Sir Michael Gambon had quite a successful career in the industry and was widely applauded for his acting and portrayal of various characters. Though he initially started as an actor in plays, he soon made his way to the silver screen. Most notably, he was a Broadway actor and on the silver screen, he portrayed Albus Dumbledore in six ‘Harry Potter‘ movies.
Though an incredibly talented and charming actor, Gambon had retired early from acting. Here’s what made him give up acting way sooner than fans wanted.
Related: “Light Up Heaven, Dumbledore”: ‘Harry Potter’ Actor Sir Michael Gambon Dies At 82
Sir Michael Gambon’s Early Retirement
The veteran actor had to give up acting because he had short-term memory loss. Sir Michael Gambon spoke about how it became increasingly difficult for him to remember lines and hence affected his performance. He also revealed that other people had to read him his lines through an earpiece, which he grew weary of and had to give up. “It’s a horrible thing to admit, but I can’t do it,” he said, “It breaks my heart. It’s when the script’s in front of me and it takes forever to learn. It’s frightening.”
“There was a girl in the wings and I had to plug in my ear so she could read me the lines,” he continued. “After about an hour I thought, ‘This can’t work. You can’t be in theater, free on the stage, shouting and screaming and running around with someone reading to you.’”
In Case You Missed It: Is ‘Harry Potter’ TV Series A Good Idea Or A Curse For J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World Legacy?
Sir Michael Gambon’s Death
Sir Michael Gambon took his last breath on 28 September 2023. The actor was 82. He peacefully died in a hospital. According to his medical reports, he had pneumonia.
“We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside,” the statement from his family reads.
With a career that spanned over five decades, Gambon remains one of Hollywood’s most cherished veteran actors who left behind a great legacy. May he rest in peace.
You Might Like To Read: A Man Of Contradictions: Why Severus Snape Is One Of The Most Fascinating Characters In ‘Harry Potter’
