Robbie Coltrane, Scottish Actor Who Played Hagrid In Harry Potter, De@d At 72

Scottish actor, comedian and writer Robbie Coltrane, famous for his role as Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter movie has died at 72.

The sad news of his death was confirmed by his representative to The New York Post. His rep’s said he died on Friday 14 October, in Scotland.

He is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his children Spencer and Alice and their mother Rhona Gemmell.

Coltrane’s agent Belinda Wright, 40, also said his family “would like to thank the medical staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert for their care and diplomacy.”

He passed away in a hospital near his home in Larbert, and has been in ill health for the last two years, Deadline reported.

“Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set,” Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, said in a statement to The Post.

“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,” Radcliffe added.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling also paid tribute.

“I’ll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again,” she wrote. “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.”

Coltrane has also appeared in the James Bond movies Golden Eye and The World is not Enough as Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky.

His other notable film appearances include Nuns On The Run, Mona Lisa and Ocean’s 12.

He also portrayed forensic psychologist Dr. Edward ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald in the TV murder drama Cracker. The role earned him three BAFTA Awards for Best Actor.

However, his agent Wright said he had legions of fans who wrote to him regularly.

“He will probably be best remembered for decades to come as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films,” his agent Wright told The Post. “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. James Bond fans write too to applaud his role in Golden Eye and The World Is Not Enough.”

Wright called Coltrane “a unique talent.”

“I shall remember him as a wonderful actor,” she said. “He was forensically intelligent, brilliantly witty and after 40 years of being proud to be called his agent, I shall miss him.”

Coltrane held 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 1994-1996 with Sir Michael Gambon,” Wright noted.