Robbie Coltrane, renowned across the globe as Rubeus Hagrid from the Harry Potter films, has died. He was 72.
Robbie ‘Hagrid’ Coltrane dies: What’s the cause of death?
News of the Scottish actor was confirmed by his agent, Belinda Wright, in a short statement released on Friday.
While Wright did not reveal the cause of death, she did thank the medical staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Lambert, Scotland, for showing the actor great care and diplomacy in his last moments.
Coltrane’s agent described him as “a unique talent.”
“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,” Wright wrote.
News of Coltrane’s funeral had not been revealed at the time this article was published.
Coltrane is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his children, Spencer and Alice and their mother, Rhona Gemmell.
Robbie Coltrane biography
Robbie Coltrane (FKA Anthony Robert McMillan) was born on 30 March 1950 in Rutherglen, a town situated immediately southeast of Glasgow, Scotland.
Coltrane was a middle child raised by a teacher (mother) and general practitioner (father). He had two sisters: Annie (older) and Jane (younger).
After graduating from Glenalmond College, an independent boarding school in Perthshire, Coltrane enrolled at the Glasgow School of Art. Thereafter, he completed his higher education at the University of Edinburgh.
Coltrane’s debut in acting came in his early 20s. By then, he had assumed the ‘Coltrane’ identity, a nod to jazz saxophonist John Coltrane), and targeted comedy as his genre speciality.
Early in his career, Coltrane scored roles in classic British sketch shows like John Byrne’s The Slab Boys (1978), A Kick Up the Eighties (1984), and among others, Laugh??? I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee (1984).
The actor’s first film production came in 1980 when he starred in Flash Gordon and Death Watch. While Coltrane’s acting career saw a great deal of momentum in the 1980s, his cult following was established from his roles in James Bond titles like GoldenEye (1995) and The World Is Not Enough (1999).
Perhaps, Coltrane’s most memorable role was Hagrid in Harry Potter films which premiered between 2001 and 2011.
In 2006, Coltrane was bestowed with the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama.
“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,” Wright wrote.
Fan reactions to the death of ‘Hagrid’
News of Coltrane’s passing reverberated across social media, with scores of fans from different era of his acting career sharing memorable moments.
Reflecting on the loss, Wright described Coltrane 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 to called his Agent, I shall miss him,” she wrote.
Here are more reactions from fans and peers: