Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid throughout the entirety of the Harry Potter franchise, has died at age 72.
Robbie Coltrane’s career as an actor began in 1979, appearing in the TV series Play for Today. Some 20 years later, he would star in his first Harry Potter movie as the beloved Hagrid, a character that became inseparable from his performance to many viewers as he continued to play him through seven more films.
Coltrane also starred as Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky in the James Bond films Goldeneye and The World’s Not Enough. He appeared in Nuns on the Run, Ocean’s Twelve, and Mona Lisa. Coltrane was well known as the forensic psychologist Dr. Edward ‘Fitz’ Coltrane in the series Cracker.
In a statement, his agent Belinda Wright confirmed the actor died in a hospital near Falkirk in Scotland.
Wright described Coltrane as a “unique talent”, adding his role as Hagrid “brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world”.
“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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Stephen Fry made a tribute to the actor, tweeting: “Such depth, power and talent: funny enough to cause helpless hiccups and honking as we made our first TV show Alfresco. Farewell, old fellow, you’ll be so dreadfully missed.”
Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon described Coltrane’s death as “very sad news”.
“He had such range and depth as an actor, from brilliant comedy to hard-edged drama. I think my favourite of all his roles was Fitz in Cracker,” she said.
“Robbie Coltrane, Scottish entertainment legend – you will be hugely missed. RIP.”
