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'{{Use British English|date=August 2011}} {{pp-move-indef}} <!-- NOTE: A SECTION HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDED ABOUT DUMBLEDORE BEING GAY. DO NOT ADD ANOTHER SECTION! -->{{Infobox character | series = [[Harry Potter]] | name = Albus Dumbledore | image = [[Image:Dumbledore and Elder Wand.JPG|300px]] | caption = [[Michael Gambon]] as Dumbledore<br/>in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' | first = ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''<!-- Sorceror's Stone is the American variant and we use the international titles on Wikipedia. --> | last = ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''<!-- These refer to the books. Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a film. --> | creator = [[J. K. Rowling]] | portrayer = [[Richard Harris]] (adult, films 1–2)<br/>[[Michael Gambon]] (adult, films 3–8)<br/>[[Toby Regbo]] (youth, film 7) | lbl1 = [[Hogwarts#Houses|House]] | data1 = [[Gryffindor]] }} '''Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore'''<ref name=Hirsch2008 >{{Cite book | last=Hirsch | first=Anne-Christin | year=2008 | title=Names and Their Underlying Mythology in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter-Novels | publisher=GRIN Verlag | isbn=9783640164127 | page=7 | url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VUBIjqA9KsUC | postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}} }}</ref> <!--DO NOT add his birthdate here. That is in-universe format. See Wikipedia:Manual of Style (writing about fiction) --> is a major character in [[J. K. Rowling]]'s ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series. For most of the series, he is the headmaster of the [[Magic in Harry Potter|wizarding]] school [[Hogwarts]]. As part of his back-story, it is revealed that he is the founder and leader of the [[Order of the Phoenix (organisation)|Order of the Phoenix]], an organisation dedicated to fighting the main [[antagonist]] of the series, [[Lord Voldemort]]. Rowling stated she chose the name Dumbledore, which is an [[Early Modern English]] <!-- Rowling is misquoted as having said "Old English", when she meant "old English" (i.e., Early Modern English); Old English is an entirely different language, and "dumbledore" is NOT extant in its vocabulary --> word for "[[bumblebee]]",<ref>[http://machaut.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/WEBSTER.sh?WORD=dumbledor "Dumbledor" in Merriam–Webster]</ref> because of Dumbledore's love of music: she imagined him walking around "humming to himself a lot".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/0399-barnesandnoble.html|title=Barnes and Noble interview, 19 March 1999|date=19 March 1999|accessdate=28 February 2007|publisher=AccioQuote!|last=Rowling|first=J.&nbsp;K.}}</ref><ref> [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/1099-connectiontransc2.htm WBUR radio interview 12 October 1999] </ref> ==Character development== According to the author, she enjoys writing Dumbledore because he "is the [[epitome]] of goodness."<ref>{{cite web|author=Solomon, Evan (Interviewer)|url=http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/0700-hottype-solomon.htm|title=J.K. Rowling Interview|publisher=CBC Newsworld: Hot Type|date=13 July 2000|accessdate=20 March 2011}}</ref> Rowling said that Dumbledore speaks for her, as he "knows pretty much everything" about the [[Harry Potter universe|''Harry Potter'' universe]].<ref name="chamberdvd">{{cite web|url=http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2003/0302-newsround-mzimba.htm|author=Mzimba, Lizo (moderator)|title=Chamber of Secrets DVD interview with Steve Kloves and J.K. Rowling|date=February 2003|accessdate=20 March 2011}}</ref> Rowling mentioned Dumbledore regrets "that he has always had to be the one who knew, and who had the burden of knowing. And he would rather not know."<ref>{{cite web|author=Fry, Stephen (interviewer)|url=http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/1205-bbc-fry.html|title=Living with Harry Potter|publisher=BBC Radio4|date=10 December 2005|accessdate=20 March 2011}}</ref> As a mentor to the central character [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]], "Dumbledore is a very wise man who knows that Harry is going to have to learn a few hard lessons to prepare him for what may be coming in his life. He allows Harry to get into what he wouldn’t allow another pupil to do, and he also unwillingly permits Harry to confront things he’d rather protect him from."<ref>{{cite web|author=Fry, Stephen (interviewer)|url=http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2003/0626-alberthall-fry.htm|title=J.K. Rowling at the Royal Albert Hall|publisher=MSN.com|date=26 June 2003|accessdate=20 March 2011}}</ref> In a 1999 interview, Rowling stated that she imagined Dumbledore "more as a [[John Gielgud]] type, you know, quite elderly and&nbsp;– and quite stately."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/1099-connectiontransc2.htm|author=Lydon, Christopher|title=J.K. Rowling interview transcript|publisher=The Connection (WBUR Radio)|date=12 October 1999|accessdate=20 March 2011}}</ref> During his time as a student, Dumbledore was in [[Hogwarts#Gryffindor|Gryffindor]] [[House system|House]].<ref>{{HP1ref}}, page 106<!--American page number--></ref> Rowling claimed in an interview that Dumbledore was about 150 years old.<ref name="scholastic">{{cite web|url=http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-scholastic-chat.htm|title=About the Books: transcript of J.K. Rowling's live interview on Scholastic.com|publisher=Scholastic.com|date=16 October 2000|accessdate=20 March 2011}}</ref> However, on her website, she states that Dumbledore was born in 1881, making him either 115 or 116 when he died.<ref name="wizard of the month">{{cite web|first=J.K,|last=Rowling|url=http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/wotm.cfm|title=Wizard of the Month Archive|publisher=J.K. Rowling Official Site|accessdate=20 March 2011}}</ref> On 19 October 2007, Rowling was asked by a young fan whether Dumbledore finds "true love". Rowling said that she always thought of Dumbledore as being [[homosexual]] and that he had fallen in love with [[Gellert Grindelwald]], which was Dumbledore's "great tragedy"; Rowling did not explicitly state whether Grindelwald returned his affections.<ref name= "nydncarnegie">{{cite news |title= Rowling dubs Dumbledore of 'Harry Potter' books as gay |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2007/10/19/2007-10-19_rowling_dubs_dumbledore_of_harry_potter_.html | accessdate=20 October 2007 | location=New York | work=Daily News | date=19 October 2007}}</ref><ref name= "365carnegie">{{cite news | url = http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/10/102007potter.htm |title = J.K. Rowling outs Hogwarts character |agency=Associated Press |date= 20 October 2007 |accessdate =22 October 2007 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071021081806/http://365gay.com/Newscon07/10/102007potter.htm |archivedate = 21 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2052004020071020?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews |title=JK Rowling says wizard Dumbledore is gay |date=20 October 2007 |agency=[[Reuters]] |accessdate=2 August 2008}}</ref> Rowling explains this further by elaborating on the motivations behind Dumbledore's flirtation with the idea of wizard domination of [[Muggle]]s: "He lost his moral compass completely when he fell in love and I think subsequently became very mistrustful of his own judgement in those matters so became quite [[asexual]]. He led a celibate and a bookish life."