'Harry Potter' star Michael Gambon leaves fortune to wife - but nothing to long-term girlfriend who bore him two sons

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By James Kay

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Sir Michael Gambon reportedly left his entire fortune to his wife after his death, while leaving nothing to his mistress who bore him two children.

Gambon passed away in September last year at the age of 82 following a bout of pneumonia.

Lady Gambon and their son Fergus Gambon expressed sorrow, stating: "We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia."

The actor had a high-profile relationship with set designer Phillipa Hart, who was 25 years his junior, and with whom he had two teenage sons.

Gambon passed away in September 2023. Credit: Ian Gavan/Getty

However, according to reports by the Daily Mail, Gambon's will, made public on Tuesday, allocated almost his entire fortune to Lady Anne Gambon.

Lady Anne, listed as an executor alongside her son Fergus, is set to inherit the majority of Gambon's £1,465,882 fortune, with provision made for it to pass to Fergus in the event of Lady Anne's death before her husband.

Despite openly living with Gambon in London, Hart reportedly does not receive any inheritance from the will, which was drawn up and signed in 2016.

The Mail noted that she had two sons, Tom and William, with the actor, who received £10,000 each and a trophy, as specified in the three-page will.

When approached for comment, Hart declined to discuss the matter, stating: "It’s none of my business. I really don’t want to talk about this."

Similarly, Fergus also chose not to comment on the situation.

Hart first crossed paths with Gambon while filming the Channel 4 series Longitude in 2000. For two decades, the actor split his time between his wife and his long-time mistress.

Gambon left none of his fortune to his mistress. Credit: Mike Marsland/Getty

Internationally recognized for his portrayal of Albus Dumbledore, Gambon's contribution to cinema spans far beyond the wizarding world.

His diverse filmography includes memorable performances in movies such as The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989), Gosford Park (2001), and The King's Speech (2010).

In addition to his cinematic achievements, Gambon made significant strides in television, earning praise for his portrayal of the titular character in the series The Singing Detective (1986).

Throughout his illustrious career, Gambon received numerous accolades, showcasing his versatility and talent as an actor and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for his contributions to drama.

His theatrical journey began in 1962 with a stage debut in Dublin's production of Othello, later honing his skills at the National Theatre in London under the mentorship of Laurence Olivier.

Embracing Olivier's guidance to expand his repertoire, Gambon ventured into classical roles, including portrayals of Macbeth and Coriolanus.

Featured image credit: Mike Marsland/Getty