Irish actor, singer, film director and writer (1930–2002)
Factsheet
Born Richard St John Francis Harris
(1930-10-01)1 October 1930
Limerick, Ireland
(1930-10-01)1 October 1930
Limerick, Ireland
Died 25 October 2002(2002-10-25) (aged 72)
Bloomsbury, London, England
Bloomsbury, London, England
Resting place Ashes scattered in the Bahamas
Born Richard St John Francis Harris
(1930-10-01)1 October 1930
Limerick, Ireland
(1930-10-01)1 October 1930
Limerick, Ireland
Died 25 October 2002(2002-10-25) (aged 72)
Bloomsbury, London, England
Bloomsbury, London, England
Resting place Ashes scattered in the Bahamas
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Richard_Harris
Richard Harris - Wikipedia
1 week ago - Other notable roles include in ... cross-generational acclaim for his role as Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), the latter of which was his final film ...
IMDb
imdb.com › name › nm0001321
Richard Harris | Actor, Producer, Director
April 11, 2008 - Further fortune came his way with a strong performance in the blockbuster Gladiator (2000) and he became known to an entirely new generation of film fans as Albus Dumbledore in the mega-successful Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) ...
I had no idea Richard Harris felt this way about his role as Dumbledore
People often bring this quote up, and forget to add his feelings about his role once he had some time playing Dumbledore. Columbus recalled in the interview that when he visited the actor in the hospital, Harris was working on his autobiography. He said Harris "looked thin" but appeared upbeat. In fact, Harris insisted that Columbus not replace him with another actor to play Dumbledore. "He said, 'If you ever replace me, I'll fucking kill you.' I said, 'I don't even know why you're thinking that way. I'll see you a couple of weeks,'" Columbus told THR. Turns out that he grew to love the role, and could even be seen driving around in his golf cart in full Dumbledore regalia. I’d already said goodbye. Then, dressed as Dumbledore, Richard is being driven by a golf cart. I’m making a shot and all I hear is ‘Go, Chris!’ It’s [him] cheering me on as Dumbledore. I thought, ‘This has got to be one of the great moments of my film-making career.’ More on reddit.com
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October 15, 2023TIL Dumbledore, Richard Harris, sings one of my favourite songs, "MacArthur Park."
Link to YouTube for the lazy . That's... unsettling. He's quite good, actually. But I can't help but imagine Dumbledore, sitting alone in his office, thinking about Grindelwald, and suddenly breaking into song: "After all the loves of my life / You'll still be the one...!" 50 points to Hufflepuff! That is truly the weirdest, coolest Harry Potter find to date! More on reddit.com
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May 31, 2011Richard Harris was the perfect Dumbledore and it’s so unfortunate he passed away with just two films under his belt.
I support this also. Richard Harris was something special and his Dumbledore was very special. More on reddit.com
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June 19, 2022I wish Richard Harris had played Dumbledore in all the movies.
Yeah, if not for that whole “dying” issue. More on reddit.com
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October 23, 2022What was Richard Harris’s role in the Harry Potter film series?
Richard Harris played the role of the wizard Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001; also released as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).
britannica.com
britannica.com › entertainment & pop culture › actors
Richard Harris | Biography, Roles, Movies, MacArthur Park, & Facts ...
Who was Richard Harris?
Richard Harris was an Irish actor on stage and screen who became known for his offstage indulgences and flamboyant performances. Some of his notable work includes roles in This Sporting Life (1963), Camelot (1967), The Molly Maguires (1970), A Man Called Horse (1970), The Field (1990), Gladiator (2000), and the Harry Potter series (2001 and 2002).
britannica.com
britannica.com › entertainment & pop culture › actors
Richard Harris | Biography, Roles, Movies, MacArthur Park, & Facts ...
When did Richard Harris die?
Richard Harris died on October 25, 2002, in London, England.
britannica.com
britannica.com › entertainment & pop culture › actors
Richard Harris | Biography, Roles, Movies, MacArthur Park, & Facts ...