<ref name="edinburgh">{{cite web |url=http://www.mugglenet.com/app/news/full_story/1497 |title=Minister of Magic |accessdate=14 March 2008 |last=Amini |first=Adeel |date=9 March 2008 |publisher=Mugglenet.com}}{{Failed verification|date=March 2011}}</ref> ==Appearances== ===Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone=== In the opening chapter of the first novel of the series, Dumbledore arrives at number four, Privet Drive in [[Places in Harry Potter#Little Whinging|Little Whinging]], Surrey. When the evil wizard [[Lord Voldemort]] kills Harry's parents before being reduced to a lesser form, Dumbledore decides to place the now-orphaned Harry in the home of [[Dursley family|Vernon and Petunia Dursley]]. He knows that Harry will be protected by the special magic caused by his mother's sacrifice, after he evokes the magic of the bond of blood and Harry's aunt, his mother's sister - Petunia Evans Dursley, sealed it by accepting her nephew into her home. This old magic of binding love renders Voldemort incapable of touching Harry. Dumbledore leaves Harry upon the doorstep of the Dursley home with a letter explaining the situation. He departs with the final phrase, "Good luck, Harry." When Harry arrives at Hogwarts, Dumbledore tells him about the secrets of the [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#The Mirror of Erised after Harry finds it running from Argus Filch|Mirror of Erised]], claiming that when he looks into it, he sees himself "holding a pair of thick, woollen socks." Harry later recalls in the final book that this was probably the only dishonest answer Dumbledore ever gave him. He also is responsible for somehow enchanting the Mirror so that it hides the [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Philosopher's Stone|Philosopher's Stone]] and only someone who looked into the Mirror and whose desire was "to find the Stone...but not use it" would receive it, as anybody else would only see themselves using the Stone due to the Mirror's special magic. He is called out to the [[Ministry of Magic]] by a false message on the night when Professor [[Quirinus Quirrell]], Harry Potter, [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]] enter the dungeons to retrieve the Stone, but realises during the trip that he is needed at Hogwarts and returns in time to rescue Harry from Quirrell and Voldemort. He also has a final conversation with Harry after the events down in the dungeons and tells him that when Voldemort tried to kill him, his (Harry's) mother's love protected him. ===Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets=== In the second novel, Dumbledore suspects that Tom Riddle is somehow involved in the attacks on the muggle born students, as he says, when asked who is the culprit, "not who, but how?" A younger Dumbledore appears in Riddle's diary, when Harry sees his memory, and asks Riddle if he knows anything about the attacks on the students. During the last half of the novel, [[Lucius Malfoy]] forces the school's other eleven governors to suspend Dumbledore as Headmaster in the wake of attacks by a [[Basilisk (Harry Potter)|basilisk]] in the school when the [[Locations in Hogwarts#Chamber of Secrets|Chamber of Secrets]] is opened. Dumbledore is reinstated when the governors discover that [[Ginny Weasley]] was taken into the Chamber of Secrets and Lucius is found to have coerced the other governors into suspending him. ===Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban=== At the beginning of the third novel, Dumbledore is forced to accept [[Magical creatures (Harry Potter)#Dementors|Dementors]] onto his school's grounds for the protection of his students from [[Sirius Black]], the supposed murderer and accessory to murder, who had escaped from [[Azkaban]]. After Black's breach into Hogwarts, Dumbledore issues orders to close every entrance to the school and grounds. After Harry falls off his broomstick during a [[Quidditch]] match because of the Dementors, Dumbledore becomes uncharacteristically angry with them and uses his wand to cause Harry to levitate safely to the ground. Later in that book, Dumbledore suggests Hermione Granger use her Ministry-approved [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Time-Turners|Time-Turner]] to go back three hours to save [[Buckbeak]] the [[hippogriff]] and Sirius from their unjust executions. ===Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire=== In the fourth novel, Dumbledore introduces the [[Triwizard Tournament]]. He also serves as a judge during the entire event. When Harry's name comes out of the Goblet of Fire, Dumbledore is not enraged, but remains calm; simply asking Harry whether he had himself, or had asked an older student to submit his name (although in the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|film version]] he does get angry to the point of manhandling Harry). When Harry answers no, he believes him. By the end of the book, Dumbledore's fears are realised when Harry returns from his encounter with Voldemort clutching the dead body of [[Cedric Diggory]] and when [[Alastor Moody]] (being impersonated by [[Death_Eater#Barty Crouch.2C Jr.|Barty Crouch, Jr.]], through Polyjuice Potion) takes Harry away from Dumbledore and to his office inside the castle. Dumbledore immediately becomes suspicious and heads straight towards Moody's office with [[Minerva McGonagall]] and [[Severus Snape]] to save Harry and to interrogate Crouch. Afterwards, Dumbledore listens to Harry's eyewitness account about Voldemort's return. Harry though, only wakes up later to find Minister for Magic [[Cornelius Fudge]] in the hospital wing arguing with McGonagall and Dumbledore. In the end, Fudge and Dumbledore "part ways" after an argument about the situation of Voldemort's return and the consequences that would follow should Fudge remain in denial of this fact. ===Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix=== In the fifth book, Dumbledore is demoted from Chief Warlock of the [[Ministry of Magic#Wizengamot|Wizengamot]], voted out of the Chairmanship of the International Confederation of Wizards, and is almost stripped of his Order of Merlin First Class due to his speeches regarding the return of Voldemort, although it is reported that he is unconcerned as long as he is not taken off the Chocolate Frog cards. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Magic does everything they can to discredit him and Harry — mainly through the ''[[Harry Potter universe#The Daily Prophet|Daily Prophet]]''. At the beginning of the book, Dumbledore enrages Fudge when he stops by at Harry's [[Hearing (law)|hearing]] with a witness ([[Order of the Phoenix (organisation)#Arabella Figg|Arabella Figg]]) to ensure that he is not expelled. While Harry feels better when Dumbledore assists him, he becomes annoyed to the point of being angry that the headmaster refuses to speak to or even look at him. During the following year at Hogwarts, the Ministry passes Educational Decree Twenty-two, allowing Fudge to place [[Dolores Umbridge]] to the post of [[Hogwarts#Defence Against the Dark Arts|Defence Against the Dark Arts]] teacher (after Dumbledore failed to find a suitable candidate). Through her, Fudge gradually gains power over Hogwarts and Dumbledore, who he fears is building an under-age wizard army to overthrow the Ministry. Umbridge forbids practical defence practice in her classes, forcing Harry, Ron, and Hermione to form [[Dumbledore's Army]] (a defence group led by Harry) with fellow friends. It is when the Ministry discovers the D.A. that Dumbledore, choosing to accept the responsibility, falsely claims that the organisation was his own subversive creation, and allows himself to be removed as headmaster (for the second time) rather than allow Harry to be expelled. Dumbledore is not heard of again in the book until he arrives in the [[Ministry of Magic#Department of Mysteries|Department of Mysteries]] to aid the Order in the battle against the Death Eaters. He subdues all the Death Eaters, except for [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], and binds them with an Anti-Disapparition Jinx to prevent them from magically escaping. He then saves Harry from the ''[[Avada Kedavra]]'' curse conjured by Voldemort and engages in a ferocious duel with the Dark Lord. After subduing the Dark Lord (by cocooning him in water), the duel culminates in Voldemort being forced to possess Harry in an attempt to make Dumbledore kill Harry "in hopes of destroying him [Voldemort]". Voldemort is forced to leave Harry's body (due to the pain Harry's pure heart causes Voldemort) and flee with Bellatrix after this ruse fails. Voldemort [[Magic in Harry Potter#Apparition and Disapparition|disapparates]] and Dumbledore tells Fudge what happened and is reinstated as headmaster and retrieves all his distinctions. Towards the end of the book, Dumbledore explains to Harry that Voldemort chose him as his equal and that one must kill the other in the end. ===Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince=== In the sixth book, Dumbledore fetches Harry from Privet Drive and takes him to persuade [[Horace Slughorn]] to rejoin the Hogwarts staff; his right hand, Harry notices, is shrivelled and black. During the school year, Dumbledore teaches Harry of events in Voldemort's past that he feels are of immense importance. Using the Pensieve, they visit the memories of others, which contain important information about Voldemort's life and his [[Genocide|genocidal]] rise to power. While using the [[pensieve]], Harry sees a vision of Dumbledore's first encounter with Voldemort, then a disturbed young orphan named Tom Riddle; Dumbledore had known from the beginning that the boy was dangerous, but believed that Hogwarts would change him. It is learned that Voldemort created six [[Horcrux]]es to gain [[immortality]] and that they must all be destroyed before Harry goes after the final piece of Voldemort's soul in the Dark Lord's body. Harry also repeatedly warns Dumbledore in most of their lessons that another student, [[Draco Malfoy]], is working for Voldemort. Dumbledore refuses to take any action against Draco, and instead tells Harry that he already knows more about what is happening than Harry does. By the end of the book, Dumbledore and Harry set out to the cave where Dumbledore believes a Horcrux resides. In the cave, Dumbledore drinks a potion inside the Horcrux's container; while drinking it, he begins to scream, seemingly enduring mental torture and being weakened. Dumbledore begins to call out for water after he finishes the potion, and Harry, realising he has no other choice, dips the goblet into the lake to give him a drink. When he does this, though, all the [[Inferius|Inferi]] that reside in the lake grab at Harry and attempt to drag him down and drown him in the lake. Dumbledore suddenly recovers, thanks to the water, and conjures a [[Spells in Harry Potter#Incendio|fire lasso]] around them. Dumbledore takes the horcrux (a locket) and both make their way back out of the cave and back to Hogsmeade. When they return, [[Madam Rosmerta]] informs them that the [[Dark Mark]] was conjured over the [[Hogwarts#Astronomy|Astronomy Tower]]. In the tower, Dumbledore enjoins Harry not to interfere in the events that are about to take place there, and places him in a body-binding curse under his invisibility cloak. Hidden, Harry is unable to intervene as Dumbledore (now extremely weak) is disarmed by Draco Malfoy. Dumbledore is conversing with Draco about the plot to kill him, when several other Death Eaters enter the tower and try to persuade Draco to kill Dumbledore. When Draco hesitates, Snape appears and performs the Killing Curse on Dumbledore, only after Dumbledore pleads with Snape saying, "Severus, please...". To what Dumbledore was referring is not revealed until the seventh book. Dumbledore dies in Hogwarts' grounds. Shortly after his death, Dumbledore's portrait magically appears in the Headmaster's office. His funeral is attended by students, Hogwarts staff, members of the Ministry of Magic, [[Ghosts (Harry Potter)|ghosts]], [[Magical creatures (Harry Potter)#Centaurs|centaur]]s, [[mermaid|merpeople]] and others who wish to pay their respects. Shrouded in purple velvet, he is entombed in a white marble sarcophagus beside the lake at Hogwarts, and it is said that he is the only headmaster to be buried on the school grounds. ===Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows=== Rowling used several chapters in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' to reveal two main matters concerning Dumbledore: his early life and his death. The book introduces his parents, Percival and Kendra Dumbledore, as well as his little sister, Ariana; his brother, [[Aberforth Dumbledore]], was mentioned in previous books. At six years old, Ariana was attacked by three Muggle boys who had witnessed her doing magic. Because of this attack, Ariana was seriously traumatised and never able to control her magic again, having recurring outbursts of magic. Enraged, Percival mercilessly attacked the Muggle boys (killing them in the [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1|film version]]), and was sentenced to life in Azkaban. After this, Kendra moved her family to the village of [[Places in Harry Potter#Godric's Hollow|Godric's Hollow]]. In one of her outbursts, Ariana accidentally kills Kendra around the time Albus has completed his education. Albus becomes the head of the family and is forced to remain in his house with his sister Ariana while Aberforth completes his education. Soon afterward, a young [[Gellert Grindelwald]] arrived in Godric's Hollow to live with his great-aunt, [[Bathilda Bagshot]], author of ''A History of Magic''. The two young men took to each other immediately, and together they dreamed of a world ruled by wizards over Muggles by uniting the legendary [[Deathly Hallows (objects)|Deathly Hallows]]. They believed that if they were forced to destroy a few along the way, it would still be "for the greater good", and the sufferings and losses would be rewarded a hundredfold in the end. This scenario would never happen, though. A discussion between Albus, Aberforth, and Grindelwald led to a duel that resulted in Ariana's death. For the rest of his life, Albus felt guilty, never certain whether it was his own curse or another's that had killed his sister. Grindelwald stormed back to Bagshot's home and departed to begin his own rule, leaving the country hours later. As a result of his mistakes, Albus felt that he was not to be trusted with power and, because of this, never took the position of Minister for Magic, despite being offered it several times. Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts as professor of Transfiguration, and he served in recruiting students for the school. Decades later, in 1945,<ref>This is mentioned in ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone''.</ref> Dumbledore finally defeated the now-[[Dark Arts (Harry Potter)|Dark]] wizard Grindelwald, who had come to possess the [[Deathly Hallows (objects)#Elder Wand|Elder Wand]]. Grindelwald's defeat made Dumbledore the master of the Elder Wand, which remained his until just before his death, when Draco Malfoy used the Disarming Charm on him. Dumbledore had another Hallow in his keeping since the death of James Potter: the [[Deathly Hallows (object)#Cloak of Invisibility|Invisibility Cloak]], which he had borrowed to examine. When James died, Dumbledore kept the cloak and decided to pass it on to Harry, James's son. The truth about Dumbledore's death is revealed through Snape's last memories in the [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Pensieve|Pensieve]]. Harry learns that Dumbledore made a terrible error by placing a cursed ring on his right hand, sometime between the fifth and sixth book, forgetting the curses that must be on the ring. The ring held the [[Deathly Hallows (objects)#Resurrection Stone|Resurrection Stone]], which Dumbledore hoped to use to allow him to apologise to his sister and parents. Dumbledore called Snape to help him; however, when Snape arrived and assessed the curse, all he could do was contain it. Snape told Dumbledore that he had little more than a year to live. After hearing this news, Dumbledore revealed to Snape that he knew about Voldemort's plan to have