Sir Ian McKellen turned down the role of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films after feeling insulted by the original actor, Richard Harris, according to a 2017 interview. McKellen was approached following Harris's death in 2002, but declined, saying he 'couldn't take over the part from an actor who I'd known who didn't approve of me'.
Harris had allegedly described McKellen, along with Derek Jacobi and Kenneth Branagh, as 'technically brilliant, but passionless'. McKellen dismissed the comments as 'nonsense' and joked that he had 'played the real wizard', referencing his role as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Sir Michael Gambon, who passed away at 82 on 28 September 2023, took on the role of Dumbledore from the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), and continued in the part for six of the eight films. His family confirmed he died peacefully in hospital with his wife and son by his side, following pneumonia.
Harry Potter co-stars paid tribute, with Jason Isaacs calling Gambon 'magnificent' and James Phelps describing him as 'a legend'.
