London: British-Irish actor Michael Gambon, widely recognized for his portrayal of the wise Professor Albus Dumbledore in the "Harry Potter" film series, passed away at the age of 82 on Thursday. His career, guided by his mentor Laurence Olivier, spanned across theater, television, and film, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of entertainment.
Gambon's family confirmed his peaceful passing in a hospital, as reported by PA Media.
Beginning his acting journey on the stage in the early 1960s, Gambon transitioned into television and film, establishing himself as a versatile actor. Notable film roles included a chilling portrayal of a psychotic mob leader in Peter Greenaway's "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover" in 1989, and his depiction of the elderly King George V in Tom Hooper's "The King's Speech" in 2010.
However, it was his iconic portrayal of Professor Dumbledore in the "Harry Potter" franchise that endeared him to audiences worldwide. Gambon took on the role from the third installment of the eight-film series after the passing of Richard Harris in 2004. Despite the acclaim, he humbly attributed his performance to playing himself "with a stuck-on beard and a long robe."
Born on October 19, 1940, in Dublin to a seamstress mother and an engineer father, Michael John Gambon relocated with his family to Camden Town, London, at the age of six, as his father sought work during the post-war reconstruction era.
Gambon's passion for acting led him to leave school at 15 to pursue an engineering apprenticeship, which he completed by the age of 21. However, his involvement in an amateur theater group reinforced his desire to act. Inspired by American actors Marlon Brando and James Dean, whom he believed embodied the struggles of teenage boys, Gambon remained committed to his calling throughout his illustrious career.
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New Delhi (PTI): Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the nuclear energy bill with Union minister Jitendra Singh asserting that it would help India achieve its target of 100 GW atomic energy generation by 2047.
The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, which seeks to open the tightly-controlled civil nuclear sector for private participation, was passed by voice vote amid a walkout by the opposition.
Singh termed the bill a "milestone legislation" that will give a new direction to the country's developmental journey.
"India's role in geopolitics is increasing. If we have to be a global player, we have to follow global benchmarks and global strategies. The world is moving towards clean energy. We too have set a target of 100 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2047," he said.
The opposition contended that the bill diluted provisions of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 that passed on the liability for a nuclear incident on to the suppliers of nuclear equipment.