Draco kill him. He asked Snape to use the Killing Curse on him when the time came because he did not want Draco to have to kill him, saying that the boy's soul was still intact; Draco's soul would have been damaged in killing Dumbledore out of malice, whereas Snape was fully aware that he would be merely sparing Dumbledore pain and humiliation. He also intended for Snape to be the one to kill him and for the Elder Wand to be buried with him, in order to prevent the wand from being passed on again. Dumbledore appears one last time to Harry towards the end of the book in a limbo-like [[London King's Cross railway station|King's Cross]], after Harry is struck with the Killing Curse which was conjured by Voldemort. During the last book, Harry finds out that he must die as he is a Horcrux. When Voldemort conjures the Killing Curse, Harry does not fight back. This stops him from dying. The boy comforts Dumbledore as he confesses all of his many regrets. Dumbledore then informs Harry of the choice he still has: of moving on to the next life or returning to his body to face Voldemort one last time. After returning from the mystical King's Cross and defeating Voldemort for good, Harry has a short conversation with Dumbledore's portrait in the Headmaster's office about the fate of each of the three Deathly Hallows. He keeps the Cloak, leaves the Stone in the Forbidden Forest where he dropped it, and returns the Elder Wand to Dumbledore's tomb (from which Voldemort had stolen it). In the epilogue, it is revealed that Harry names his second son [[Albus Severus Potter]] after Dumbledore and Snape. ==Portrayals within films== [[Image:Harris Dumbledore CoS.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Dumbledore as portrayed by the late [[Richard Harris]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''.]] In the film adaptations of ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Philosopher's Stone]]'' (2001) and ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|Chamber of Secrets]]'' (2002), Dumbledore was played by [[Richard Harris]], who was expected to play Dumbledore throughout the series. Harris mentioned that he was originally not going to take the role, since he knew his own health was in decline. He accepted because his then-11-year-old granddaughter threatened never to speak to him again if he did not take it.<ref>The Late Show With David Letterman interview, 2001</ref> Harris was determined to portray Dumbledore again in ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)|Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' (which was released in 2004), despite having been diagnosed with [[Hodgkin's lymphoma]], and asked David Heyman not to recast the role.<ref name=heymanew>{{cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1123317_2,00.html|title=A Look Back|accessdate=10 October 2007|date=28 October 2005|author=Jeff Jensen|work=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> However, his death on 25 October 2002 necessitated recasting.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/2362935.stm | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20021206102152/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/2362935.stm | archivedate = 6 December 2002 | title = Actor Richard Harris dies | date = 25 October 2002 |publisher=BBC News | accessdate =3 March 2010 }} </ref> Sir [[Ian McKellen]] was offered the role, but he turned it down, having played the similar character [[Gandalf]] in [[The Lord of the Rings film trilogy|''The Lord of the Rings'' trilogy]], as well as feeling it would have been inappropriate to take Harris's role, as Harris had called McKellen a "dreadful" actor.<ref>{{cite news | author=Michael Hinman | title = No Regrets For McKellen In Turning Down Harry Potter | publisher=SyFy Portal | date = 29 November 2007 | url = http://www.syfyportal.com/news424489.html | accessdate=30 November 2007 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071201063405/http://www.syfyportal.com/news424489.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 1 December 2007}}</ref> Harris's family had expressed an interest in seeing Harris's close friend [[Peter O'Toole]] being chosen as his replacement.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/2003-01-09#celeb2|title=Harris' Family Calling for O'Toole To Take on 'Harry Potter' Role|accessdate=30 November 2007|date=9 January 2003|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]}}</ref> Sir [[Michael Gambon]] was cast as Harris's replacement four months after Harris's death.<ref name="newsround">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_2788000/2788225.stm |title=Dumbledore and Sirius cast for Azkaban|accessdate=10 October 2007|date=21 February 2003|publisher=[[Newsround]]}}</ref> Gambon was not concerned about bettering Harris, and he portrayed the character in his own way, putting on a slight Irish <!-- NOTE: Welsh is incorrect, interview states Irish in tribute to Harris See the talk page. --> accent for the role,<ref name=castinterviews>{{cite video|date=2004|title=Head to Shrunken Head| medium=DVD|people=[[Johnny Vaughan|Vaughan, Johnny]]; [[Lenny Henry|Henry, Lenny]] |publisher=Warner Bros. Pictures}}</ref> as well as completing his scenes in three weeks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=3&id=613682004|title=Olivier, Dumbledore and two broken ribs|accessdate=30 November 2007|date=30 May 2004|author=Siobhan Synnot|work=The Scotsman |location=UK}}</ref> Gambon reprised his role in all the remaining films. [[Toby Regbo]] was chosen to portray Dumbledore in his youth in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1|Deathly Hallows Part I]]'' and ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2|Part 2]]'', for flashbacks scenes which provide essential information on the character's backstory.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2269396/ Toby Regob Young Dumbledore]</ref> In the ''Chamber of Secrets'' DVD interview, screenwriter [[Steve Kloves]] stated that he considers Dumbledore a fascinating character because of the wisdom he provides, but he feels that "Dumbledore bears such a tremendous dark burden, and he knows secrets and I think in many ways he bears the weight of the future of the wizard world" and the "only way that he can keep that at bay, the darkness, is to be whimsical and humorous".<ref name="chamberdvd" /> ==Characterisation== <!-- NOTE: A SECTION HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDED ABOUT DUMBLEDORE BEING GAY. DO NOT ADD ANOTHER SECTION! --> ===Outward appearance=== Albus Dumbledore was tall and thin, with silver hair and beard (auburn in his youth) so long that they could be tucked into his belt. He had a very long and crooked nose that looked as if it had been broken at least twice. (It is speculated that his brother's punch during their sister's funeral may have played a role in shaping his nose.) He was also said to have long and skilful fingers. His eyes were described to be a brilliant, soul-piercing shade of blue, and usually twinkled with kindness and mischief. When he became genuinely angry, however, Dumbledore would transform from a benign-looking, bright-eyed old man into a wizard even more terrifying than Lord Voldemort himself, with a face that was a classic portrait of cold fury and an aura of power that made him seem as if he was giving off burning heat. Indeed, Harry had - after witnessing a rare moment of Dumbledore's furious rage - confessed to fully understanding why people always said that Dumbledore was the only wizard Voldemort had ever feared. Dumbledore wore half-moon spectacles and a colourful array of robes, ranging from purple to crimson-red. He once claimed to have a scar above his left knee in the precise shape of a map of the London Underground, but whether or not he actually does is unknown. His demeanour is often - if not always - serene and ethereal, and he usually spoke in a calm, pleasant voice even when Harry thought that he was actually furious. During the last year of his life, Dumbledore's right hand was scarred when he donned Marvolo Gaunt's Ring, which was cursed. Had Severus Snape not intervened with a counter-curse, Dumbledore would have died much more quickly. Regardless, the curse left his hand blackened and dead-looking, and no amount of healing could repair the appearance. According to Snape, the curse would eventually spread itself from the contained hand, and Dumbledore was doomed to die in no more than one year's time. Whether this means the blackening dead-look appearance would spread throughout the entire body is unknown. Death, however, served to restore him to full health and strength: his spirit was described as walking sprightly and upright, with hands that were both whole and white and undamaged, and looking exactly how Harry remembered him to be. ===Personality=== <!