Robbie Coltrane dead – Harry Potter’s Hagrid dies aged 72 as tributes pour in for Brit
LEGENDARY Brit actor Robbie Coltrane has died at the age of 72.
The national treasure, best known for playing the beloved Hogwarts gamekeeper Hagrid in Harry Potter, died in hospital in Scotland, his agent said on Friday.
Coltrane gained worldwide recognition as the gentle giant in all eight Harry Potter films and as Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky in the James Bond films GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough.
He rose to fame as a hard-bitten detective in the 1990s series Cracker, for which he won best actor at the British Academy Television Awards three years running.
His agent Belinda Wright confirmed his death and paid tribute to the “forensically intelligent” and “brilliantly witty” actor.
She said: “Robbie was a unique talent, sharing the Guinness Book of Records’ Award for winning three consecutive Best Actor Baftas for his portrayal of Fitz in Granada TV’s series Cracker in 1994, 1995 and 1996 with Sir Michael Gambon.
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“He will probably be best remembered for decades to come as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, a role which brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world, prompting a stream of fan letters every week for over 20 years.”
She added: “James Bond fans write too to applaud his role in GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough.
“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.”
Belinda thanked the medical staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, near Falkirk in Scotland, for their “care and diplomacy”.
He died after a long health battle that left him wheelchair-bound and “in pain 24 hours a day”.
The actor is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his children Spencer and Alice and their mum Rhona Gemmell.
Coltrane 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.
Celebrated across the globe as an icon of both TV and film, tributes have poured in for the legend.
JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, described him as an “incredible talent”.
“I’ll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again,” she said.
“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.”
Daniel Radcliffe remembered his Harry Potter co-star as “one of the funniest people” and an “incredible actor”.
The actor, who starred in the lead role in the series, said: “Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the 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.”
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
JK Rowling
Emma Watson said the actor “made it a joy to be Hermione” in a heartfelt tribute alongside a picture of the two of them.
“Robbie was like the most fun uncle I’ve ever had but most of all he was deeply caring, and compassionate towards me as a child and an adult,” she said.
“His talent was so immense it made sense he played a giant – he could fill ANY space with his brilliance.
“Robbie, if I ever get to be so kind as you were to me on a film set I promise I’ll do it in your name and memory.
“Know how much I adore and admire you. I’ll really miss your sweetness, your nicknames, your warmth, your laughs and your hugs. You made us a family. Know you were that to us.
“There was no better Hagrid. You made it a joy to be Hermione.”
James Phelps, who starred alongside Coltrane as Fred Weasley in the films, recalled his first memory of the actor as he paid tribute.
“I will miss the random chats about all subjects under the sun,” he said.
“And I’ll never forget in September 2000, Robbie Coltrane came over to a very nervous 14yr old me on my 1st ever day on a movie set and said ‘Enjoy it, you’ll be great’. Thank you for that.”
Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, said: “He didn’t give a f**k and it always made you smile. A giant, in more ways than one. We had some times x”
Tom Felton, who starred as Draco Malfoy, paid tribute to the “big friendly giant”.
“One of my fondest memories of filming Harry Potter was a night shoot on the first film in the forbidden forest,” Felton said.
“I was 12. Robbie cared & looked after everyone around of him. Effortlessly. And made them laugh. Effortlessly.
“He was a big friendly giant on screen but even more so in real life.”
‘MAGNIFICENT’
Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley, said she was “heartbroken” by the news.
“Hagrid was my favourite character! Robbie portrayed Hagrid’s warmth, sense of home & unconditional love for his students and magical creatures so brilliantly,” she said.
“Thanks for all the laughter. Miss you Robbie.”
And the official Twitter account for the Harry Potter films said the team was “hugely saddened” by the death of the “magnificent” Coltrane.
“He was a wonderful actor, a friend to all and he will be deeply missed,” the message said.
Stephen Fry hailed the acting legend’s “depth, power and talent”.
He said: “I first met Robbie Coltrane almost exactly 40 years ago.
“I was awe/terror/love struck all at the same time.
“Such depth, power & talent: funny enough to cause helpless hiccups & honking as we made our first TV show, Alfresco.
“Farewell, old fellow. You’ll be so dreadfully missed.”
Tony Robinson, who starred alongside Coltrane in Blackadder, said: “Robbie! You were such a sweet man and so talented as a comic and as a straight actor.
“‘Dictionary’ was my favourite episode of the Adder ever and it was all down to you mate. Rest well x”
The official Twitter account for James Bond said Coltrane’s death is “a tragic loss to the world”.
Born Anthony Robert McMillan in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, on March 30, 1950, Coltrane was the son of teacher and pianist Jean Ross and general practitioner Ian Baxter McMillan.
He was educated at independent school Glenalmond College in Perth and Kinross.
It was not until he was in his 20s that he moved into acting – which prompted him to take the stage name Coltrane – a tribute to jazz saxophonist John Coltrane.
After working in theatre and comedy, he got a role in the BBC comedy series A Kick Up The Eighties, and starred in The Comic Strip Presents movies The Supergrass and The Pope Must Die.
He also memorably appeared as dictionary creator Samuel Johnson in Blackadder The Third in 1987 before reuniting with the cast for the 1988 special Blackadder’s Christmas Carol.
It wasn’t until his performance as a Russian crime boss in the Bond films that he became internationally-known.
It led to him securing his beloved role as Hagrid in Harry Potter – for which he was personally selected by author JK Rowling.
The 6ft 1ins actor is said to have only taken the role of the giant after his children urged him to.
After receiving an OBE award from the Queen in 2006, he said: “Once you’ve been doing anything for 25 years people start to notice you.
I’ve been fortunate enough to be connected with a lot of really important moments in drama, and then there is Harry Potter, obviously
Robbie Coltrane
“What was really nice about the OBE is that it’s the first award where I didn’t have to make a speech and I didn’t have to sit there waiting to see if I’d won, I knew I was going to get it.”
In an interview with The Scotsman in 2014, Coltrane revealed he was writing his own memoirs after reaching a reflective stage in his life.
“I just think I’ve lived such an interesting life. I’ve written three books, I’ve made more than 700 hours of television, I’ve made 78 movies, I’ve made a lot,” he said.
“I’ve lived in New York, I was in Britain when alternative comedy happened, I was in Tutti Frutti, I was in Cracker, I’ve been fortunate enough to be connected with a lot of really important moments in drama, and then there is Harry Potter, obviously.”
In January 2015, he was taken to a Florida hospital after experiencing flu-like symptoms on a transatlantic flight.
After a break from television, he returned to the screen in 2016 for the Channel 4 drama National Treasure, where he played a comedian accused of raping a 15-year-old girl several years earlier.
In his later years, he appeared less frequently in film and television, but returned for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts.
He spoke of how his legacy as Hagrid would live long beyond him.
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“The legacy of the movies is that my children’s generation will show it to their children, so you could be watching it in 50 years’ time easy,” he said.
“I’ll not be here sadly… but Hagrid will.”