Richard Harris played Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films.
Harris portrayed the Hogwarts headmaster in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, released in 2001, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, released in 2002. Dumbledore is the school’s principal authority and one of the most powerful figures in the wizarding world.
Harris died on 25 October 2002, after production of the second film. Michael Gambon then took over the role, beginning with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004 and continuing through the remaining films in the main series.
The two actors’ portrayals are sometimes blended in memory because the character remains visually consistent across the film series. Richard Harris therefore played Dumbledore in exactly the first two films, while Michael Gambon played him in the next six. Jude Law later portrayed a younger Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts films.