-- NOTE: A SECTION HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDED ABOUT DUMBLEDORE BEING GAY. DO NOT ADD ANOTHER SECTION! --> Considered the most powerful wizard in the world, Dumbledore is benevolent and wise, a good wizard in the style of Merlin. He almost constantly gives off an aura of serenity and composure, rarely displaying intense emotions of anger or fear. Yet despite his benign nature, it is said that Dumbledore was the only wizard Lord Voldemort ever truly feared. Dumbledore is very eccentric and even slightly effeminate; he is very fond of knitting patterns and frequently wears flamboyant clothing (at one point, he is seen wearing a flowered bonnet). He is also known for his odd displays of whimsicality; he often uses humour to make people feel comfortable in his presence. As a supremely talented wizard, Dumbledore displays numerous examples of extraordinary powers. His abilities as a wizard are combined with a kind of cunning and subtlety of mind that allowed him to comprehend human nature and turn the better aspects of humanity (trust, love, and friendship) to Voldemort's disadvantage in particular. Yet despite his many talents and accomplishments, Dumbledore is never arrogant, self-important or pompous and in this he stands above the other great wizards of his day. More than anything else, Dumbledore has a deep capacity for love, frequently reminding Harry that love was the greatest magic of all. This perhaps stemmed from his "great tragedy" of his affections for Gellert Grindelwald, whom Dumbledore not only loved, but greatly admired for his innovative ideas. Dumbledore believes in the good in everyone and insists on giving second chances. The greatest example of this is Dumbledore's relationship with Severus Snape, in whom Dumbledore is willing to hold a phenomenal amount of faith after Snape's having shown remorse. Dumbledore even sees a hint of good in Voldemort as a child. Dumbledore is highly perceptive and emotionally intelligent; his knowledge of a person's true personality goes beyond simply being a good judge of character. This is never more apparent than in his complex insights into Voldemort's psyche, which he pieces together with Harry to deduce where Voldemort's horcruxes are hidden. However, in spite of Dumbledore's many extraordinary qualities, he was no saint. According to Rowling, "Although Dumbledore seems to be so benign for six books, he's quite a [[Machiavellian]] figure, really. He's been pulling a lot of strings."<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571977/20071015/index.jhtml Harry Potter's Author J. K. Rowling Meets With L.A. Students, Plots Her Next Move] Retrieved on 16 April 2008.</ref> In a 2005 interview, Rowling commented: "Immense brainpower does not protect you from emotional mistakes, and I think Dumbledore really exemplifies that."<ref>Spartz, Emerson, and Melissa Anelli. [http://www.mugglenet.com/jkrinterview.shtml "MuggleNet and The Leaky Cauldron interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling"] Part 1, 16 July 2005. Retrieved on 21 October 2007.</ref> Dumbledore's greatest personality flaw, which he explained to Harry, was his desire for power. He eventually found that those best suited for power are those who do not seek it. When he and Gellert Grindelwald were in school, they made plans to enslave Muggles and re-establish wizards as the natural rulers of the world. However, Dumbledore fell from this fantasy after his sister Ariana Dumbledore was killed during a duel between himself, Aberforth Dumbledore, and Grindelwald. Dumbledore was haunted by his sad family history. In particular, he was riddled with guilt over the circumstances surrounding the death of his sister. He felt enormous remorse for his selfishness and was tortured for the rest of his life by the possibility that he might have been the one who cast the spell that killed his sister. When he looked into the Mirror of Erised, he saw himself redeemed in the eyes of his brother and his entire family alive and together. ===Magical accomplishments and skills=== Since a young age, Dumbledore has always shown great magical abilities. During his education at Hogwarts, Dumbledore was known as the most brilliant student to have ever stepped into the school, winning "every prize of note that the school offered", and in his N.E.W.T.s, "...did things with a wand [the examiner had] never seen before". Rowling has said that Dumbledore is primarily self-taught, although he "had access to superb teachers at Hogwarts," and, as far as his education is concerned, "Dumbledore's family would be a profitable line of inquiry."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Spartz|first1=Emerson|first2=Melissa|last2=Anelli|url=http://www.mugglenet.com/jkrinterview3.shtml|title=MuggleNet and The Leaky Cauldron interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling: Part 3|publisher=MuggleNet|date=16 July 2005|accessdate=21 October 2007}}</ref> While he is not vain, Dumbledore also exhibits no false modesty, readily acknowledging that he is unusually intelligent and an exceptionally powerful wizard. He admits to Harry in their meeting in after the fight in the dungeons in ''Philosopher's Stone'' that he makes mistakes, and since he is smarter than most men, his mistakes "tend to be correspondingly huger." Dumbledore is an expert at nonverbal spells and is famous as an [[alchemy|alchemist]] who has worked with [[Nicolas Flamel#In popular culture|Nicolas Flamel]], the only known maker of [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Philosopher's Stone|the Philosopher's Stone]], and is credited with discovering the twelve uses of [[dragon]]'s blood. His [[Patronus Charm|Patronus]] takes the form of a [[Phoenix (mythology)|phoenix]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2004/0804-ebf.htm|title=J. K. Rowling at the Edinburgh Book Festival|publisher=Accio Quote!|date=15 August 2004|accessdate=21 October 2007}}</ref> a recurring symbol in the books. His knowledge of the most powerful kind of magic, love, is extensive. He taught Harry Potter the very essence, and the innate power of his ability to love his parents, which eventually helped Harry realize his destiny to kill Lord Voldemort He is known to be able to conjure [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Gubraithian fire|Gubraithian fire]] (magical everlasting fire). He has claimed to be able to become invisible without using an [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Invisibility Cloaks|invisibility cloak]], which is a powerful Disillusionment Charm. Dumbledore is also skilled in [[Legilimency|Occlumency]] and [[Legilimency]]. Dumbledore is an expert at Transfiguration too, having taught the subject before becoming headmaster. He frequently creates complex objects like sofa chairs out of thin air (or from less comfortable chairs). Dumbledore is also proficient at Charms and Potions; according to the obituary written by [[Elphias Doge]], his papers were published in journals such as ''Achievements in Charming'' and ''The Practical Potioneer''. Dumbledore is famous for defeating Grindelwald, who is second on a list of Most Dangerous Dark Wizards of All Time only to Voldemort himself, in a "spectacular duel of legend", succeeding in doing so despite the fact that Grindelwald possessed the Elder Wand, which supposedly guarantees invincibility in duels due to its power. His skill at dueling is further shown when he calmly engages Voldemort in ''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'', overpowering him and eventually forcing him to possess Harry to be spared from total defeat. This victory is all the more impressive when one considers the fact that Voldemort himself acknowledged that Dumbledore was not even dueling to kill during their battle. Unlike most wizards who make a distinct popping sound when they apparate Dumbledore notably is able to apparate silently; the only other wizard shown to possess this skill is Voldemort. Dumbledore is known to be able to speak Mermish and [[Gobbledygook#Cultural influence|Gobbledegook]] (Goblin language),.