Daniel Radcliffe Reveals the Harry Potter Co‑Star Who Made Him Break Character Constantly.
Daniel Radcliffe may have built an impressive career far beyond the Wizarding World — from Broadway success in Merrily We Roll Along to his upcoming NBC comedy The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins — but he still looks back fondly on his Harry Potter years. During a recent appearance on Hot Ones, Radcliffe shared which cast member made filming both unforgettable and hilariously chaotic.
Radcliffe revealed that the late Michael Gambon, who portrayed Albus Dumbledore from Prisoner of Azkaban onward, was the one who constantly cracked him up on set. According to Radcliffe, Gambon was a master of mischief:
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“He messed around all the time… he would never stop until the moment they said ‘action.’ He was always trying to make me laugh.”
Gambon’s playful personality stood in stark contrast to the wise, stoic Dumbledore he portrayed. Radcliffe recalled that the actor loved turning serious moments into opportunities for jokes — including pranking him with a fart machine during filming.
Gambon also had a habit of teasing the filmmaking process itself. Radcliffe shared one of his favorite examples: when Gambon would ask what the next shot was, then jokingly refer to it as “BOHNAR — back of head, no acting required.” His dry wit became legendary among the cast.
Even during intense scenes, Gambon couldn’t resist a joke. While filming the dramatic boat sequence in Half-Blood Prince, he leaned over to Radcliffe and whispered:
“What’s this, TTIAB? Two twats in a boat?”
Michael Gambon passed away in 2023, and Radcliffe has repeatedly spoken about his admiration for the actor, calling him “silly, irreverent and hilarious.” Fans still cherish stories of Gambon’s antics — like demonstrating how to fire a dueling pistol while casually holding a cup of coffee.
For Radcliffe, Gambon wasn’t just a colleague — he was a mentor, a friend, and a constant source of joy on set. His legacy lives on not only through his performances, but through the laughter he brought to everyone around him.
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