Michael Gambon – West End theatres to dim their lights

The Society of London Theatre has announced that West End theatres will dim their lights tomorrow, Friday 29 September 2023 at 7pm, in honour of the late Sir Michael Gambon.

It was announced today that legendary actor Michael Gambon has died, at the age of 82.

A statement on behalf of his wife, Lady Gambon, and son, Fergus Gambon, 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. Michael was 82. We ask that you respect our privacy at this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love.”

Gambon started his career with Laurence Olivier as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre in the 1960’s, and within his six-decade long career he won three Olivier Awards and was nominated for 13 futher awards.

Hannah Essex, Co-CEO of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, said in a statement: “The theatre world has lost an incredible talent today. Through his 60 years on both stage and screen, the impact that Sir Michael Gambon made on the arts is immeasurable. Our deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones, and we are proud to be able to honour his talent and career in some small way.”

Michael Gambon – Theatre Credits

Michael Gambon was one of Britain and Ireland’s greatest actors, with a long career in TV, film, and theatre. Here is a listing of his notable theatre credits. Michael started his career with the Edwards/MacLiammoir partnership at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.

All That Fall, Jermyn Street Theatre / Arts Theatre, London, Dir. Trevor Nunn; Krapp’s Last Tape, Gate Theatre, Dublin / Duchess Theatre, London, Dir. Michael Colgan; No Man’s Land (Hirst), Gate Theatre, Dublin / Duke Of York’s Theatre, Dir. Rupert Goold – Olivier Awards 2009 – Nominee: Best Actor; Eh Joe (Joe), Gate Theatre, Dublin / Duke Of York’s Theatre / Beckett Centenary Festival, Dir. Atom Egoyan; Henry IV – Parts I and II (Sir John Falstaff), NT Olivier, Dir. Nicholas Hytner; Endgame (Hamm), Albery Theatre, Dir. Matthew Warchus; A Number (Salter), Royal Court Theatre, Dir. Stephen Daldry; The Caretaker (Davies), Comedy Theatre, Dir. Patrick Marber; Cressida (John Shank), Almeida Theatre, Dir. Nicholas Hytner; Juno and the Paycock (‘Captain’ Boyle), Gaiety Theatre, Dublin; The Unexpected Man (Paul Parsky), RSC / Barbican-The Pit, Dir. Matthew Warchus; Tom and Clem (Tom Driberg), Aldwych Theatre; Skylight (Tom Sergeant), NT Cottesloe / Wyndhams Theatre / Royale Theater, NY, Dir. Richard Eyre; Volpone (Volpone, a Magnifico), NT Olivier, Dir. Matthew warchus – Evening Standard Award 1995 – Winner: Best Actor; Taking Steps, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough; Othello (Othello), Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough; Man of the Moment, Globe Theatre; Veterans Day, Theatre Royal Haymarket; Uncle Vanya (Ivan Petrovitch Voitski), Vaudeville Theatre; Mountain Language (Sergeant), NT Lyttelton, Dir. Harold Pinter; A Small Family Business (Jack McCracken), NT Olivier Theatre, Dir. Alan Ayckbourn; A View from the Bridge (Eddie), NT Cottesloe / Aldwych Theatre, Dir. Alan Ayckbourn – Olivier Award 1987 – Winner: Best Actor, Evening Standard Award 1987 – Winner: Best Actor; Tons of Money (Sprules), NT Lyttelton, Dir. Alan Ayckbourn; A Chorus of Disapproval (Dafydd Ap Llewellyn), NT Olivier, Dir. Alan Ayckbourn; Olivier Award 1985 – Winner: Best Actor; Old Times, Theatre Royal Haymarket; Antony and Cleopatra (Antony), RSC Stratford / Barbican; King Lear (King Lear), RSC Stratford, Barbican; Much Ado About Nothing (Benedick), NT Olivier, Dir. Jeremy Barlow; Tales from Hollywood (Ödön von Horváth), NT Olivier, Dir. Peter Gill; The Life of Galileo (Galileo Galilei), NT Olivier, Dir. John Dexter; Sisterly Feelings (Patrick Smythe), NT Olivier, Dir. Alan Ayckbourn; Othello (Roderigo), NT Olivier, Dir. Peter Hall; Close of Play (Henry), NT Lyttelton, Dir. Harold Pinter; Betrayal (Jerry), NT Lyttelton, Dir. Peter Hall; Alice’s Boys (Bertie), Savoy Theatre; Just Between Ourselves (Neil), Queen’s Theatre; Otherwise Engaged (Simon), Queen’s Theatre; The Zoo Story (Gerry), Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre; The Norman Conquests (Tom), Greenwich Theatre / Globe Theatre; Not Drowning But Waving (Robin), Greenwich Theatre; The Brass Hat (Guy Holden), Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford; When Thou Art King (Hotspur), RSC Aldwych Theatre; Henry VIII (Surrey), RSC Aldwych Theatre; Major Barbara (Charles Lomax), RSC Aldwych Theatre; The Plebians Rehearse the Uprising (Wiebe), RSC Aldwych Theatre; Coriolanus (Coriolanus), Liverpool Playhouse; In Celebration (Andrew), Liverpool Playhouse; Macbeth (Macbeth), Forum Theatre, Billingham; Othello (Othello), Birmingham Repertory Theatre; Romeo and Juliet (Escalus), Birmingham Repertory Theatre; Peer Gynt (Button Moulder), Birmingham Repertory Theatre; Saint Joan (Cauchon), Birmingham Repertory Theatre; The Doctor’s Dilemma (Patrick Cullen), Birmingham Repertory Theatre; A Severed Head (Palmer Anderson), Birmingham Repertory Theatre; The Bofors Gun (Flynn), Birmingham Repertory Theatre; Juno and the Paycock (Jerry Devine), NT Old Vic Theatre, Dir. Laurence Olivier; Mother Courage (Eilif), NT Old Vic Theatre, Dir. William Gaskill; The Crucible (Herrick), NT Old Vic Theatre, Dir. Laurence Olivier; The Royal Hunt of the Sun (Diego), NT Old Vic Theatre, Dir. John Dexter; Love for Love (Snap), NT Old Vic Theatre, Dir. Peter Wood; Andorra (Person of Andorra / Soldier), NT Old Vic Theatre, Dir. Lindsay Anderson; The Recruiting Officer (Coster Pearmain), NT Old Vic Theatre, Dir. William Gaskill; Othello (Second gentleman), Gaiety Theatre, Dublin.

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Main photo: Michael Gambon in Fearless. Photo: ITV/Mammoth