Editing Richard Harris (section)

== Illness and death ==
Harris was diagnosed with [[Hodgkin's disease]] in August 2002, reportedly after being hospitalised with [[pneumonia]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/2225585.stm |title=Entertainment &#124; Harris's Potter role unaffected by illness |publisher=BBC News |date=30 August 2002 |access-date=10 November 2012}}</ref> He died at [[University College Hospital]] in [[Bloomsbury]], London, on 25 October 2002, aged 72.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/richard-harris-dies-20021026-gdfrhy.html |title=Richard Harris dies |date=26 October 2002 |access-date=4 August 2018 |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref> Harris quipped "It was the food!" as he was wheeled out of the [[Savoy Hotel]] for the last time.<ref>{{cite web |last=deBurca Butler |first=Jonathan |title=Remembering Richard Harris – Bull, bard and boozing silverscreen superstar |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/remembering-richard-harris-bull-bard-and-boozing-silverscreen-superstar-36247119.html |website=Irish Independent |date=23 October 2017 |access-date=2 November 2022}}</ref> Harris spent his final three days in a coma.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20138440,00.html |title=Lionhearted – Death, Richard Harris |magazine=People |date=26 May 2014 |access-date=19 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204043234/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20138440,00.html |archive-date=4 February 2015 }}</ref> Harris's body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered in [[The Bahamas]], where he owned a home.<ref name="AP 2002-10-27"/><ref name="Leeman 2002"/>

Harris was a lifelong friend of actor [[Peter O'Toole]], and his family reportedly hoped that O'Toole would replace Harris as Dumbledore in ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' (2004). There were, however, concerns about insuring O'Toole for the six remaining films in the series.<ref>{{cite news |title=12 Actors Who Almost Starred In The Harry Potter Series |url=http://www.fame10.com/entertainment/12-actors-who-were-almost-cast-in-the-harry-potter-series/?streamview=all |work=Fame 10 |access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref> Harris was ultimately succeeded as Dumbledore by [[Michael Gambon]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9733802/Michael-Gambon-receives-Richard-Harris-Award-and-admits-...-all-I-did-was-copy-him-as-Dumbledore.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9733802/Michael-Gambon-receives-Richard-Harris-Award-and-admits-...-all-I-did-was-copy-him-as-Dumbledore.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Michael Gambon receives Richard Harris Award and admits ... all I did was copy him as Dumbledore |date=9 December 2012 |access-date=9 September 2018 |newspaper=[[Telegraph (newspaper)|Telegraph]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus]], director of the first two ''Harry Potter'' films, had visited Harris during his last days and had promised not to recast Dumbledore, confident of his eventual recovery. In a 2021 interview with ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', Columbus revealed that Harris was writing an autobiography during his stay at the hospital, but it has not been published since.<ref name="ColumbusTHR">{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Lexy |date=11 November 2021 |title='Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' Turns 20: Director Chris Columbus Reflects on Pressures to Adapt Book and Hopes to Direct 'Cursed Child' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/chris-columbus-harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-20th-anniversary-1235034578/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111181757/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/chris-columbus-harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-20th-anniversary-1235034578/ |archive-date=11 November 2021 |access-date=15 November 2021 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>