Michael Gambon

Highest Rated: 100% The Alps (2007)

Lowest Rated: 0% The Baker (2007)

Birthday: Oct 19, 1940

Birthplace: Dublin

One of Britain's most revered stage performers, Michael Gambon (born October 19th, 1940) was described by the late Sir Ralph Richardson as "The Great Gambon." The fierce-looking Irish actor joined Britain's National Theatre in 1963 after being personally selected by Sir Laurence Olivier. He quickly worked his way up to leading parts and became particularly well known for his work in a number of Alan Ayckbourn plays. Gambon's career received a major boost in 1980, when he took the title role in John Dexter's production of The Life of Galileo; he subsequently became a regular player with both the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. The actor received particular acclaim for his work in A View from the Bridge, for which he won all of the major drama awards in 1987, and Volpone, for which he won the 1995 Evening Standard Award. Gambon made his Broadway debut in 1997 in New York's Royal Theatre production of David Hare's Skylight.While he was busy racking up an impressive number of plays, Gambon also found time to nurture a film career. Although he made his screen debut in a 1965 adaptation of Othello, the actor appeared only sporadically in films until the late '80s, when he began earning recognition for his work in such films as Peter Greenaway's The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (1989), which cast him as the sadistic titular thief. He went on to do starring work in a number of diverse films, including A Man of No Importance (1994), The Browning Version (1994), Dancing at Lughnasa (1998), and Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow (1999). Extremely busy during the millennial turnover, Gambon once again caught the attention of audiences in Robert Altman's much-praised comedy Gosford Park before taking over the late Richard Harris's role as Albus Dumbledore in 2004's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, subsequently portraying the character for the remainder of the films. Gambon, who became a familiar face to PBS devotees via his title role in Dennis Potter's quirky TV serial The Singing Detective (1986-1987), was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1992.The actor would further demonstrate his range by appearing in 2004's highly stylized sci-fi adventure Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, the British crime thriller Layer Cake, and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, an edgy comedy from director Wes Anderson. Gambon continued in his role of Dumbledore until the Harry Potter film franchise came to an end in 2011 with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II.

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Highest Rated Movies

The Alps
100%
Paddington
98%
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
96%
The Insider
96%

