Michael Gambon and his wife Anne had been married for over 60 years and certainly had staying power.
The Harry Potter star’s death was announced today by Lady Gambon and the couple’s only son Fergus, who said they were ‘devastated’.
They remained a small but close unit despite the fact that he had a second family with set designer Philippa Hart, who is 25 years his junior and bore him two more sons.
For more than a decade, Sir Michael divided his time between the £5 million home he shared with Lady Gambon in Gravesend and another property in west London where Mrs Hart and their now teenage sons, Tom and Will, lived.
Michael Gambon and his wife Anne had been married for over 60 years and certainly had staying power. The Harry Potter star’s death was announced today by Lady Gambon and the couple’s only son Fergus, who said they were ‘devastated’. Above: The couple in 2008
Sir Michael had a second family with set designer Philippa Hart, who is 25 years his junior, and bore him two more sons. Above: The couple at dinner at Annabel’s in London in 2015
According to actress Hetty Baynes, who co-starred with Sir Michael in the 2015 TV film adaptation of Potter author JK Rowling’s novel The Casual Vacancy, the actor was “never happier than when his boys were on set.”
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 20165, she said: ‘They were so sweet and you can tell he absolutely adores them. But I’m sure they’ll get him into an uproar.
‘Having a child later in life can be exhausting, but it brings so much joy.
‘When I married Ken (Russell, the famous film director), he was 65 when our son Rex was born, so it was a similar parent-parent scenario to Michael.
‘But Philippa is great. She does a tremendous amount of work and she is absolutely delightful.”
Sir Michael and Ms Hart had been dating since 2000, when they worked together on the film Longitude.
In that production, Sir Michael played the role of 18th century watchmaker John Harrison.
Within a year of meeting, Sir Michael introduced his girlfriend to the likes of Charles Dance and Maggie Smith, both of whom co-starred with him in the 2001 film Gosford Park.
Sir Michael and Ms Hart had been dating since 2000, when they worked together on the film Longitude. His and Mrs. Hart’s first son was born in 2007, while the second arrived in 2009. Above: The couple with son Tom at Tom Stoppard’s 80th birthday in 2017
Lady Anne stayed with her husband despite his relationship with Philippa Hart
Sir Michael Gambon and Philippa Hart in 2015. The couple had two sons together
Michael Gambon and his partner Philippa Hart, with whom he had two young sons
Fergus Gambon is a ceramics expert who has appeared on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and works for auction house Bonhams
Lady Gambon was said to have initially been devastated by the news of her husband’s other relationship and left the home they shared.
But she then came to terms with the arrangement and moved back to their home in Gravesend.
Sir Michael zoomed between that countryside and London in his selection of sports cars, including a Ferrari and an Audi R8.
Sir Michael also had his own separate home in London to give him breathing space when he was working.
His and Mrs. Hart’s first son was born in 2007, while the second arrived in 2009.
Fergus Gambon is a ceramics expert who has appeared on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and works for auction house Bonhams.
Fergus is said to have a particularly close bond with his mother, a retired mathematician.
She also makes her own pottery and has a passion for bookbinding. She married Sir Michael in 1962.
A statement released today on behalf of Lady Gambon and Fergus said: ‘We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon.
The actor with Dame Maggie Smith and Lady Antonia Fraser, attended the ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’ press night at the Duchess Theater on September 22, 2010 in London
‘Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, after a bout of pneumonia. Michael was 82.
‘We ask that you respect our privacy during this painful time and thank you for your expressions of support and love.’
The star, who was the son of an engineer and seamstress, grew up in Dublin and left school at the age of 15 without a qualification.
At the age of 21, he was a qualified engineer, but he only did this work for a year before choosing to become an actor.
Despite his successive film, TV and stage credits, he still had a passion for practical work – as evidenced by the large workshop he had at his home in Kent.
He also owned a large collection of antique firearms and clocks and was a certified pilot.