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080214064648/http://www.bloomsbury.com/harrypotter/content.asp?sec=3&sec2=1 "Webchat with J.K. Rowling"], Harry Potter at Bloomsbury, 30 July 2007. Retrieved on 21 October 2007.</ref> Dumbledore's self-proclaimed proudest accomplishment, however, was being featured on a Famous Wizards Chocolate Frog Card.<ref name="wizard of the month" /> ===Possessions=== Dumbledore's office houses "a number of curious [...] instruments." Among them is a [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Pensieve|Pensieve]], a stone receptacle used to store and review memories, which witches and wizards are able to extract from their heads as a type of fluid. Harry first discovers this device in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire|Goblet of Fire]]'', and it is frequently used for [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]] scenes throughout the remainder of the series. In the first chapter of ''Philosopher's Stone'', Dumbledore is seen using the [[Deluminator]], a device for removing and later returning light, and for use as a homing device. It is confirmed in ''Deathly Hallows'' when the object is inherited by Ron that the Deluminator is of Dumbledore's own design. Dumbledore is the possessor and master of the [[Elder Wand]], an extremely powerful object known also as the "Wand of Destiny" or the "Deathstick", and one of the [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Deathly Hallows|Deathly Hallows]]. Unlike many of the wand's previous owners, Dumbledore keeps its identity a closely guarded secret. He also has a pet [[Phoenix (mythology)|phoenix]] named [[Magical creatures (Harry Potter)#Fawkes|Fawkes]]. It is revealed in ''Goblet of Fire'' that two of Fawkes' feathers form the magical cores of both Harry's and Voldemort's [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Wand|wands]]. ==Family== Through various interviews and discussions about the character, Rowling has established that Albus Dumbledore was born in July or August<ref>"Birthdate: 1881 (JKR), probably in July or August. This date supersedes Rowling's statement in 2001 that Dumbledore was "about 150 years old" (Blue Nose Day) and fits better with the dates that appear in Book 7. Regarding his month of birth, [[Rita Skeeter]] states in ''The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore'' that Dumbledore was "nearing" his 18th birthday when he left Hogwarts in June, but was still 17 when he met Grindelwald (DH18). Basically, at some point during Grindelwald’s stay at Godric’s Hollow Dumbledore turned 18, so the month of his birth appears to be July or August." [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/dumbledore.html] retrieved 10 July 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.hp-lexicon.org/timelines/timeline_dumbledore.html Time Line of Dumbledore's Life] retrieved July-09-2008</ref> 1881<ref>{{cite web | author=J.K. Rowling | title = J.K. Rowling Official Site | url = http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/wotm.cfm | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080331191355/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/wotm.cfm | archivedate = 31 March 2008 }} </ref> to Percival and Kendra Dumbledore.<ref name="scholastic" /> The character had previously referenced his brother Aberforth, and in ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'', it is revealed that Albus is three years older than Aberforth. The same book established their sister Ariana who, at six years old, suffered a vicious attack by three male Muggle youths who had witnessed her doing magic. Frightened, they first tried to get her to repeat what they had seen, and upon her failure to recreate it due to her young age, they tried to stop her from being "different". It is not explicitly stated in the novel what form this attack took, but Percival was sentenced to life in Azkaban for tracking down and hexing the boys who seriously traumatised his daughter. The severe [[Post-traumatic stress disorder|trauma]] of the attack left Ariana unable to function socially or to properly perform magic again. To prevent her being institutionalised in [[St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries|St. Mungo's Hospital]], or hurting someone accidentally with her uncontrolled magic, Kendra moved the family to Godric's Hollow, and her illness was concealed. Neighbours assumed that Ariana was a non-magical [[Blood purity (Harry Potter)#Squibs|squib]]. When Dumbledore and his friend [[Order of the Phoenix (organisation)#Original|Elphias Doge]] left Hogwarts, they planned to take their "then-traditional" [[Grand Tour|tour of the world]]. On the eve of their trip, the eighteen-year-old Dumbledore suffered the death of his mother Kendra, who was accidentally killed by Ariana during one of her uncontrolled outbursts of magic. Because Dumbledore's parents were absent (his father in Azkaban and his mother dead), Albus became the head of the family and it became his duty to put food on the table, as they were not left with much gold. He was forced to remain in his house with his sister Ariana while Aberforth completed his education. Aberforth knew of his brother's resentment and offered to care for Ariana himself, saying that she preferred him, but Albus refused by stating that it was his duty as eldest to care for the family. When Grindelwald arrived at Godric's Hollow, he immediately became friends with Dumbledore and together dreamed of a new world order in which wizards ruled over muggles "for the greater good". Dumbledore and Grindelwald suggested that they had to move to carry on their plans, but Aberforth refused because Ariana's state did not allow her to be moved. The discussion between Albus, Aberforth and Grindelwald turned into a duel that resulted in Ariana's accidental death. According to the author, as a result of this incident, Albus's [[Boggart (Harry Potter)|boggart]] became Ariana's corpse.<ref>[http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcript J. K. Rowling Web Chat Transcript] – The Leaky Cauldron</ref> In ''Philosopher's Stone'', he mentions to Harry that the deepest desire of his heart, revealed by the Mirror of Erised, is to have a pair of woollen socks. In the seventh novel, Harry realises that he and Dumbledore see the same thing in the Mirror: their reunited families. ==Reception== The character of Albus Dumbledore has been compared to other [[Jungian archetypes|archetypal]] "[[wise old man]]" characters. Dumbledore acts much like [[Merlin]] from ''[[The Sword in the Stone]]'', in the manner of an "[[absent-minded professor]]";<ref>{{cite web|title=Real Wizards: The Search for Harry's Ancestors|publisher=Channel4.com|url=http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/R/real_wizards/myth.htm |year=2001|accessdate=1 June 2007}}{{dead link|date=March 2011}}</ref> both Merlin and Dumbledore educate a story's main character in a castle. As writer Evelyn Perry notes, "Dumbledore resembles Merlin both personally and physically; he is an avid lover of books and wisdom who wears flowing robes and a long, white beard."