'Heartbroken' Michael Gambon retires from stage

Professor Dumbledore is taking his leave. Actor Michael Gambon is bidding farewell to his stage career after 53-years, as memory loss has left him unable to learn his lines.

The 74-year-old actor, who's known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the 'Harry Potter' films and has won 4 Bafta awards for TV roles, including the lead in 1980s cult hit 'The Singing Detective', said he was "heartbreaking" at his decision, the Mirror reported.

Gambon admitted to his medical problem 6 months ago while reading for a West End play, when he was forced to wear a prompt earpiece.

He said that a girl was reading him his lines through the earpiece, but he decided that it couldn't work like this, even if it broke his heart.

Gambon, who made his professional stage debut in Othello in Dublin in 1962, has been admitted to hospital twice in 2009 after he had panic attacks when he forgot his lines during rehearsals for a National Theatre production of Alan Bennett's 'The Habit of Art.'

Even though doctors have found him clear of Alzheimer's, Gambon would continue his TV and film career.