Stop it with the...

I don't really think it's fair to say that someone is 'ruining his memory' by liking him as Dumbledore. Of course he has had other--and, to some, better--roles than Dumbledore. I don't think other people are implying that he hasn't. But anyone who is a fan of Harry Potter is naturally appreciative of Harris's performance. He really was such a great representation of the character that people have grown to love in the books. And fans tend be very critical of casting, so the fact that they appreciate his performance is a sign of praise and respect.

I remember, from reading about his death,that it was said that he had expressed great happiness about that particular role.. But for my part I enjoy his films from the 70s more ( but, then, I like many films from that period)

Very well put
I say let the people who don't want to talk about his role as Dumbledore do so, and let the people who do - do
There's such a huge Harry Potter fan base, I doubt that any number of posts telling Potter-fans to shutup will actually silence them...
Just live and let live

'Dance Magic Dance!'

To be honest, I haven't seen a lot of Richard Harris' work, so it's hard to compare or to truly appreciate his skills beyond his last few roles. I don't think people are so outrageously bewildered by his amazing skills in playing Albus Dumbledore, I think it's a little bit of everything. Personally, I'm torn between the fact that Mr. Harris played Dumbledore exactly as I imagined, and then to add to the fact that the new Dumbledore in the films is so unbelievably crap just adds to Harris' fabulous portrayal of a much loved character in many children and adults' eyes. The other thing is that in The Count of Monte Cristo (my favourite role of his) his patience, wit and calm personality as the abbe really reflects what I think is the grandfather we all secretly wished we had. Someone who seems to know all the answers, he's patient, funny, understanding and unbelievably strong despite his age. It could just be the roles, but as the other Dumbledore demonstrates (I can't for the life of me remember his name), not everyone seems to grasp how lovable and important to an audience those carefully acted qualities are.
All in all, it has nothing to do with an appreciation of skill and talent, but a simple human admiration and devotion to a written ideal come to life on the screen; this may be scoffed at by film connosieurs but I still think it means something great.

stop it, he was loved by all children for portraying albus dumbledore and may I say much better than Michael Gambón.
I'm a hugr Richard Harris fan and yes he did better roles but you can't stop admiring him for being THE albus dumbledore

DR. ASHFORD IS ALIVE!!!!

I really liked the job he did in the 1970 movie Cromwell. That's the role that usually comes to mind when I think of him. But that's probably because I haven't really followed so many of the Harry Potter films.

I don't thats quite the sentiment I'm gathering from these messages... its not that they won't remember him for anything else.... though some of the younger posters CAN'T remember him from anything else.... unless they manage to eventually get past the youthful bias against older movies that seems to exist today..

but that they think that the role of Dumbledore will be forever associated with him, and that any other actor portraying the role has the memory of Harris to contend with, as he was so excellent in the role.

I'm kind of in agreement with crazypanda20. But I'm sure it has to do, sort of, with my age, and that I grew up seeing the younger and vital Richard Harris as opposed to the aged Richard Harris.

I'm 60 now, so he was quite a bit older, but I was subject to those early roles where he was young and handsome, and I not only admired his fine acting, but had a kind of "celebrity" crush on him as well.

I haven't seen the Harry Potter movies (just not my favorite genre), but I'm sure he did a fantastic job, he always did. He probably was perfect as the character.

But, still, when I think of him, I think of his wonderful body of work. He did so much more than Dumbledore.