Millicent Cooke
Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane, who starred as Hagrid in the popular wizarding movies, has died aged 72.
The James Bond actor passed away in hospital near his home in Larbert, Scotland, his agent told Deadline.
Coltrane’s most famous role was as the loveable giant, Rubeus Hagrid, in the Harry Potter films.
He began with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 2001 and reprised his role in the fantasy short film Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure in 2019.
Coltrane was also known for his role as criminal psychologist Dr Eddie ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald in the crime drama Cracker.
The actor also starred in two James Bond films as Valentin Zukovsky in GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough.
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Tributes have been flooding in for the beloved actor.
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe paid tribute to Coltrane in a statement, saying: “Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on that set.
“I’ve especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on Prisoner of Azkaban, when we were all hiding from the torrential rain for hours in Hagrid’s hut and he was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up.
“I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he’s passed.
“He was an incredible actor and a lovely man.”
I'll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again. He was an incredible talent, a complete one off, and I was beyond fortunate to know him, work with him and laugh my head off with him. I send my love and deepest condolences to his family, above all his children. pic.twitter.com/tzpln8hD9z
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 14, 2022
‘Harry Potter’ author JK Rowling said: “I’ll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again.
“He was an incredible talent, a complete one-off, and I was beyond fortunate to know him, work with him and laugh my head off with him.
“I send my love and deepest condolences to his family, above all his children.”
Actor Stephen Fry said: “Such depth, power and talent: funny enough to cause helpless hiccups and honking as we made our first TV show.
“Farewell, old fellow, you’ll be so dreadfully missed.”
Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said Coltrane’s death was ‘very sad news’.
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Sturgeon said: “He had such range and depth as an actor, from brilliant comedy to hard-edged drama.
“Robbie Coltrane, Scottish entertainment legend – you will be hugely missed. RIP.”
In a statement, his agent Belinda Wright described Coltrane as a ‘unique talent’, adding his role as Hagrid ‘brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world’.
She said: “Robbie will probably be best remembered for decades to come as Hagrid… a role which brought joy to children and adults alike, prompting a stream of fan letters every week for over 20 years.
We are hugely saddened to hear of the passing of the magnificent Robbie Coltrane who played Hagrid with such kindness, heart and humour in the Harry Potter films. He was a wonderful actor, a friend to all and he will be deeply missed. pic.twitter.com/n1IshfFG6y
— Harry Potter Film (@HarryPotterFilm) October 14, 2022
“For me personally I shall remember him as an abidingly loyal client.
“As well as being a wonderful actor, he was forensically intelligent, brilliantly witty and after 40 years of being proud to be called his agent, I shall miss him.
“He is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his children Spencer and Alice and their mother Rhona Gemmell.
“They would like to thank the medical staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert for their care and diplomacy.”
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The Harry Potter actor was made an OBE in the 2006 New Year’s honours list for his services to drama and he was awarded the Bafta Scotland Award for outstanding contribution to film in 2011.
The Scottish star, whose real name is Anthony Robert McMillan, was born in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, in 1950.
Rest in peace, Robbie Coltrane.
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