Sir Michael Gambon's quiet life in Kent after Harry Potter reunion snub

28 September 2023 , 12:29

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Sir Michael Gambon's quiet life in Kent after Harry Potter reunion snub

Sir Michael Gambon was known to millions, with younger fans knowing him for playing Professor Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series after the death of his predecessor, Richard Harris, in 2002.

But the actor, who has sadly died aged 82, recently took a step back from life in the limelight and instead made the decision to live a more peaceful life in Gravesend, Kent. A statement, issued by publicist Clair Dobbs on behalf of his wife Lady Gambon and son Fergus Gambon, read: "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, following a bout of pneumonia." It is not clear when Sir Michael fell ill or if he had any other health issues prior to his death.

Sir Michael Gambon has died, aged 82 it has been announced (Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar)

Over the course of his six-decade-long career, he went on to win three Olivier Awards, four BAFTAs and two SAG Awards, having launched his career with Laurence Olivier. But while he may have started acting aged 24, in Sir Michael made the decision to take a step back from the limelight in 2015 after ongoing issues with his health.

"It's a horrible thing to admit but I can't do it. It breaks my heart. It's when the script is in front of me and it takes forever to learn. It's frightening," said the veteran actor after being given the all-clear from Alzheimer's.

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Since taking a step back, Sir Michael chose to live a quiet life in Meopham, a village just south of Gravesend in Kent. The idyllic village, where the actor lived for the last 30 years of his life in a £4million mansion, dates back to the 12th Century. But his life in Kent was far from bland, Sir Michael lived withi his wife Anne until he went public with his girlfriend Philippa Hart in 2002, with him later moving out of the family home.

In 2007, it was announced Philippa was pregnant with their first child, Thomas, before giving birth to their second, William, in 2009. But by 2011, Sir Michael was living with his wife Lady Anne again, while also engaging in a relationship with Phillipa. The garage of his family home was filled with classic cars, a hobby he was known for having appeared on Top Gear. Away from cars and family life, he was also a fully qualified private pilot.

In 2015, the famous actor revealed why he had decided to call it time on his ground-breaking stage career due to personal struggles with his memory. During the later years of his acting life, Sir Michael often wore an earpiece on stage in order to receive lines.

Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, he added: "There was a girl in the wings and I had a plug in my ear so she could read me the lines, and after about an hour I thought, this can't work. You can't be in theatre, free on stage shouting and screaming and running around, with someone reading you your lines."

The beloved actor lived in the picturesque village of Meopham in Kent (PA)

Despite playing the headmaster of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry in six Harry Potter films, Sir Michael was snubbed from the 2022 reunion, Return to Hogwarts, alongside Maggie Smith who was known for playing Professor Minerva McGonagall. This decision left fans furious but it's believed that some actors decided not to take part due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, Sir Michael's memory issues could also have played a part.

Just six years prior, in 2009, Sir Michael was rushed to hospital by an ambulance during rehearsals at the National Theatre after suffering from panic attacks while trying to remember his lines. Sir Michael's last television credit was as Henry Tyson in Fortitude.

But while he quit his stage career in 2015, he went on to become the voice of The Guard in the 2018 production of Pinter One. He went on to work in movies until 2019, with his last acting credit being Moses in the film, Cordelia. Just one year prior, he made an uncredited cameo appearance as Agent Five in Johnny English Strikes Again.

Daniel Bird