Despite fan disagreement over Michael Gambon's portrayal of Dumbledore, Richard Harris' son praised Gambon's dynamic approach.
Why I preferred Richard Harris to Michael Gambon as Dumbledore in Harry Potter
It seems that despite Albus Dumbledore being everyone's beloved wizard for his cheerful and grandfatherly persona, Michael Gambon's portrayal of the character was extraordinarily wasted in the Harry Potter films. Taking over the role from the late Richard Harris, when Gambon appeared in the films, his distinctive and memorable portrayal of the character became a topic of debate among fans.
But despite mixed reactions from audiences and critics, Michael Gambon managed to please Richard Harris with his performance. After Gambon's tragic passing in 2023, Harris' son Jared Harris reflected on the actor's ability to captivate people and even defended his take on the character.
After Richard Harris left the Harry Potter series after the first two films, Michael Gambon took over the responsibility of directing the character for the rest of the films. However, the actor's portrayal of Albus Dumbledore became a topic of debate among fans, particularly due to the change in characterization.
