Michael Gambon

At 15, dropped out of school to become an apprentice toolmaker at Vickers Armstrong in Crayford, England; he remains interested in mechanical things and collects antique guns. Joined the company of London's National Theatre in 1963, when it was under the direction of Sir Laurence Olivier; appeared in productions that included  The Royal Hunt of the Sun , The Crucible and Mother Courage . First major film role came in 1974, with the campy werewolf movie The Beast Must Die , starring horror… Show more vet Peter Cushing. Won Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Actor in 1988 for A View from the Bridge and Best Comedy Performance in 1986 for A Chorus of Disapproval and in 1990 for Man of the Moment ; has also been nominated numerous times. Was made a Commander of Order of the British Empire in 1992 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. Won Best Actor BAFTAs for 1986 miniseries The Singing Detective , 1999 miniseries Wives and Daughters , 2000 TV historical drama Longitude and 2001 TV drama Perfect Strangers . Son Fergus is a ceramics expert who has appeared on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow . ~ Rovi

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