According to multiple media reports, Irish actor Michael Gambon died in hospital due to illness at the age of 82.

On July 9, 2009 local time, Michael Gambon attended the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" in New York, USA. Visual China Map

His family issued a statement through their public relations company, confirming the news, "It is with great despair that we announce that we have lost Michael forever. Michael passed away peacefully in hospital due to pneumonia, with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside. Hold him."

Michael Gambon played the headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, in films 3 to 8 of the "Harry Potter" series (the seventh film has two episodes).

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" stills