Summary

When looking atHarry Potter , there has always been a buff battle that scar Richard Harris vs. Michael Gambon for who was the good Dumbledore , but there is also a font for the immature Jude Law . Richard Harris debut as the Hogwarts headmaster , play the character in the first two photographic film of the dealership . After his tragic qualifying , Michael Gambon took on the role and is most synonymous with it due to come out in six movies . Most recently , Jude Law has played a younger Dumbledore in theFantastic Beastsseries .

With Max bringing the story tothe small screen in a 10 - seasonHarry Potterseries , it will only gain popularity and another Dumbledore is on the horizon . Albus Dumbledore remains one of the most iconic character in lit , and when it came to adapt theHarry Potterbooks to the screen , find out the staring Dumbledore was no easy task . However , lightning managed to strike more than once , as Richard Harris , Michael Gambon , and Jude Law all brought a nifty take on the powerful and beloved wizard .

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Michael Gambon Is The Best Dumbledore Because

He’s Refreshing

Richard Harris ’s Dumbledore may be more faithful to the playscript , but he does n’t seem quite as nuanced in the first two films . Michael Gambon ’s Dumbledore is unpredictable , exciting , and refreshing . He has a lot more energy than Harris ’s Dumbledore , which is clean-cut in his trend and his speech . It ’s hard to imagine Harris embarking on thedangerous adventures depicted in the laterHarry Pottermovies . Michael Gambon was a welcome change to the film dealership for several intellect , even if he is n’t faithful to the playscript . After all , the breaker point of an adaptation is not to copy the origin material but to adapt it .

His Attitude Meshes Well With The Teen Characters

Richard Harris ' variant of Dumbledore seems like the ideal homo to care for child , but Michael Gambon ’s carrying into action matches the vibe of the teenage character much more naturally . Despite being an elderly man , his fantastic and vibrant mental attitude makes him much more relatable to the slimly older versions of the Golden Trio , and it feels like he ’s actually prepare them all for the enormous chore forwards of them rather than just being a instructor mentoring children . Gambon ’s character was much more relatable in many manner .

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He Suits The New Darkness

As Harry get older , the stakes are deepen . He has to fall face - to - font with the Dark Lord , and the earth around him is changing . Death Eaters are roaming the Muggle world , his admirer are in risk , and he involve to learn more powerful illusion quickly . The arrival of Dementors and mysterious andiron in thethird film score a very big change from the previousHarry Pottermovies . Even the color palette of this film is darker . Richard Harris ’s Dumbledore would seem out of plaza in this shadowy world , while Gambon ’s deep character suits it . His approach to Dumbledore also hints at a darkness in his own past which is n’t present in Harris ’s .

He Trained Under Laurence Olivier

This is n’t to say that Richard Harris is a slouch when it comes to his act as training - his fabled career speaks for itself . However , when it comes to understanding and learning the trade of acting , no film actor can compare to Laurence Olivier . According toThe Times UK , Olivier recruited Michael Gambon for the National Theatre Company , which Olivier himself had only recently establish at the prison term . From these humble beginnings , Gambon has endure on to win lots of acting award in his career , admit three Olivier Awards .

He Brings The Playfulness That Dumbledore Needs

" Playful " may seem like a foreign way to describe Dumbledore , especially Michael Gambon ’s , but somehow the thespian manages to make him find that elbow room . Richard Harris brought a gentle cheerfulness to his variant of Dumbledore , but Gambon made Albus feel like more of a rebel . Dumbledore may be the headmaster of the schooltime , but it ’s one of the strangest and most freewheeling school that anyone has ever realize . It pretend a lot of sense for Dumbledore to be much more relaxed and seem like he ’s even in on the playfulness sometimes .

He’s Tough Enough For Dumbledore

One thing that everyone get it on about Dumbledore is that , although he would never use his magic on students and rarely uses his magic in schooling , he has lead toe - to - toe with the strongest and most dangerous sour wizards in the world . Michael Gambon build the audience believe that all of this is true . Dumbledore is an aged man now , but Gambon allow the audience to see what kind of fights he must have find into as a young man , as well as transmit that he still has that fighting spirit in him .

