Sir Michael began his acting career more than 60 years ago, and was one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre alongside Laurence Olivier.

According to the statement, he died peacefully in the hospital from pneumonia, surrounded by his family.

He is best known for playing Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore in a number of the Harry Potter films.

Sir Michael was a decorated, and accomplished star of stage and screen, winning Oliviers, BAFTAs and Emmys in his six-decades-long career.

He made his acting debut in a production of Othello in Dublin in 1962, quickly joining the National Theatre in London, and going on to work on stages around the UK, in New York and Germany