<ref>{{cite web|title=Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Novel|author=Evelyn M Perry|publisher=Farmingham State College|url=http://www.aolatschool.com/students/books/booknotes/_a/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone/20060103193609990005| accessdate=1 June 2007}}{{dead link|date=March 2011}}</ref> Dumbledore has also been compared with Gandalf from [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien's]] ''[[The Lord of the Rings|Lord of the Rings]]''.<ref>{{cite web|date = 24 November 2007|author=Sue|title=Gandalf vs Dumbledore: Ian McKellen Talks Wizards|url=http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/11/24/gandalf-vs-dumbledore-ian-mckellan-talks-wizards|work=The Leaky Cauldron}}</ref> Dave Kopel draws comparisons between Rowling's writing and [[John Bunyan]]'s ''[[The Pilgrim’s Progress]]'' and states that, among the Christian symbols that Rowling has used in her books, Dumbledore acts like "the bearded God the Father" figure in which Harry puts his faith to be saved from Voldemort and his servants.<ref>{{cite web|title=Some Random Facts About The Weasley Family|author=J.K. Rowling|publisher=J.K. Rowling Official Site|url=http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=7|accessdate=10 July 2007}}</ref> [[IGN]] also listed Dumbledore as their fourth favourite ''Harry Potter'' character, saying that "[f]or a character that was introduced into popular culture a mere twelve years ago, it speaks volumes that Professor Dumbledore has already taken his place among the great mentor figures in literature and film".<ref name="IGN Top">{{cite web|url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/100/1002569p5.html|title=Top 25 Harry Potter Characters|author=Brian Linder, Phil Pirrello, Eric Goldman, Matt Fowler|date=14 July 2009|work=[[IGN]]|accessdate=3 April 2011}}</ref> IGN's Joe Utichi called Dumbledore his third favourite ''Harry Potter'' character, calling the revelation that he wasn't so "infallible" one of the most heartbreaking themes of the final book.<ref name="Joe Top">{{cite web |url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/113/1132181p2.html |title=The Top 10 Harry Potter Characters |author=Joe Utichi |date=3 November 2010 |work=[[IGN]] |accessdate=3 April 2011}}</ref> As a main character of the series, major facts relating to Dumbledore have generated a vast number of essays and discussions. The death of Dumbledore at the end of ''Half-Blood Prince'' was discussed by fans and critics alike. A website named DumbledoreIsNotDead.com sought to understand the events of the sixth book in a different way and provided arguments to claim that the character did not really die.<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Haber|url=http://www.beyondhogwarts.com/harry-potter/articles/dumbledore-is-not-dead.html|title=Dumbledore Is Not Dead!|publisher=Beyond Hogwarts|date=19 July 2005|accessdate=21 March 2011}}</ref> However, Rowling confirmed on 2 August 2006 that Dumbledore was, in fact, dead, humorously apologising to the website as she did so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hpana.com/news.19531.html|title=Dumbledore 'definitely' dead, says Rowling|publisher=HPANA|date=2 August 2006|accessdate=21 March 2011}}</ref> Along with DumbledoreIsNotDead.com, a collection of essays, ''Who Killed Albus Dumbledore?: What Really Happened in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? Six Expert Harry Potter Detectives Examine the Evidence'', was published by Zossima Press in November 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Who-Killed-Albus-Dumbledore-Half-Blood/dp/0972322116|title=Who Killed Albus Dumbledore?: What Really Happened in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? Six Expert Harry Potter Detectives Examine the Evidence|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=21 March 2011}}</ref> In NextMovie.com's ''Harry Potter'' Mega Poll, Dumbledore's death was voted as the most unforgettable moment in the whole series.<ref name="MegaPoll">{{cite web|url=http://www.nextmovie.com/blog/harry-potter-poll-results/|title='Harry Potter' Mega Poll: The Mega Results!|author=Scott Harris|date=14 July 2011|work=NextMovie.com|accessdate=25 July 2011}}</ref> ===Sexuality=== {{See also|Religious debates over the Harry Potter series#Dumbledore's sexual orientation|l1=Religious debates over Dumbledore's sexual orientation}} Rowling's statement about Dumbledore's sexuality caused a great debate among critics. Melissa Anelli, webmaster of the fan site [[The Leaky Cauldron (website)|The Leaky Cauldron]], told [[The Associated Press]], "J.K. Rowling calling any ''Harry Potter'' character gay would make wonderful strides in tolerance toward homosexuality.... By dubbing someone so respected, so talented and so kind, as someone who just happens to be also homosexual, she’s reinforcing the idea that a person’s gayness is not something of which they should be ashamed."<ref>{{cite web |title=Dumbledore’s outing gives text new meaning |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21407911/ |date=21 October 2007 |publisher=MSNBC |accessdate=4 August 2009}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s Mark Harris said "her choice to make a beloved professor-mentor gay in a world where gay teachers are still routinely [[slander]]ed as malign influences was, I am certain, no accident."<ref>{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Evans|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20154416,00.html|title=Dumbledore: A Lovely Outing|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=30 October 2007|accessdate=21 March 2011}}</ref> The stars and director of the ''Harry Potter'' films were generally supportive of Dumbledore's "[[outing]]" as well.<ref>{{cite web|first=Tim|last=Masters|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7085863.stm|title=Potter stars react to gay twist|publisher=BBC |date=12 November 2007|accessdate=21 March 2011}}</ref> Some critics argued that Dumbledore's sexuality might not be considered [[canon (fiction)|canon]]. ''[[New York Times]]'' columnist Edward Rothstein said that "Ms. Rowling may think of Dumbledore as gay"; however, "there is no reason why anyone else should".<ref>{{cite web|title=Is Dumbledore Gay? Depends on Definitions of 'Is' and 'Gay'|first=Edward|last=Rothstein|date=29 October 2007|work=The New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/29/arts/29conn.html?_r=1|accessdate=29 October 2007}}</ref> According to John Mark Reynolds, assistant professor of philosophy at [[Biola University]] and the founder of [[Torrey Honors Institute]], "there is just no way to know this “fact” about Dumbledore from the books. It is not there, it is not relevant, and Rowling’s opinions about her characters are now only of historical interest".<ref>{{cite web|title=Dumbledore is not gay: Taking stories more seriously than the author|first=John Mark|last=Reynolds|date=23 October 2007|work=Scriptorium Daily|url=http://www.scriptoriumdaily.com/2007/10/23/dumbledore-is-not-gay-taking-stories-more-seriously-than-the-author/|accessdate=23 October 2007}}</ref> Others doubted that Rowling's claim was true to her original intent, and some even considered it a publicity stunt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.www.easttennessean.com/media/storage/paper203/news/2007/10/22/Viewpoint/the-Life.And.Lies.Of.Albus.Dumbledore-3047947.shtml|title=The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore|publisher=East Tennessean|date=22 October 2007|accessdate=21 March 2011}}</ref> ''[[Slate Magazine]]'' quotes an attendee of the book talk who said, "It was clear that JKR didn't plan to out Dumbledore. She just cares about being true to her readers."