One of the great character actors...

Shame he'll only mainly be remembered as "The second Dumbledore".

I know. Regrettably so.

Monterey Jack wrote: ↑Thu Sep 28, 2023 11:58 am Shame he'll only mainly be remembered as "The second Dumbledore".

At least he will be remembered for something!

But I hear you. Gambon played a lot of far-more interesting and complex roles. I was always a big fan of his work -- he was incredible in The Singing Detective, wonderful in The StoryTeller, and countless other roles.

Ironically, as far as Harry Potter I never felt he was the best replacement for Richard Harris. Harris was one of those actors with a larger-than-life quality. Gambon -- while technically "the better actor" -- didn't have the kind of screen persona which was imperative for someone playing the most powerful and feared wizard in the world.

Moreover, Gambon's look and physique and acting style was very different from that of Harris. I'll never forgive Alfonso Cuarron for going against the wishes of Harris' family, who wanted Harris' old mate Peter O'Toole to take over the role (and whose casting would have been a near-seamless transition).