The Harry Potter films might be losing a familiar face after the future of Richard Harris' participation in the films as Prof. Albus Dumbledore came into doubt as his health begins to fail.

The Internet Movie Database site reported that Harris was admitted into a London hospital last week because of pneumonia.

The 71-year-old had finished filming his roles for "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" -- the second film in the series -- although a double had to be used for some scenes when the actor first started to get sick. Officials at Warner Bros. said they will make a decicion next month on whether or not to continue Harris in the role. The third film in the series, "The Prisoner of Azkaban," is expected to begin shooting in January.

If Harris is forced out, word is that Harry Robinson, 72, will be the new Dumbledore. Apparently, the little-known actor is almost a dopelganger of Harris, and has actually doubled for the more popular actor in films.

It has been reported that Harris only agreed to take on the role of Albus Dumbledore in the first Harry Potter film, 2001's "The Sorcerer's Stone," after his 11-year-old niece threatened never to speak to him again if he didn't.

The movie series is based on the popular children's books by British author J.K. Rowlings.