Richard Harris two films which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. First, as the gunfighter "English Bob" in the Western "Unforgiven" (1992); second, as the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" (2000). He also played a lead role alongside James Earl Jones in the Darrell Roodt film adaptation of "Cry, the Beloved Country" (1995). In 1999, Harris starred in the film "To Walk with Lions". After "Gladiator", Harris played the supporting role of Albus Dumbledore in the first two of the "Harry Potter" films, and as Abbé Faria in Kevin Reynolds' film adaptation of "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Harry Potter Gilliam, Jonathan Demme, and Alan Parker were considered, Chris Columbus was appointed on 28 March 2000 as the director for "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (titled ""Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"" in the United States), with Warner Bros. citing his work on other family films such as "Home Alone" and "Mrs. Doubtfire" and proven experience with directing children as influences for their decision. After extensive casting, filming began in October 2000 at Leavesden Film Studios and in London itself, with production ending in July 2001. "Philosopher's Stone" was released on 14 November 2001. Just three days after the