Harry Potter Stars Pay Tribute to the Legendary Michael Gambon: An Unforgettable Journey in Memory

Daniel Radcliffe, the lead actor in the original "Harry Potter" film franchise, paid tribute to his late co-star Michael Gambon following Gambon's death from pneumonia at the age of 82. "Michael Gambon was an incredibly talented and effortless actor whom I had the privilege of working with. What I will always cherish about him is his sheer enjoyment and passion for his craft," Radcliffe stated in a press release to Variety on Thursday.

"He was a silly, irreverent, and hilarious individual. Although he loved his job, it never seemed to solely define him," he remarked.

Rupert Grint, known for his portrayal of Ron Weasley in the films, shared a tribute to Gambon on Instagram. In his heartfelt post, he expressed, "I am deeply saddened by the news of Michael's passing. Every day on set, he exuded warmth and mischief. As a child, he mesmerized me and became a personal inspiration for embracing the joys and peculiarities of life."

Gambon portrayed Dumbledore in six of the eight "Harry Potter" films, a role he took up following the death of Richard Harris in 2002.

Sir Michael Gambon CBE at the Oxford Union, UK - 15 Jun 2016

Roger Askew/Shutterstock

Michael Gambon, the actor who played Dumbledore in the "Harry Potter" series, passed away at the age of 82. J.K. Rowling, the author of the "Harry Potter" books, expressed her sadness on Twitter, mentioning how she first saw Gambon in the play "King Lear" in 1982. She added that if someone had told her back then that such a talented actor would one day appear in anything she wrote, she would have found it hard to believe.

"Besides being an exceptional actor, Michael was truly a remarkable and delightful individual to collaborate with," she expressed.

Jason Isaacs, renowned for his portrayal of Lucius Malfoy in the "Potter" films, paid tribute to Gambon on X/Twitter, referring to him as "magnificent." Isaacs continued, "I experienced the true essence of acting through Michael's mesmerizing performance in The Singing Detective; intricate, vulnerable, and authentically human. The most exhilarating part of being part of the Potter films was realizing that he not only recognized me but also shared his fearless and mischievous sense of humor."

Sir Michael Gambon, aged 82, passed away due to pneumonia, as confirmed by a statement released by his family on Thursday, reported PA Media news agency. His publicist, Clair Dobbs, expressed deep sadness in an official statement regarding the loss of Sir Michael Gambon, according to PA.

Correction: A previous version of this story erroneously attributed a quote to Daniel Radcliffe. The story has been updated with a statement from Radcliffe.