Filmography

MOVIES

RATING	TITLE	CREDIT	BOX OFFICE	YEAR
40%	The Last Witness	Frank Hamilton	—	2018
62%	Mad to Be Normal	Syndey Kotok	—	2018
No Score Yet	King of Thieves	Actor	—	2018
29%	The King of Thieves	Actor	—	2018
66%	Victoria & Abdul	Actor	$21.7M	2017
52%	Kingsman: The Golden Circle	Arthur	$99.8M	2017
72%	Viceroy's House	Gen. Hastings Ismay	$1.1M	2017
31%	Dad's Army	Private Godfrey	$4.7M	2016
No Score Yet	The Casual Vacancy	Howard Mollison	—	2015
98%	Paddington	Uncle Pastuzo	$85.9M	2015
No Score Yet	Common	Actor	—	2014
No Score Yet	Restless	Baron Mansfield	—	2014
89%	London: The Modern Babylon	Actor	—	2013
80%	Quartet	Cedric Livingston	$18.1M	2013
No Score Yet	National Theatre Live: The Habit Of Art	Actor	—	2013
No Score Yet	National Theater Live: The Magistrate	Actor	—	2012
No Score Yet	Absurd Person Singular	Actor	—	2012
No Score Yet	Endgame	Actor	—	2012
93%	Page Eight	Benedict Baron	—	2011
96%	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2	Professor Albus Dumbledore	$381.1M	2011
95%	The King's Speech	King George V	$138.3M	2010
78%	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1	Professor Albus Dumbledore	$295M	2010
47%	The Book of Eli	George	$94.8M	2010
92%	Fantastic Mr. Fox	Franklin Bean	$21.1M	2009
84%	Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince	Professor Albus Dumbledore	$302M	2009
62%	Brideshead Revisited	Lord Marchmain	$6.4M	2008
No Score Yet	Alps - Climb of Your Life	Actor	—	2008
No Score Yet	Joe's Palace	Actor	—	2007
0%	The Baker	Leo	—	2007
31%	The Good Night	Alan Weigert	—	2007
77%	Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix	Albus Dumbledore	$292M	2007
100%	The Alps	Narrator	—	2007
No Score Yet	Celebration	Actor	—	2007
68%	Amazing Grace	Lord Charles Fox	$21.2M	2007
54%	The Good Shepherd	Dr. Fredericks	$59.9M	2006
27%	The Omen	Bugenhagen	$54.6M	2006
88%	Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire	Albus Dumbledore	$290M	2005
67%	Deep Blue	Narrator	—	2005
80%	Layer Cake	Eddie Temple	$2.3M	2005
No Score Yet	Stories of Lost Souls	Larry	—	2005
56%	The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou	Oseary Drakoulias	$24M	2004
56%	Ali G Indahouse	Prime Minister	—	2004
76%	Being Julia	Jimmy Langton	$7.7M	2004
71%	Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow	Editor Paley	$37.6M	2004
90%	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban	Albus Dumbledore	$249.4M	2004
37%	Sylvia	Professor Thomas	$1.3M	2003
79%	Open Range	Denton Baxter	$58.3M	2003
No Score Yet	Los Actores	Barreller	—	2003
No Score Yet	The Lost Prince	Actor	—	2003
No Score Yet	Path to War	Lyndon B. Johnson	—	2002
33%	Charlotte Gray	Auguste Levade	—	2002
86%	Gosford Park	Sir William McCordle	$41.3M	2001
20%	High Heels and Lowlifes	Kerrigan	—	2001
No Score Yet	Monkey's Tale	Master Martin	—	2001
No Score Yet	Almost Strangers	Actor	—	2001
17%	Christmas Carol - The Movie	Ghost of Christmas Present	—	2001
42%	The Last September	Sir Richard Naylor	—	2000
80%	Longitude	John Harrison	—	2000
68%	Sleepy Hollow	Baltus Van Tassel	—	1999
96%	The Insider	Thomas Sandefur	—	1999
24%	Plunkett & Macleane	Lord Chief Justice Gibson	—	1999
66%	Dancing at Lughnasa	Father Jack Mundy	—	1998
84%	The Wings of the Dove	Kate's father	—	1997
14%	The Gambler	Dostoyevsky	—	1997
No Score Yet	The Willows in Winter	Actor	—	1996
No Score Yet	Samson and Delilah	King Hanun	—	1996
26%	Mary Reilly	Mary's Father	—	1996
No Score Yet	The Innocent Sleep	Det. Inspector Matheson	—	1996
No Score Yet	Midnight in Saint Petersburg	Alex Alexovich	—	1996
No Score Yet	The Wind in the Willows	Badger	—	1995
38%	Two Deaths	Daniel Pavenic	—	1995
No Score Yet	Nothing Personal	Leonard	—	1995
No Score Yet	Bullet to Beijing	Alexei	—	1995
No Score Yet	Midnight in St. Petersburg	Actor	—	1995
78%	The Browning Version	Dr. Frobisher	—	1994
86%	A Man of No Importance	Ivor Carney	—	1994
No Score Yet	Faith	Peter Moreton	—	1994
19%	Clean Slate	Cornell	—	1994
60%	Squanto: A Warrior's Tale	Sir George	—	1994
30%	Toys	Gen. Zevo	—	1992
6%	Mobsters	Don Faranzano	—	1991
83%	A Dry White Season	Magistrate	—	1989
89%	The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover	Albert Spica	—	1989
40%	The Rachel Papers	Dr. Knowd, Oxford Don	—	1989
No Score Yet	Missing Link	Narrator	—	1988
No Score Yet	Paris by Night	Gerald Paige	—	1988
No Score Yet	Ghosts	Actor	—	1987
No Score Yet	Ghosts	Pastor Manders	—	1987
No Score Yet	Forbidden Passion - Oscar Wilde the Movie	Actor	—	1986
90%	Turtle Diary	Fairbairn	—	1985
No Score Yet	The Beast Must Die	Jan Jamokowksi	—	1974
No Score Yet	Catholics	Brother Kevin	—	1973
No Score Yet	Nothing But the Night (The Devil's Undead) (The Resurrection Syndicate)	Inspector Grant	—	1972
80%	Othello	Company	—	1965