Videos
00:40
Why Richard Harris played Dumbledore #BehindTheScenes #HarryPotter ...
Why Richard Harris played Dumbledore 🪄 | Richard Harris's...
01:22
Richard Harris preparing to play Dumbledore - YouTube
13:29
EVERY Harry Potter: 1st Albus Dumbledore All Scenes (Richard Harris ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/harrypotter › the loss of richard harris’s dumbledore is frustrating in retrospective (i don’t like michael gambon’s portrayal)
r/harrypotter on Reddit: The Loss of Richard Harris’s Dumbledore is Frustrating in Retrospective (I don’t like Michael Gambon’s Portrayal)
October 31, 2024 -
After reading the books, I have been watching the films for the first time ever (Just finished Goblet of Fire for those wondering). I was aware the Richard Harris died after the Chamber of Secrets was filmed, but wasn’t aware of how truly spectacular and accurate his Dumbledore portrayal truly was. I think Micheal Gambian is a good actor, but he just does not capture Dumbledore like Harris did. The softness and calmness of how he handled his character is just perfect when compared to the books, and I truly wish (I know it wasn’t his fault, but I’m just made at this shear reality) that we got all of Richard Harris’s Dumbledore.
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I think Gambon being more over the top is a result of bad direction. His worst performance by far is in GoF and if you look at all of the performances in that movie, they’re all kind of weird and over the top. Look back at PoA and you’ll see that Gambon has a very whimsical performance similar to Harris.
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I think the switch was actually beneficial. The whimsical way he was portrayed by Harris goes along with the mystical way young Harry views Dumbledore. As Harry ages, and sees Dumbledore as an actual person, the Gambon portrayal is more suitable, giving him more emotion and character.
Fandom
harrypotter.fandom.com › wiki › Richard_Harris
Richard Harris | Harry Potter Wiki | Fandom
3 weeks ago - Sir Richard St John Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor and singer, who portrayed Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in the first two film adaptations of the Harry Potter books.
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › entertainment & pop culture › actors
Richard Harris | Biography, Roles, Movies, MacArthur Park, & Facts | Britannica
October 21, 2025 - Richard Harris played the role of the wizard Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001; also released as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Albus_Dumbledore
Albus Dumbledore - Wikipedia
7 hours ago - Dumbledore is portrayed by Richard Harris in the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). Following Harris' death in October 2002, Michael Gambon was cast in the role.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/harrypotter › i had no idea richard harris felt this way about his role as dumbledore
r/harrypotter on Reddit: I had no idea Richard Harris felt this way about his role as Dumbledore
October 15, 2023 -
I can understand it tho, with all his success not wanting to only be remembered as Dumbledore… I know Harrison Ford was the same with Star Wars….
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People often bring this quote up, and forget to add his feelings about his role once he had some time playing Dumbledore. Columbus recalled in the interview that when he visited the actor in the hospital, Harris was working on his autobiography. He said Harris "looked thin" but appeared upbeat. In fact, Harris insisted that Columbus not replace him with another actor to play Dumbledore. "He said, 'If you ever replace me, I'll fucking kill you.' I said, 'I don't even know why you're thinking that way. I'll see you a couple of weeks,'" Columbus told THR. Turns out that he grew to love the role, and could even be seen driving around in his golf cart in full Dumbledore regalia. I’d already said goodbye. Then, dressed as Dumbledore, Richard is being driven by a golf cart. I’m making a shot and all I hear is ‘Go, Chris!’ It’s [him] cheering me on as Dumbledore. I thought, ‘This has got to be one of the great moments of my film-making career.’
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Same thing happened to Sir Alec Guiness after a long and illustrious career, he became known as Obi-Wan and he hated it.
Business Insider
businessinsider.com › business insider › entertainment › michael gambon replaced richard harris as dumbledore in 'harry potter.' here's who else was up for the role, and how gambon made it his own.