He Brings Dumbledore’s Youthfulness

Dumbledore may quite literally be a wizened hotshot , but what form Michael Gambon ’s performance , so compelling is that he has the form of attitude and leaping in his step that allows him to perfectly intermix in with the tweens and teens that are in his charge . This Dumbledore feel relatable , like someone who has made mistake and who will likely make more . In his early days at Hogwarts , Harry saw Dumbledore as a kind of infallible fabulous figure , so Gambon ’s power to humanise him and make him find more down to earth was just what Dumbledore needed .

He Captured Dumbledore’s Chaotic Side

Dumbledore may have decades of life experience under his belted ammunition , but the stoic and measured conduct of Richard Harris does n’t quite encompass everything that Albus genuinely was . While Michael Gambon still captured the more fledged aspect of the character , he could also credibly present the wilder and more unpredictable Dumbledore . It ’s hard to imagine Harris’Dumbledore raise Harry with the aim of him mayhap dyingin service of the great good , but Gambon ’s version seems open of such a determination .

He’s More Intimidating

In ordering to believably playact Albus Dumbledore in the later instalment of theHarry Potterfilms , the performing artist needed to have a sure dark gravitas that Richard Harris but did n’t own . Michael Gambon was an idealistic Dumbledore because it was actually believable that a villain as terrific as Voldemort would be intimidated by this rendering of Dumbledore . Gambon could betray the audience the idea that the Dark Lord was frightening , but Albus was even shivery . He was just the right shade of greyness to give up Dumbledore to do what he needed and betray that idea to the consultation .

He Wasn’t Afraid Of The Role

Given how renowned and skilled an actor Michael Gambon is , his humbleness and power to underplay his achievements are pretty impressive . accept over the role of Albus Dumbledore is something that most actors would find intimidating , but when Richard Harris had already successfully played Dumbledore and when it was readable how well theHarry Pottermovies were run to do , it was a whole other story . Even now , though , Gambon seems to finger very easy with it . He spoke toFuture Moviesand read that he fundamentally just stuck on the byssus , wear the costume , and went for it , as he has with every other role he ’s played .

Richard Harris Was The Best Dumbledore Because

He’s More Faithful To The Books

In the book , Dumbledore is calm , collected , well-disposed , and nonrational . Richard Harris portrays these traits perfectly ; he seems trustworthy , and he ’s always tranquil and soft - spoken even when his words are heavy . Michael Gambon ’s Dumbledore , on the other hired hand , is loud , harsh , and demanding . For representative , when Harry ’s name is spat out by the Goblet of Fire , Dumbledore ruffles Harry and cry at him . In the Word , he asks quietly whether he put his name in , already cognise the solvent . stay truehearted to the Holy Writ is not a unfit affair , and changes made ruffle the plumage of some foresightful - time book fans .

He’s Someone Harry Can Talk To

Even if he is all - knowing , Dumbledore seems more caring and personable in the first two films . He handle babe Harry with tutelage as he forget him to the Dursleys . When Harry reaches school age , Dumbledore watches over him , but he ’s accessible . Harry has a well-disposed conversation with him on several occasions ; he is n’t as upstage and inscrutable as Gambon ’s Dumbledore . This make him experience like a mentor and someone who really cares about Harry . Gambon ’s Dumbledore makes Harry uneasy . The two quality grow remote , and their relationship feel less warm than it used to . In fact , Harry does n’t even hope him by the fifth film .

He Will Always Be The Original Dumbledore

First impressions weigh , and Richard Harris certainly leaves a lasting one . Faithful devotee ca n’t help but retrieve of Richard Harris as the " dependable " or " original " Dumbledore . He helps to ready the tone of the film series , and he establishes Dumbledore as a fictional character , which is no easy task . Richard Harris will always be the first Dumbledore and the one who helps build the world of Hogwarts . However , while this is a positive for fan of the books and those who came onboard with the first two movies , it really involve to transfer once thing begin stupefy dark .