<ref>{{cite web|first=Laurel|last=Wamsley|title=Bloggerson Stephen Colbert's presidential run|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2176455/|work=Slate Magazine|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071024135043/http://www.slate.com/id/2176455/| archivedate = 24 October 2007}}</ref> On the other hand, Mike Thomas of the ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' said that upon reflection, Dumbledore was gay from the beginning, and that this neatly explains the behaviour of his character and his relationship with Grindelwald. Thomas notes the skill Rowling displays in writing a gay character without having to put a gay label on him.<ref>{{cite web|first=Mike|last=Thomas|url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_columnist_mikethomas/2007/10/so-dumbledore-i.html|title=So Dumbledore is Gay|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=22 October 2007|accessdate=21 March 2011}}</ref> Linda Harvey, the president of [[Mission America (Columbus, Ohio)|Mission America]], asked, "Will we allow our kids to believe it would be perfectly appropriate for the headmaster of any school to be homosexual?"<ref name=harvey>{{cite web|title=Christian parents: Stop trusting Harry Potter|author=Linda Harvey|publisher=WorldNetDaily|date=24 October 2007|url=http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58299|accessdate=26 October 2007}}</ref> Roberta Combs, president of the [[Christian Coalition of America]], said that "It's very disappointing that the author would have to make one of the characters gay" and that "It's not a good example for our children, who really like the books and the movies. I think it encourages homosexuality."<ref name=coalition>{{cite news|title=JK Rowling under fire from US Bible belt after outing Dumbledore as gay|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=490261&in_page_id=1811|work=The Daily Mail|accessdate=31 October 2007 | location=London | date=28 October 2007}}</ref> ==In popular culture== Dumbledore has been parodied in several sketches and animated series. In the series ''[[Wizards of Waverly Place]]'', the episodes "Wizard School Part 1" and "Wizard School Part 2" feature Alex and Justin Russo going to a wizarding summer school called Wiz-tech, in which Headmaster Crumbs is based on Dumbledore.<ref>{{cite web|title="Wizards of Waverly Place" Wizard School (2008)|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045552/|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=17 May 2008}}</ref> In ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[The Haw-Hawed Couple]]", [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] asks [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] to read her Angelica Button book to her for bedtime. Homer, learning that the character Headmaster Greystash will die (as Dumbledore did in ''Half-Blood Prince''), hides the fact from Lisa by inventing a happier ending, though Lisa does read the real ending and decides that Homer's was better.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Haw-Hawed Couple Epison Recap|publisher=tv.com|url=http://www.tv.com/the-simpsons/the-haw-hawed-couple/episode/914674/recap.html|accessdate=15 July 2007}}</ref> Dumbledore also stars in [[Neil Cicierega]]'s ''Potter Puppet Pals'', in which a running gag in half of the episodes has been Dumbledore stripping completely naked except for hat randomly in the story. Also, in half of the "Potter Puppet Pals" videos Dumbledore is using the exclamation "Alas!" in an apparently incorrect place, parodying Rowling's love for unusual words. In the episode "Ron's Disease", Dumbledore reveals himself to be "a gay android".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Potter Puppet Pals|url=http://www.potterpuppetpals.com|publisher=The Potter Puppet Pals Official Website|accessdate=15 July 2007}}</ref> In the ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' episode "Password: Swordfish", when the threat of the puberty creature Pubertis is known, Dumbledore gives Harry a stone that might help him fight Pubertis. Upon confrontation with Pubertis, Harry rubs the stone two times, which summons ghosts to punch it. When it comes to the third time, Dumbledore appears and tells Harry that the stone can only be warmed up three times a day (four if he takes a week off) and that Pubertis cannot be destroyed since it lives in everyone. In 2003, [[Comic Relief (charity)|Comic Relief]] performed a spoof story called ''Harry Potter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan'', in which Dumbledore is portrayed by [[Nigel Planer]], who wore the beard and costume of late [[Richard Harris (actor)|Richard Harris]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Harry Potter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan|publisher=tv.com|url=http://www.tv.com/french-and-saunders/harry-potter-and-the-secret-chamberpot-of-azerbaijan/episode/255720/summary.html|accessdate=8 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=French and Saunders: Harry Potter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan|publisher=.frenchandsaunders.com|url=http://www.frenchandsaunders.com/rnd03/lineup/0302192116.shtml|date=19 February 2003|accessdate=8 July 2007}}</ref> Dumbledore also appears in the ''Harry Bladder'' sketches in ''[[All That]]'', portrayed by [[Kenan Thompson]]'s old character Headmaster Pimpell. After the revelation of Dumbledore's sexuality, the American skit comedy ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' featured a sketch featuring Rowling (played by [[Amy Poehler]]) showing deleted scenes from ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' where Dumbledore (played by [[Bill Hader]]) acts stereotypically gay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billhaderonline.com/main/2007/11/04/brian-williams-on-snl-videos/#more-155|title=SNL Videos|publisher=Bill Hader Online|accessdate=3 April 2011}}</ref> In ''[[A Very Potter Musical]]'', Dumbledore is played by actor Dylan Saunders. ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== {{Portal|Harry Potter|Fictional characters}} {{Wikipedia-Books|Harry Potter}} {{hpw|Albus Dumbledore}} * [http://www.accio-quote.org/themes/dumbledore.htm J. K. Rowling quotes about Dumbledore at Accio-Quote.org] * [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/dumbledore.html Dumbledore's page] at the [[Harry Potter Lexicon]] * [http://www.newsweek.com/id/50787 J. K. Rowling defines Dumbledore's sexuality] {{harrypotter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2011}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dumbledore, Albus}} [[Category:Harry Potter characters]] [[Category:Fictional characters introduced in 1997]] [[Category:Fictional English people]] [[Category:Fictional gay males]] [[Category:Fictional principals]] {{Link FA|ar}} {{Link FA|ms}} [[ar:ألباس دمبلدور]] [[bn:অ্যালবাস ডাম্বলডোর]] [[bs:Albus Dumbledore]] [[br:Albus Dumbledore]] [[bg:Албус Дъмбълдор]] [[ca:Albus Dumbledore]] [[cs:Albus Brumbál]] [[da:Albus Dumbledore]] [[de:Figuren der Harry-Potter-Romane#Albus Dumbledore]] [[et:Albus Dumbledore]] [[el:Άλμπους Ντάμπλντορ]] [[es:Albus Dumbledore]] [[eu:Albus Dumbledore]] [[fa:آلبوس دامبلدور]] [[fr:Albus Dumbledore]] [[ga:Albus Dumbledore]] [[gl:Albus Dumbledore]] [[ko:알버스 덤블도어]] [[hi:ऐल्बस डम्बल्डोर]] [[hr:Albus Dumbledore]] [[id:Albus Dumbledore]] [[ia:Albus Dumbledore]] [[is:Albus Dumbledore]] [[it:Albus Silente]] [[he:אלבוס דמבלדור]] [[ka:ალბუს დამბლდორი]] [[la:Albus Dumbledore]] [[lv:Baltuss Dumidors]] [[lt:Albas Dumbldoras]] [[hu:Albus Dumbledore]] [[mk:Албус Дамблдор]] [[ml:ഹാരി പോട്ടർ#ആൽബസ് ഡംബിൾഡോർ]] [[mr:आल्बस डंबलडोर]] [[ms:Albus Dumbledore]] [[nl:Albus Perkamentus]] [[ja:アルバス・ダンブルドア]] [[no:Albus Humlesnurr]] [[uz:Albus Dambldor]] [[pl:Albus Dumbledore]] [[pt:Albus Dumbledore]] [[ro:Albus Dumbledore]] [[ru:Альбус Дамблдор]] [[sq:Albus Dumbledore]] [[simple:Harry Potter#Main characters]] [[sk:Albus Dumbledore]] [[sl:Albus Dumbledore]] [[sr:Албус Дамблдор]] [[sh:Albus Dumbledore]] [[fi:Albus Dumbledore]] [[sv:Albus Dumbledore]] [[tt:Альбус Дамблдор]] [[th:อัลบัส ดัมเบิลดอร์]] [[tr:Albus Dumbledore]] [[uk:Албус Дамблдор]] [[vi:Albus Dumbledore]] [[bat-smg:Albs Dumblduors]] [[zh:阿不思·鄧不利多]]'