Summary
- Michael Gambon, who portrayed Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, had a passion for restoring 19th-century Italian dueling pistols.
- Gambon was known for his varied hobbies, including appearing on the show Top Gun and discussing car-related content.
- Despite the success of the franchise, the spinoff centered on a younger Dumbledore received widespread criticism, with hopes that the upcoming reboot will restore the character's reputation.
Harry Potter franchise leading man Daniel Radcliffe gave fans some insight into the habits of dearly departed Dumbledore actor Michael Gambon.
Based on the book series by J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter film series tells the story of the eponymous Boy Who Lived and his journey to embrace his magical heritage while fighting against the corruption and distortion of his new home by fated nemesis Lord Voldemort. The films were a great success in no small part due to the charismatic Albus Dumbledore, a role that many consider best filled by Gambon, who held the role from the third film onwards.
Longest Open-World Games
Even the most sophisticated gamer will be bewildered by the sheer scale of these games. These are the open-world games that take the longest to beat.
Harry Potter star Gambon passed at 82 following a bout of pneumonia on September 27, with everyone who knew him expressing their sincere grief and reminiscing on time spent with the legendary actor. At the annual Business of Broadway Breakfast organized by Variety, Radcliffe commented on Gambon's interests and personality quirks, revealing that the well-renowned and decorated star of screen and stage wasn’t fond of discussing either. “The wonderful thing about Michael is that he wasn’t an actor you talked about acting with,” Radcliffe said. “His true passion was restoring 19th-century Italian dueling pistols.” Elaborating further, Radcliffe mentions how Gambon knew that he was “-at his best when he’s at his most playful. His ability to switch on was second to none.”
Gambon was well known for his varied and interesting hobbies, including multiple appearances on the popular show Top Gear, which features all sorts of car-related content from racing Gambon's preferred Chevrolet Lacetti to describing the Halo 4 Warthog in a promo. The revelation that the lifelong thespian and Hollywood stalwart was entirely uninterested in discussing his art won't surprise those familiar with how well-rounded and carefree the beloved actor could be while still being able to switch back to performance mode in record time. Even as the Harry Potter franchise he left his mark on continues to teether between controversy and commercial success, Gambon will be fondly remembered.
Despite the stellar work that Gambon did in firmly establishing Dumbledore as one of the most iconic characters of all time, some of that success has conversely managed to do more harm than good, with the Harry Potter spinoff franchise centered on a younger incarnation of the character being so widely criticized that some even expected The Secrets of Dumbledore to ruin the franchise. How well the upcoming Harry Potter reboot will go to restore the character’s honor remains to be seen.
The Harry Potter films are currently available for streaming on Max.
Source: Variety