TV

RATING	TITLE	CREDIT	YEAR
84%	Little Women 2017	Mr Laurence	2018
80%	Fearless 2017	Actor	2017
93%	Fortitude 2015-2017	Henry Tyson	2017 2015
No Score Yet	Cranford 2007-2009	Mr. Holbook	2017 2009 2007
100%	The Hollow Crown 2012-2016	Mortimer	2016
No Score Yet	Great Performances 2000	Mortimer	2016 2014
56%	The Casual Vacancy 2015	Howard Mollison	2015
81%	Luck 2011-2012	Michael Smythe	2012
No Score Yet	Restless 2012	Baron Mansfield	2012
No Score Yet	Masterpiece 1971-2014	Benedict Baron Harrison Mr. Holbrook Mr. Woodhouse Edward VII Squire Hamley	2011 2010 2008 2004 2001 1990 1980
93%	Doctor Who 2006	Kazran Sardick	2010
No Score Yet	Top Gear 2002	Appearing Actor	2007
91%	Angels in America 2003	Prior No. 1	2003
No Score Yet	Mystery! 1980-2007	Maigret Chief Inspector Maigret	1994 1992
No Score Yet	Doctor Who Confidential 2005	Appearing
No Score Yet	Tales of the Unexpected 1979-1988	Andrew
No Score Yet	The Singing Detective 1986	Philip E. Marlow

Quotes from Michael Gambon's Characters

Franklin Bean:

They took everything?

Albus Dumbledore:

Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.

Denton Baxter:	You're nuthin'!
Boss Spearman:	Maybe so, I'll still be breathin' in another minute.

Baltus Van Tassel:

The horseman was a Hessian mercenary sent to the shores by German princes to keep Americans under the yoke of England. But unlike his compatriots, who came for money, the horseman came for love of carnage.

Michael the Lover:	You have beautiful eyes
Michael the Lover:	You have beautiful eyes.
Michael:	You have beautiful eyes.
Albert Spica the Thief:	And you have a beautiful prick, Mr. Gynecologist.
Georgina Spica:	And you have a beautiful prick, Mr. Gynecologist.

Professor Albus Dumbledore:

Horace? Horace?

Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Most people vomit the first time
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Most people vomit the first time.

Polly Perkins:	Polly is in a phone booth when the robots invade] Wait a minute. I can see something now coming into sight above the Palisades. They're crossing Sixth Avenue... Fifth Avenue... they're a hundred yards away...
Polly Perkins:	Wait a minute. I can see something now coming into sight above the Palisades. They're crossing Sixth Avenue... Fifth Avenue... they're a hundred yards away...
Morris Paley:	Polly. Polly!
Polly Perkins:	Oh, my God.

Professor Albus Dumbledore:

You brave wonderful man.

Albus Dumbledore:

It's Dumbledore's Army, not Potter's.

Albus Dumbledore:

HARRY POTTER!

Albus Dumbledore:	It was foolish of you to come here tonight, Tom. The Aurors are on their way.
Lord Voldemort:	By which time I shall be gone, and you... shall be dead.

Albus Dumbledore:	It was foolish of you to come here tonight, Tom. The Aurors are on their way.
Lord Voldemort:	By which time I shall be gone, and you... shall be dead.

Albus Dumbledore:	It was foolish of you to come here tonight, Tom. The Aurors are on their way.
Lord Voldemort:	By which time I shall be gone, and you... shall be dead.

