Albus Dumbledore’s 5 most badass moments from the Harry Potter movies

Michael Gambon, the actor who portrayed Albus Dumbledore in six of eight Harry Potter films, has passed away at the age of 82 after a battle with pneumonia. Gambon inherited the role after the death of Richard Harris, who played the character in the first two films, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Gambon was perfect for the role. He not only masterfully conveyed Dumbledore’s warm and playful nature, but also the stern and powerful aspects of his personality that made Dumbledore the most formidable wizard of his age. Aside from Harry Potter, the British actor had an impressive career stretching back to the late 60s’.

In celebration of Gambon’s incredible footprint on the Harry Potter franchise, let’s take a look at Dumbledore’s most badass moments from the films. We will keep this list to the mainline Harry Potter movies and not the Fantastic Beasts films since Gambon did not appear in those.

5. Dumbledore talks to Harry after they’ve died

After Lord Voldemort kills Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Harry wakes up in a purgatory-like state where he meets with Dumbledore one last time. Dumbledore was killed by Severus Snape two films back. It’s a haunting moment.

Throughout the story, Dumbledore was Harry’s main protector and one of his father figures during his time at Hogwarts. It was only fitting that he be the one to speak with him at the crossroads of  life and death and help him get ready to face Voldemort one last time.

Dumbledore explains that a part of Voldemort had been living inside Harry all along. When Voldemort attacked Harry’s family when he was an infant, Voldemort effectively made Harry a horcrux by accident.

When Harry decides to live, he expresses concern that Voldemort still has a handful of supporters and that his snake Nagini is still alive. Dumbledore responds with an edited version of his classic phrase, “Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who deserve it.” He also tells him not to pity the dead, but pity those who live without love.

This scene is so great because it is Dumbledore’s swan song and Gambon’s final dance with the character. It gives me comfort that Dumbledore seems content with how things played out because his years of meticulous planning and arrangements yielded the perfect results. Harry gets to live, and Voldemort is defeated.