He Had Childlike Wonder

Albus Dumbledore is a grapheme with a lot of depth and complexness to him , and the path he ’s toy is often up to the player . What make Richard Harris stand out in his operation as Dumbledore is his demeanor . Richard Harris take a perfect Dumbledore in the early years ofHarry Potterbecause , despite the fact that he is presented to look ancient , he still seems like someone who look at the world with a sentience of childlike wonder and upheaval . This is idealistic for relating to young Harry . Harris ’s version is who Harry needed when he first get at Hogwarts .

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He Oozed Wisdom

Although one of the bigger deterrent example that Harry ultimately terminate up get a line is that Dumbledore ca n’t give him all the answers , he is a regular fountain of cognition regarding wizardry . Michael Gambon doubtless comes across as a very sharp person , but Richard Harris just seems like the kind of military man who would know absolutely everything . He ’s the picture - perfect embodiment of a wise wise man , and it ’s not hard to conceive that he ’d have the hereafter of the wizarding world planned for years in the future .

He Brought The Kindness That Dumbledore Needs

Albus Dumbledore may be one of the most powerful and skilled wizards who have ever hold out , but he is also the headmaster of a school . It ’s a well - known fact that Dumbledore is unmatched , but Richard Harris ’s conduct makes Dumbledore smell like someone who would n’t hurt a fly . He seems like the sort of person who children would play and have full trust and faith in rightfield off the bat , which works very well for the character , especially in the first two films when Harry is so new . As a headmaster , Harris was much good than Gambon .

He Made Dumbledore Feel Timeless

One of the bright things about Richard Harris is that his variation of Dumbledore almost feels hit from realism . He looks perfect in his office as the wizened wizard , and it would n’t be hard to believe that he was play a grapheme that was a hundred or even a thousand years old . Dumbledore is a real mankind , but he is also a fable , and Richard Harris ’s Dumbledore really looks like the form of legendary part who separates himself from the crowd and cements his legacy as one of the most exceptional ace in history .

He Felt Like A Real Teacher

In all fairness , it ’s not that unmanageable to manipulate 10 - year - olds . But Richard Harris ’s version of Albus seemed like the variety of man who saw what was happening with his students , could sometimes foreknow mistakes being made , but would let those mistakes befall if it leave an opportunity to instruct that student a valuable deterrent example . Michael Gambon ’s Dumbledore feels a little ice chest and a little more like someone to whom fry would be capable to colligate , but Harris ’s power to make his relationships in the photographic film really feel like relationship between a instructor and a student are wild .

He Felt Distant In The Way That Dumbledore Should

There is a born amiability to Richard Harris ' acting in the first twoHarry Potterinstallments , but he also feels like a mystery to Harry himself . One of the big actualization that Harry has after Dumbledore ’s death is how little he actually knew about the adult male who had been channelize him for so long , so Harris actually nailed that aspect of the character without making the distance between them feel fell or deceptive for Harry .

He Was Afraid Of The Role, But Did It Anyway

When the casting process forHarry Potterbegan , Richard Harris was open about the fact that he was loth to even put his name in the running , let alone to take the gig . Harris was an incredibly action histrion by the time he was cast inHarry Potter , but according toThe Guardian , he refuse the part on three separate occasions before finally agree to take it . Apparently , his granddaughter swooped in and make unnecessary the day . She say him that if he turn down the theatrical role , she ’d never verbalize to him again , so he last agreed to bet the part .

Jude Law Is The Best Dumbledore Because

He Is Still Young And Optimistic

While theFantastic Beastsmovies did n’t receive much decisive love and ended up ending too shortly because of a lessen loge office , the flick had a lot to offer rooter ofHarry Potter . This include a cracking performance by Jude Law as a young Dumbledore . With both Richard Harris and Michael Gambon , Dumbledore was mostly a wizard who made plans , stayed at Hogwarts , and did n’t do too much outside of that location due to his advance age . However , with Law , fans got a vernal and vivacious Albus Dumbledore . He was much more dynamic , had big plans for the time to come , and had n’t let his battles with Grindelwald outfox him down yet .

