Born Oct 19, 1940, in Dublin, Ireland, Michael Gambon started his acting career in 1962. Notable early role: 1973 TV series "Orson Welles’ Great Mysteries." 

photo credit- ITV/Rex/Shutterstock 

In "Betrayal" (1978), Michael Gambon as Jerry, Penelope Wilton as Emma. Directed by Peter Hall, at London's Lyttelton Theatre. Photo by Donald Cooper. 

photo credit- Donald Cooper 

In 1986, Gambon starred as Philip Marlowe in "The Singing Detective," mirroring writer Dennis Potter's life while venturing into a Chandler-style fantasy due to a health condition.

photo credit- BBC/Allstar 

In 2002's "Path to War," Gambon as Johnson, Baldwin as McNamara, and Sutherland as Clifford offer a White House view on the Vietnam War. 

photo credit- HBO/Allstar 

In "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004), Gambon replaced Harris as Dumbledore, seen with Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley.

photo credit- Warner Bros/Allstar 

In "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005), Michael Gambon starred alongside David Tennant, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and Daniel Radcliffe. 

photo credit- Warner Bros/Allstar 

In "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (2007), Michael Gambon returned as Dumbledore. He reprised this role once more in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" in 2009. 

photo credit- Warner Bros/Allstar 

In the film reboot of the beloved British sitcom, Michael Gambon portrayed Private Godfrey. The platoon included Blake Harrison, Danny Mays, Tom Courtenay, Toby Jones, Bill Paterson, and Bill Nighy. 

photo credit- Universal Pictures