How Old John Lithgow Is Compared To The Harry Potter Movies' 2 Dumbledore Actors

John Lithgow is the new Dumbledore, raising immediate questions about how old the Harry PotterTV series actor is compared to the film actors who played the role. HBO's Harry Potter series is happening, with an expected premiere date of early 2027. Rumors began swirling around actors targeted for the Hogwarts professors' roles earlier this year, and Headmaster Albus Dumbledore is the first role to be officially announced. Six-time Emmy winner and two-time Golden Globe winner John Lithgow, one of the most coveted actors alive, will be the next iteration of the iconic wizard.

Of course, as will be the case with every actor cast in the upcoming remake, Lithgow's performance will be closely compared to those who played the character before him. In the case of Dumbledore, the Harry Potter moviessaw two actors fill the role: the late great Richard Harris and the late great Sir Michael Gambon. These are immense shoes to fill, and speculation will continue to swirl around Lithgow throughout his tenure. Before the show releases, many will be curious about the actor's age, especially compared to the previous stars who filled Dumbledore's shoes.

How Old Is The Harry Potter Remake's Dumbledore Actor John Lithgow?

John Lithgow Is 79-Years-Old

John Lithgow is an American actor who's currently 79 years old, and his career dates back over five decades to 1972. He's performed in more prominent film and television roles than most actors alive, making him an undoubtedly compelling candidate for Dumbledore. The Harry Potter films specifically chose to only cast actors from the UK and Europe at the time, but Lithgow has experience playing prominent British figures, having won an Emmy for his role as Winston Churchill in The Crown.

Lithgow's age will undoubtedly be a factor that fans take into consideration, especially given how it relates to previous Dumbledore actors and the character's age in the books. Given that the Harry Potter show is intended to continue for 10 years, Lithgow will be in his late 80s by the hypothetical time the series ends. Lithgow admitted as much when confirming his Dumbledore casting to Screen Rant, saying:

"I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid. But I'm very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That's why it's been such a hard decision. I'll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I've said yes."

John Lithgow's age comment seems to imply the show will run for seven seasons with annual releases, but this hasn't been confirmed.

How Old Were Richard Harris & Michael Gambon When They Played Albus Dumbledore

Richard Harris Was 69 & Michael Gambon Was 63

Richard Harris was a celebrated actor for decades before taking on the role of Dumbledore, which was one of the last of his career. He appeared in The Sorcerer's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, which likely meant he filmed for the character when he was between 69 and 72 years old. He passed away on October 25, 2002, just one month before The Chamber of Secrets was released in theaters, and he was 72 years old at the time. This means John Lithgow is 10 years older than Harris was when he began.

A custom collage image of Cilian Murphy, Daniel Radcliffe, and John Lithgow - created by Tom Russell

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Sir Michael Gambon took on the role of Albus Dumbledore in The Prisoner of Azkaban and played the character throughout the remainder of the series. He was 63 at the time he filmed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, having been born in 1940. His final Dumbledore appearance was in The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, for which he would have been 70 at the time of filming. The Irish-British actor passed away more recently in September 2023 at the age of 82. John Lithgow is 19 years older than Gambon was when he began.

John Lithgow's Age Is A Promising Sign For An Accurate Albus Dumbledore

John Lithgow Can Capture Dumbledore's Demeanor

While the practical aspect of John Lithgow's age is undoubtedly a factor HBO will be considering, there are notable benefits to him playing the character. In Harry Potter, Dumbledore was born in 1881, making him either 115 or 116 at the time of his death. Since Hollywood may experience some challenges in finding an actor of Dumbledore's lore-accurate age, aging him up in comparison to the movies is the next best thing. Mark Strong was another Dumbledore candidate, but it would have been a pity to age the character down even further.

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John Lithgow is a phenomenal actor who will be able to do anything HBO needs from him, even ask questions calmly, but his age will also be a factor in hopefully bringing the most book-accurate rendition of Dumbledore we've seen. To play Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter requires a sense of wisdom and gravitas, and Lithgow certainly has the experience to portray a version like that.