He was nominated for a 2003 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actor of 2002 for his performance in "A Number" at the Royal Court Theatre Downstairs.

Auditioned for the role of James Bond after George Lazenby left the series, but was turned down because they didn't want to hire another unknown.

He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1988 (1987 season) for Best Actor in a New Play for his performance in "A View from the Bridge".

In 2007 he was nominated for Best Actor at the ESB/Irish Times Theatre awards for his role in the stage adaptation of Samuel Becketts Eh Joe.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1997 Tony Award as Best Actor (Play) for "Skylight."

After going round the final corner of the "Top Gear" (1978) test track on two wheels during their Star In A Reasonably Priced Car segment, the corner was named after him.

He has twice played two roles previously played by Richard Harris. The character of Jules Maigret, which Richard Harris played in a 1988 TV movie and secondly Albus Dumbledore of the Harry Potter Movies.

An Associate Member of RADA.

Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

He was awarded the 1995 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance in Volpone.

He was nominated for a 1998 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actor of the 1997 season for his performance in "Tom and Clem" at the Aldwych Theatre.

He was awarded the 1987 London Evening Standard Theate Award for Best Actor for his performance in A View from the Bridge.

He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 2001 (2000 season) for Best Actor for his performance in "The Caretaker" at the Comedy Theatre.

Graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London, England.

He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1986 (1985 season) for Best Comedy Performance for "A Chorus of Disapproval".

He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1999 (1998 season) for Best Actor for his performance in "The Unexpected Man".

Antique weapon enthusiast.

In 2002, was named the successor to the late Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series. His Potter debut will be in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).

He was awarded the 1990 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Best Actor for his performance in Man of the Moment.

He was awarded the 2000 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama) for Best Actor for his performance in The Caretaker at the Comedy Theatre and Cressida at the Albery Theatre.

Holds a private pilot's license and flies his own plane regularly when not filming on location.

For years he used to carry around what he said was a signed photograph of Robert De Niro, claiming to have met him, though the two had never in fact met. In The Good Shepherd (2006), he is directed by DeNiro.