Sir Michael Gambon died at the age of 82, according to his family.
The legendary actor was best recognised for his role as Professor Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series.
His cause of death was pneumonia, and he died while surrounded by loved ones.
A statement issued on behalf of his widow Lady Anne Gambon and son Fergus said: ‘We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon.
‘Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia.’
Among those paying tribute to the late acting great was Jeremy Clarkson, who tweeted: ‘I’m so sad to hear that Michael Gambon has died.
‘He was hugely amusing, and such a tremendous guest, we even named a corner after him.’
Comedian David Baddiel also said: ‘First time I ever went to see any Theatre with a capital T it was Michael Gambon in Brecht’s Life Of Galileo at The National in 1980.
‘It’s still the best stage acting I’ve ever seen. RIP.’
Sir Michael replaced the late Richard Harris as beloved Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore in six of the eight blockbuster films from 2004 to 2011.
Over the course of his six-decade career, he garnered three Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four Baftas.
In 1999, Queen Elizabeth II knighted him for services to theatre.
Sir Michael’s most renowned works were a number of William Shakespeare adaptations, including Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, and Coriolanus.
He is well recognised for his roles as French investigator Jules Maigret in the ITV series Maigret and as The Singing investigator in the BBC series.
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover, Gosford Park, The King’s Speech, Victoria & Abdul, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou were among his other films.
Sir Michael was nominated for four Baftas for his roles in The Singing Detective, Wives and Daughters, Longitude, and Perfect Strangers. He was also nominated for two Emmys for Emma and Path to War.
His collaboration with JK Rowling did not end there, as he appeared in the BBC production of The Casual Vacancy in 2015.
Sir Michael revealed that he first discovered how famous the wizarding world was while advertising the fifth film, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, while promoting his legendary part in the Harry Potter series.
He said: ‘I’ve done five of these films. I turn up do my job, go home. The night before last, I got out the limo in Leicester Square, I got out to 4,000 children screaming and then suddenly I became aware of how big this thing is.
‘I was frightened, the noise was deafening, they were screaming.’
When asked what keeps fans going back to the franchise, Sir Michael said: ‘I don’t know, I suppose it’s the fantasy, the castle, the school, people in strange clothes… it’s a mixture of things isn’t it.
‘It’s an unusual concept, I suppose they love it, don’t they. I can’t really put my finger on why,’ he added.
Sir Michael is survived by his wife Anne Miller, who he married in 1962 when he was 22, and their son Fergus.
