Michael Gambon authorised biography recounts pranks and confirms dementia diagnosis

Left · 2Michael Gambon: The Authorised Biography by Jasper Rees, published by Century, appears three years after the actor's death; the Independent gives its publication date as 29 October. 1 2 Left · 1The Guardian says the book has detailed accounts of his work in Shakespeare, Beckett, Pinter, The Singing Detective and the Harry Potter films, alongside dozens of stories of tomfoolery on and off stage. 1 Left · 1When Gambon took over as Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, he and Alan Rickman pranked Daniel Radcliffe by triggering a fart machine during a close-up of Radcliffe in a sleeping bag; Radcliffe says he was first annoyed but concluded it was "pretty funny". 1

Left · 1Lia Williams recalls that Gambon's goofing during the National Theatre's 1995 production of David Hare's Skylight left her hiding in a kitchen cupboard, and Judi Dench says she and co-stars could not control themselves when he asked for "the usual eight" potatoes in a BBC version of Ibsen's Ghosts. 1 Left · 1Other stories include Gambon forging a signed photo from Robert De Niro that he kept in his dressing room, writing a swear word across his eyelids at Birmingham Rep, shouting at Antony Sher during King Lear, and hiding chocolate cake in his trousers during The Caretaker. 1 Left · 1Gambon also liked to feed journalists tall tales; Helen Mirren called his claim that she mimed cooking ham and eggs before Antony and Cleopatra "absolute rubbish" but "a lovely story". 1

Left · 1The Independent reports that the book confirms Gambon was diagnosed with dementia, which he had always denied until his death in 2023. 2 Left · 1Gambon played Dumbledore from 2003, replacing Richard Harris, until the final film in 2011, and retired from stage acting about four years later because he could not remember his lines. 2 Left · 1Co-stars told Rees that he struggled with lines during the films: Imelda Staunton found it "a shock", David Bradley recalled him tripping up in front of studio executives and asking "Who wrote this s***?", and Radcliffe said he first thought Gambon didn't care but by the sixth film "suddenly realised". 2

Left · 1Radcliffe said Gambon's lines were written on boards that he held up during their scenes, that Gambon was sometimes apologetic, and that he stayed "so f***ing captivating". 2 Left · 1Gambon died aged 82 after pneumonia; he is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lady Gambon, their son, his long-term girlfriend and their two sons. 2