Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane has died at the age of 72, reports Friday said. Coltrane’s agents in the US and the UK confirmed the news to CNN, the BBC and the Guardian.
Among many other movies and series — including a stint as a James Bond villain In GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough, and as Lord Dingwall in Pixar’s Brave — Coltrane is known for playing half-giant Rubeus Hagrid in all eight Harry Potter films.
Tributes began pouring in on Twitter, as fellow actors, Harry Potter alums and fans mourned the loss of Coltrane.
“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’,” English actor Stephen Fry, who narrated the Harry Potter books for their audiobook releases, tweeted Friday. “Farewell, old fellow. You’ll be so dreadfully missed.”
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
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) October 14, 2022
“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,” Harry Potter author JK Rowling tweeted alongside a photo of herself with Coltrane. “I send my love and deepest condolences to his family, above all his children.”
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
Emma Watson, Hermione Granger in the movies, posted about Coltrane’s death on her Instagram stories Friday. “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,” Watson wrote. “His talent was so immense it made sense he played a giant.”
“Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set,” Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe said in a statement, as quoted by Variety. “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.”
Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy, recalled one of his best memories of Coltrane being on a night shoot in the forbidden forest for the first movie. “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,” Felton wrote on Instagram. “Love you mate – thank you for everything xx”
James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley, tweeted:
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
Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter movies, wrote on Instagram: “Heartbroken by the passing of Robbie Coltrane … Robbie always treated me and my fellow cast mates when we were wee kids like equal professionals on a film set.”
“Very sad news. He had such range and depth as an actor, from brilliant comedy to hard-edged drama,” tweeted First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon. “I think my favourite of all his roles was Fitz in Cracker. Robbie Coltrane, Scottish entertainment legend – you will be hugely missed.”
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