Franklin Bean:

You wrote a bad song, Petey!

Professor Severus Snape:	So when the time comes... the boy must die?
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Yes. Yes... he must die.
Professor Severus Snape:	You've kept him alive so that he can die at the proper moment. You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter!
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Don't tell me now that you've grown to care for the boy.
Professor Severus Snape:	Expecto Patronum!
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Lily! After all this time?
Professor Severus Snape:	Always.

Professor Albus Dumbledore:

Draco, years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices... please, let me help you.

Albus Dumbledore:

Though we may come from different countries and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one.

Franklin Bean:	"You wrote a bad song, Petey!"
Franklin Bean:	You wrote a bad song, Petey!

Harry Potter:	Is this real, or is it just happening inside my head?
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Of course it's happening inside your head, but why should that mean it's not real?

Albus Dumbledore:	Well - it's just that you seem to be laboring under the delusion that I am going to - what is the phrase - "Come quietly". I am afraid that I am not going to come quietly at all, Cornelius. I have absolutely no intention of being sent to Azkaban. I could break out, of course - but what a waste of time, and frankly, I can think of a host of things I would rather be doing.
Albus Dumbledore:	Well - it's just that you seem to be laboring under the delusion that I am going to - what is the phrase - 'Come quietly'. I am afraid that I am not going to come quietly at all, Cornelius. I have absolutely no intention of being sent to Azkaban. I could break out, of course - but what a waste of time, and frankly, I can think of a host of things I would rather be doing.

Professor Albus Dumbledore:

You were the seventh Horcrux, Harry, the Horcrux he never meant to make.

Georgina Spica the Wife:	Yes! He's a man. He's Jewish and he's from Ethiopia!
Albert Spica the Thief:	What?
Georgina Spica the Wife:	His mother is a Roman Catholic, he's been imprisoned in South Africa, he's as black as the ace of spades and he probably drinks his own pee!

Cornelius Fudge:	[just after Buckbeak's escape] We must search the grounds!
Albus Dumbledore:	Search the skies if you must, Minister, but now I think I'll have a nice cup of tea, or a large brandy. Oh, and executioner, your services are no longer required. Thank you.

Professor Albus Dumbledore:

Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on Earth should that mean that it is not real?

Harry Potter:	I have to go back, haven't I?
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Oh, that's up to you
Harry Potter:	I have a choice?
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Oh, yes. We're in King's Cross, you say? I think, if you so desired, you'd be able to board a train.
Harry Potter:	And where would it take me?
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	On.

Harry Potter:	Oh, and sir?
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	[turns and faces Harry]
Harry Potter:	Is this all real..? Or is it just happening inside my head?
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry. But why then should it mean that it's not real?

Professor Severus Snape:	[After making secret agreement w/ Dumbledore.] No one... can know... Your word!
Professor Severus Snape:	[after making secret agreement with Dumbledore.] No one... can know... Your word!
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	My word that I can never reveal the best of you, Severus?

Professor Albus Dumbledore:	"words are a most inexhaustible source of magic"
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Words are a most inexhaustible source of magic.

Professor Albus Dumbledore:	You're not telling me you've grown to love the boy?
Professor Severus Snape:	[Shows doe patronus- same as Harry's mother's]
Professor Severus Snape:	[shows doe patronus- same as Harry's mother's]
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Even after all this time?
Professor Severus Snape:	Always.

Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Of course all of this is happening in your mind. Why should that mean it's not real?
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on Earth should that mean that it is not real?

Professor Severus Snape:	No one can know..
Professor Severus Snape:	No one can know.
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	I shall never reveal the best of you, Severus.

Mrs. Bean:	How many jars should I bring up, Franklin?
Franklin Bean:	I don't know, two I guess.
Mrs. Bean:	But you drank two yesterday, though.
Franklin Bean:	Alright, take three.
Mrs. Bean:	[ponders] Nope. Two's plenty.

