October 1, 1930

On this day in 1930, Richard Harris, famous for his portrayal of King Arthur in 1967’s Camelot and Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films, was born in Limerick, Ireland. Harris attended the Jesuit Crescent College. He had a promising career as a rugby player but fell ill with tuberculosis. He hoped to become a director and directed his first production, Odet’s “Winter Journey.” It was praised by critics but flopped financially. Harris ended up homeless for a brief time after this, but eventually returned to the stage, acting in smaller roles. He got his first Hollywood debut in 1958’s Alive and Kicking. He starred in 1963’s This Sporting Life. Harris died just before the premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.