominations for Best Actor on TV, winning in 1987, 2000, 2001, and 2002. The BAFTA Award is considered the most important in the British film industry.

9- Member of the Royal National Theatre

The Royal National Theatre, better known as the National Theatre, is one of the UK's top 3 publicly funded performing arts venues. It was here that Gambon began his career, acting in various Shakespearean plays.

10- Wasn't the First Dumbledore

Gambon began appearing in the Harry Potter film series from the third film: The Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004.

Richard Harris, the first actor to portray the Hogwarts headmaster, passed away from lymphatic cancer in October 2002.

Did you know any of these actor-related curiosities? What other roles of the actor have marked your life? Keep following more news and curiosities like this here on LeSeries!