Robbie Coltrane, who was 72 years old and played Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies, has died. He was also in the ITV detective show Cracker, and the James Bond movies Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough.
In a statement, his agent Belinda Wright said the actor had died in a hospital near Falkirk in Scotland. She called Coltrane a “unique talent” and said that his role as Hagrid “brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world.”
“I will remember him as a client who was always loyal to me. He was a great actor, but he was also brilliant and funny. After 40 years of being proud to be called his agent, I will miss him.
“His sister Annie Rae, his children Spencer and Alice, and their mother Rhona Gemmell are the only ones who will remember him. They want to thank the doctors and nurses at the Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert for the care and kindness they showed.
“Please respect Robbie’s family’s privacy at this distressing time.” Coltrane was given an OBE in the 2006 New Year’s honours list for his work in theatre, and in 2011 he was given the Bafta Scotland Award for his work in film.
Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, wrote a statement about Coltrane that said: “Robbie was one of the funniest people I have ever met. When we were kids on that set, we would laugh all the time because of him.
“I will always remember how he kept us laughing and cheered us up during Prisoner of Azkaban, when we had to hide from the rain for hours in Hagrid’s hut, and he kept us laughing by telling stories and making jokes. “I feel fortunate to have met and worked with him, and I am unfortunate that he is gone.
He was a great actor and a nice person.” Emma Watson, who was also in the Harry Potter movies, said, “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.”
Robbie Coltrane’s passing is a tragic loss to the world. He was an exceptional actor whose talent knew no bounds. He was beloved to Bond audiences as Valentin Zukovsky in GOLDENEYE and THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH as well as to millions who saw him in his multitude of roles. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/hrEXPMN8UJ
— James Bond (@007) October 14, 2022
She wrote on Instagram that there was “no better Hagrid” and that Coltrane “made it a joy to be Hermione.” “I’ll really miss your sweetness, your nicknames, your warmth, your laughs and your hugs.”
J.K. Rowling, who wrote the Harry Potter books, said on Twitter that Coltrane was an “incredible talent” and “a complete one-off.” In the movie Alfresco with Coltrane, Stephen Fry tweeted: “So much depth, power, and talent, and so funny that it made us snort and honk while we were making our first TV show, Alfresco.
Farewell, old fellow, you will be so dreadfully missed.” Hugh Laurie, who worked with Coltrane in Blackadder and was also in Alfresco, talked about the time they shared car rides between Manchester and London.
He wrote on Twitter, “I don’t think I’ve ever laughed or learned so much in my life.” Tony Robinson, who played Blackadder, said that Coltrane was “such a sweet man… so talented as a comic and as a straight actor.”
He said, “It was all down to you, mate.” in a tweet about his favourite episode of the old-timey sitcom. Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, said that Coltrane’s death was “unfortunate news.”
“As an actor, he could do everything from brilliant comedy to hard-hitting drama. Fitz in Cracker was probably my favourite role of his, “she told me. “Robbie Coltrane, you were a legend in Scottish entertainment, and you will be missed very much. RIP.”
The official James Bond Twitter account called him an “exceptional actor whose talent knew no bounds.” Richard Coles, a radio and TV host, added: “So sad to hear that Robbie Coltrane has passed away.
We once shared a dressing room, and he wore the most extensive pants I have ever seen with many styles. From then on, we were friends.” Anthony Robert McMillan, the Scottish star, was born in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, in 1950. His real name is Anthony Robert McMillan.
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Coltrane was the son of a piano teacher and a doctor, Jean Ross and Ian Baxter McMillan. He went to an independent school in Perth and Kinross called Glenalmond College.
The actor’s career started in 1979 with the TV show Play for Today. However, he became famous with the BBC comedy show A Kick Up the Eighties, which also starred Tracey Ullman, Miriam Margolyes, and Rik Mayall.
I will miss the random chats about all subjects under the sun.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 x
— James Phelps (@James_Phelps) October 14, 2022
He worked with Fry, Emma Thompson, Siobhan Redmond, and Hugh Laurie in the ITV comedy Alfresco from 1983. By 1987, he was the main character in the movie Tutti Frutti, which was about the Scottish rock and roll band The Majestics. Emma Thompson and Richard Wilson were also in the film.
He was in the British crime movie Mona Lisa with Bob Hoskins the year before. Coltrane became even more famous when he played Dr Eddie “Fitz” Fitzgerald, a criminal psychologist, in the ITV show Cracker from 1993 to 1995 and in a special return episode in 2006.
He won the Bafta award for best actor for three years in a row, from 1994 to 1996, for the role. Rubeus Hagrid, the character he played in all eight Harry Potter movies with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, maybe his best-known role.
Also Read: Tribute Paid to Actor Robbie Coltrane by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Many Other Celebrities
In 2016, he starred with Dame Julie Walters in the Bafta-winning Channel 4 drama National Treasure, about a comedian and TV host accused of sexually abusing women. Late last year, he was in a TV special with the rest of the Harry Potter cast, but J.K. Rowling was not there and only showed up in old clips.
Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, and Ralph Fiennes were all in the same scene with Coltrane.
