Harry Potter author JK Rowling and stars from the popular film series paid tribute to Irish actor Michael Gambon, who played Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the fantasy drama, following his passing at the age of 82 on Thursday.

Actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, James Phelps and Jason Isaacs were among the actors who remembered the octogenarian on Friday as one of the most “effortless” actors.

“Michael was a wonderful man in addition to being an outstanding actor, and I absolutely loved working with him, not only on Potter but also The Casual Vacancy,” Rowling, the author of the seven-part Harry Potter novel, wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

In a statement to American entertainment magazine Variety, Daniel Radcliffe, who played the role of Harry Potter, said that Gambon was “one of the most brilliant, effortless actors”. He also mentioned that the one thing that he will remember the most about the veteran actor is “how much fun he had doing his job”.

Emma Watson, who played the role of Hermione Granger, one of Harry’s best friends in the series alongside Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), took to her Instagram stories and recalled the veteran actor’s kindness and greatness.

“Kind kind kind Michael Gambon. You never took it too seriously but somehow delivered the most serious moments with all the gravitas,” the 33-year-old wrote. “Thank you for showing us what it looks like to wear greatness lightly. We will miss you,” she added.

“So sad to hear about Michael. He brought so much warmth and mischief to every day on set,” wrote Rupert Grint on Instagram. The 35-year-old actor, who played the role of Ron Weasley, remembered how the late actor “captivated” him as a child and became a “personal role model” in his growing years.

James Phelps, who played the role of one of the Weasley twins, Fred Weasley, took to X and recalled a special moment he shared with Gambon when the duo spent a weekend going through a personal reading of the sixth Harry Potter film script. “It is a memoir I’ve always had as one of my highlights of my HP days,” he wrote.

Jason Isaacs shared how Gambon had played a major role in teaching him what acting actually is — “complex, vulnerable and utterly human”. The 60-year-old actor played the role of Lucius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy’s father, in the series.