Michael Gambon replaced Richard Harris as Dumbledore in 'Harry Potter.' Here's who else was up for the role, and how Gambon made it his own.
September 28, 2023 - The late Richard Harris was first cast in the role and starred as Dumbledore in the first two movies, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."
ScreenRant
screenrant.com › home › movies › movie lists › harry potter: why michael gambon is the best dumbledore (& why richard harris or jude law is)
Harry Potter: Why Michael Gambon Is The Best Dumbledore (& Why Richard Harris Or Jude Law Is)
November 8, 2023 - Richard Harris debuted as the Hogwarts headmaster, playing the character in the first two films of the franchise. After his tragic passing, Michael Gambon took on the role and is most synonymous with it due to appearing in six movies.
Quora
quora.com › Who-was-a-better-Dumbledore-Richard-Harris-or-Michael-Gambon
Who was a better Dumbledore: Richard Harris or Michael Gambon? - Quora
Answer (1 of 123): Richard Harris for sure. Michael Gambon really was not a good Dumbledore. He ran, he yelled often, and he seemed angry and moody as opposed to being serene and unflappable. I've definitely done my share of complaining about what a bad Dumbledore he generally was.
Quora
quora.com › Why-was-Richard-Harris-replaced-as-Dumbledore
Why was Richard Harris replaced as Dumbledore? - Quora
Answer (1 of 10): You know Hollywood — always looking for younger, more attractive models. I mean usually they do it with women, but sometimes it happens to men. Not very often — seldom if ever if I am honest — but in this case they decided that Harris was not the right choice and they wanted to...
People
people.com › original-dumbledore-actor-son-doesnt-understand-why-harry-potter-reboot-is-happening-8717871
Original Dumbledore Actor's Son Doesn't 'Understand’ Why 'Harry Potter' Reboot Is Happening
September 24, 2024 - His father Richard was a two-time Oscar nominee and portrayed the beloved Hogwarts headmaster in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets films. When he died at age 72 in 2002, he was succeeded by Michael Gambon, who took ...
ScreenRant
screenrant.com › home › movies › movie features › why harry potter recast dumbledore after chamber of secrets
The Reason Why Harry Potter Recast Dumbledore After Chamber Of Secrets
October 4, 2024 - Albus Dumbledore actor Richard Harris was recast after the Harry Potter movie Chamber of Secrets, getting replaced by Michael Gambon.
IMDb
m.imdb.com › title › tt0241527 › characters › nm0001321
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) - Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore - IMDb
Dumbledore: It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends.
LADbible
ladbible.com › entertainment › celebrity
Richard Harris' son reveals reason why his late father turned down another famous wizard role
February 1, 2025 - The late Richard Harris had the choice of two famous film wizards
Biography
biography.com › famous actors › famous british people › “if you replace me, i’ll f––ing kill you.” how michael gambon became harry potter’s dumbledore
How Michael Gambon Got Cast as Albus Dumbledore in ‘Harry Potter’
September 28, 2023 - It was Chris Columbus, who directed the first two films in the massively popular Harry Potter movie franchise. Harris portrayed the all-knowing wizard Albus Dumbledore in both movies, and he made it clear to Columbus he intended to return for ...
Hollywood Life
hollywoodlife.com › feature › dumbledore-actors-michael-gambon-richard-harris-and-more-5167985
Dumbledore Actors: Michael Gambon, Richard Harris, & More Stars Who Have Played the Famous Wizard
September 28, 2023 - While Michael’s portrayal of Dumbledore may have appeared in most films, he didn’t originate the role. Fellow Irish actor Richard Harris was the first person to play the headmaster in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets.
Collider
collider.com › home › movie features › harry potter: the three actors that played dumbledore, ranked
Harry Potter: The Three Actors That Played Dumbledore, Ranked
May 18, 2024 - Michael Gambon masterfully embodied ... emotional depth over five films. Richard Harris brought warmth and charm to the role, establishing Dumbledore as a mentor figure with poignant moments....