Theatres have paid tribute to stage and screen actor Sir Michael Gambon, who has died of pneumonia at the age of 82.
Sir Michael was born in Dublin, but his father Edward moved his family to Mornington Crescent in Camden when he was six. Raised as a devout Catholic, he attended St Aloysius boys school in Somers Town, then St Aloysius College in Highgate, before the family moved to Kent.
He may be best known as Dumbledore in Harry Potter, but his long career dated back to the 1960s, and saw him grace many London stages, from the National Theatre to the West End, winning three Olivier awards, four BAFTAs and two Screen Actors Guild awards.
He made his professional debut in 1962 in a production of Othello at The Gate in Dublin before catching the eye of Laurence Olivier who was recruiting actors for his National Theatre company. 
An early role saw him appear in Edward Albee's Zoo Story at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park, and he was strongly associated with plays by Harold Pinter, Arthur Miller, Alan Ayckbourn and Samuel Beckett before he found screen success with The Singing Detective, and later the Harry Potter franchise.
On X, the Almeida Theatre recalled their 2000 production of Cressida which took place in the West End while their Islington base was being refurbished.
'We're so sad to hear of the passing of Michael Gambon, pictured here in our production of Cressida by Nicholas Wright at the Albery Theatre (now the Noël Coward Theatre) in 2000. Sending thoughts to all his loved ones.'
And Jermyn Street Theatre in St James where Sir Michael was a patron said: “It is with enormous sadness that we have received the news of Sir Michael Gambon’s passing. His contribution to British Theatre for over sixty years was immeasurable.
"As our patron, Michael was a great supporter of Jermyn Street Theatre ever since he appeared on our stage alongside Dame Eileen Atkins in Trevor Nunn’s 2012 stage premiere of Samuel Beckett’s All That Fall. Not only was he a giant of stage and screen, he was also part of the close-knit Jermyn Street Theatre community. Our thoughts go out to his family.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here