Franklin Bean:	Why did he write this with letters cut out of magazines?
Walter Boggis:	I don't know, but you did the same thing.

Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Don't tell me now you have grown to care for the boy?
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Don't tell me now that you've grown to care for the boy.

Albus Dumbledore:	[to Professor Snape] For in dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own. Let him swim in the deepest ocean or glide over the highest cloud.
Albus Dumbledore:	[to Professor Snape] For in dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own. Let him swim in the deepest ocean or glide over the highest cloud.

Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it.
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.

Professor Severus Snape:	So when the time comes...the boy must die.
Professor Severus Snape:	So when the time comes... the boy must die?
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Yes...he must die, and Voldemort himself must do it.
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Yes. Yes... he must die. [Shot of Snape collapsing at the sight of Lily's dead body]

King George V:	We have been reduced to those most vile of creatures... Actors.
King George V:	We've been reduced to the most vile and loathsome profession of all: actors.

Albus Dumbledore:	I'd like to make an announcement, Hogwarts Castle won't be your home only for this year, but home for special guests as well.
Albus Dumbledore:	I'd like to make an announcement. This castle will not only be your home this year but home to some very special guests as well.

Harry Potter:	"Professor, is all this real? Or is it just happening inside my head?"
Harry Potter:	Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	"Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry. Why should that mean it's not real?"
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?

Albus Dumbledore:	Harry.. It is not how you are alike.. It's how you are not.
Albus Dumbledore:	Harry... It's not how you are alike. It's how you are not.

Professor Albus Dumbledore:	"After all this time?"
Professor Severus Snape:	"Always."

Albus Dumbledore:	"It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom."
Albus Dumbledore:	It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom.
Lord Voldemort:	"You are a fool Harry Potter, and you will loose everything."
Lord Voldemort:	You are a fool Harry Potter, and you will loose everything.

Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Power was my weakness and my temptation
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Power was my weakness and my temptation.

Professor Albus Dumbledore:	"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?

Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Do not pity the dead Harry, Pity the living.
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Do not pity the dead Harry. Pity the living.

Baltus Van Tassel:

There is a conspiracy here, and I will seek it out!

Albus Dumbledore:

Today we acknowledge a really terrible loss. Cedric Diggory was, as you all know, exceptionally hard working, infinitely fair-minded, and most importantly, a fierce, fierce friend. Therefore, I feel you have the right to know exactly how he died. You see, Cedric Diggory was murdered, by Lord Voldemort. The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so I feel would be an insult to his memory. Now the pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me, and, reminds us, that though we may come from different countries and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one. In light of the recent events, the bonds of friendship made this year will be more important than ever. Remember that, and Cedric Diggory will not have died in vain. You remember that, and we'll celebrate a boy who was kind, and honest, and brave, and true. Right to the very end.

Albus Dumbledore:

Well now that we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement. This castle will not only be your home this year but home to some very special guests as well. You see, Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event: The TriWizard Tournament. The Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school a single student is selected to compete. Now let me be clear. If chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say, these contest are not for the faint-hearted.

Albus Dumbledore:

The Goblet of Fire! Anyone wishing to submit themselves to the tournament need only write their name upon a piece of parchment and throw it in the flame before this hour on Thursday night. Do not do so lightly! If chosen, there's no turning back. As from this moment, The Triwizard Tournament has begun!

Professor Albus Dumbledore:	"Once again I must ask too much of you Harry."
Professor Albus Dumbledore:	Once again I must ask too much of you Harry.

Eddie Temple:

You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son.

Solara:	"It's amazing you guys have survived out here all by yourselves"
Solara:	It's amazing you two have survived out here all by yourselves.
Martha:	"Well George is somewhat of a handyman, we've had a few try and take it from us, haven't we George!"
Martha:	Well George is somewhat of a handyman, we've had a few try and take it from us, haven't we George!
George:	"Yes we have"
George:	Yes we have.