He Is An Active Wizard In The Community

Dumbledore , in the mainHarry Pottermovies , was the headmaster of one of the most prestigious wizarding school in the world . He had little sentence for more than that , although he still made certain to make plans and " play Bromus secalinus " with the Wizarding World , knowing that spoiled things were come in the future . However , theFantastic Beastsmovies allowed fan to see Dumbledore in his aura . He was out and about , casting go , and was the sinewy and participating wizard multitude had only find out about . The last movie would have ensure him in one of the greatest battle in history , but sadly Jude Law is likely to never get the chance .

He Has Doubts About Who He Needs To Be

By the time Harry Potter start his education at Hogwarts , Dumbledore was set in his shipway . He watched his skinny admirer betray him and watched another champion tear the wizarding world apart . However , with Jude Law in the role , he had n’t seen either of those things hap . While his ally Grindelwald was building a legion of wizards for a state of war , Dumbledore was still unsure of his property in the world and how he could allot with his Quaker when the clip arose . While his fate was set in stone , Law at least got to wreak Dumbledore when he still had a wide - unfastened time to come in his track .

He Brings An Air Of Mystery To The Franchise

Jude Law got to do something particular with Dumbledore . In theHarry Pottermovies , Dumbledore was mostly an federal agency soma , and in the world of espionage , he was the human race gain the plans and put the chess game piece in place . Law got to be more work force - on in the activity . Dumbledore was still the Bromus secalinus captain with everyone from Newt Scamander to Credence Barebone as his chess composition . However , in these movies , Dumbledore was also out in the heart of the activeness - not yet the restrainer figure , but alternatively a variety of his own James Bond , plan out the next move that he planned to make in person .

He Fits In Better With The Other Characters

In theHarry Pottermovies , Dumbledore is an aged man who is responsible for all the students and prof at Hogwarts . Richard Harris was 71 when he direct on the character as Dumbledore and Michael Gambon was 64 when he replaced him . They were father , or grandfatherly figures toHarry Potter- at best . However , at 46 , and looking vernal , Jude Law seemed to be more of acontemporary of theFantastic Beastscast . Eddie Redmayne is 10 age youthful and Don Fogler is only four years unseasoned . This made Law someone who seemed like he fit in with his fellow characters as more than a public figure that they needed to calculate up to .

A composite image of Jude Law looking surprised in front of Eddie Redmayne looking scared and Mads Mikkelsen standing in a crowd in Fantastic Beasts

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley looking at a crystal ball in Harry Potter.

A blended image features Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, and Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise

Harry and Dumbledore in Harry Potter, talking

Harry Potter and Dumbledore at Kings Cross station after Harry’s death

Michael Gambon as Dumbledore in Harry Potter

Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) in court defending Harry in Harry Potter.

Dumbledore looking at someone over his glasses.

Michael Gambon as Dumbledore dueling in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Ron and Dumbledore in the hospital wing

Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter

Michael Gambon as Dumbledore creates a sphere of water at the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Dumbledore aiming the Elder Wand.

Fawkes perched on a rod in Dumbledore’s office

Dumbledore and McGonagall leaving Harry Potter at the Dursleys

Richard Harris as Dumbledore looking at something in Harry Potter.

Richard Harris as Dumbledore

Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore looking at something off-camera in Harry Potter.

Dumbledore standing with McGonagall and Pomfrey

Richard Harris as Dumbledore sitting in a chair in Harry Potter

Richard Harris as Dumbledore Looking at Harry in the Hospital Wing in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore looking satisfied in Harry Potter

Harry in a black robe looks on as Dumbledore in his maroon robes caresses his Phoenix

Jude Law as young Albus Dumbledore smiling in Fantastic Beasts

Jude Law as Dumbledore

Jude Law as Dumbledore angrily pointing in Fantastic Beasts 2

Jude Law as Dumbledore looking over his shoulder on a clock tower in Fantastic Beasts 2

Jessica Williams, Callum Turner, Jude Law, Dan Folger, and Eddie Redmayne in Fantastic Beasts The Secrets of Dumbledore

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