Michael Gambon

His first child, Fergus, was born to him and his wife in 1964.

Sir Michael Gambon was born in Cabra, Dublin, Ireland, to Mary (Hoare), a seamstress, and Edward Gambon, an engineer. After joining the National Theatre, under the Artistic Directorship of Sir Laurence Olivier, Gambon went on to appear in a number of leading roles in plays written by Alan Ayckbourn. His career was catapulted in 1980 when he took the lead role in John Dexter's production of "Galileo". Since then, Gambon has regularly appeared at the Royal National Theatre and the RSC. Roles include, King Lear, Othello, Mark Anthony and Volpone. He was described by the late Sir Ralph Richardson as being "The Great Gambon" and he is now considered to be one of the British theatre's leading lights.

He was considered for Caine, Dr.Armstong, Bukovsky, Roger Derebridge, Lamson and Kelly in Lifeforce (1985).

He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1986 (1985 season) for Best Comedy Performance for "A Chorus of Disapproval".

He was awarded the 1987 London Evening Standard Theate Award for Best Actor for his performance in A View from the Bridge.

He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1988 (1987 season) for Best Actor in a New Play for his performance in "A View from the Bridge".

He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1990 Queen's New Year Honours List and made a Knight Bachelor in the 1998 Queen's New Year Honours List for his services to drama.

He was awarded the 1995 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance in Volpone.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1997 Tony Award as Best Actor (Play) for "Skylight."

He was nominated for a 1998 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actor of the 1997 season for his performance in "Tom and Clem" at the Aldwych Theatre.

He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1999 (1998 season) for Best Actor for his performance in "The Unexpected Man".

He was awarded the 2000 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama) for Best Actor for his performance in The Caretaker at the Comedy Theatre and Cressida at the Albery Theatre.

He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 2001 (2000 season) for Best Actor for his performance in "The Caretaker" at the Comedy Theatre.

In 2002, was named the successor to the late Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series.

He was nominated for a 2003 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actor of 2002 for his performance in "A Number" at the Royal Court Theatre Downstairs.

In his opening lines as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, (in 2004's "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", Gambon referred to "...Professor Grubbly-Plank...." and "...*his* remaining limbs...."; however, in the books (and in 2007's "...Order of the Phoenix", the character is revealed to be **female** (Professor Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank, as played by actress Apple Brook).

At the Royal National Theatre, London, performing in the production of William Shakespeares 'Henry the 4th' (parts 1 & 2). [May 2005]

For years he used to carry around what he said was a signed photograph of Robert De Niro, claiming to have met him, though the two had never in fact met. In The Good Shepherd (2006), he is directed by DeNiro.

In 2007, he was nominated for Best Actor at the ESB/Irish Times Theatre awards for his role in the stage adaptation of Samuel Beckett Eh Joe.

At the Duke of York Theatre, London, performing in Harold Pinter's "No Man's Land", with David Walliams and David Bradley. [December 2008]

Voted Best Supporting Actor for Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol (2010) by readers of Doctor Who Magazine.

As of 2014, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The Insider (1999), Gosford Park (2001) and The King's Speech (2010). The latter won in the category.

On 8 February 2015 he announced that at the age of 74 he was retiring from stage acting because long-standing problems with his memory were making it increasingly difficult for him to remember his lines. For several years before that he had relied on an earpiece over which he could be prompted if he forgot his lines.