Entertainment
Robbie Coltrane: Harry Potter’s Hagrid and Cracker actor has died aged 72
Harry Potter and Cracker actor Robbie Coltrane has died aged 72, his agent has said.
The Scottish-born actor, known for playing the Hogwarts gamekeeper Hagrid and criminal psychologist Dr Eddie ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald in the 1990s crime drama Cracker, died on Friday.
In a statement, his agent of 40 years, Belinda Wright, said the actor will “probably be best remembered for decades to come as Hagrid”, which has “prompted a stream of fan letters every week for over 20 years.”
From left: Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Jason Isaacs in 2002. Pic: Reuters/Stephen Hird SH/ASA
She described Coltrane, whose real name is Anthony Robert McMillan, as a “wonderful actor” and “forensically intelligent”.
Coltrane won best actor at the British Academy Television Awards three years running for his role in Cracker and was made an OBE in the 2006 New Year’s honours list.
His agent did not give details on his death – but said Coltrane’s family thanked the team at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert for their care.
‘A complete one-off’
Harry Potter author JK Rowling tweeted an image with Coltrane and said: “I’ll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again. He was an incredible talent, a complete one off…”.
Stephen Fry, who starred with Coltrane in the comedy series Alfresco, said the actor will be “dreadfully missed”.
He said he met Coltrane almost 40 years ago and added: “Such depth, power & talent: funny enough to cause helpless hiccups & honking as we made our first TV show, ‘Alfresco'”, and added “Farewell, old fellow. You’ll be so dreadfully missed”.
Fellow Harry Potter star James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley, said he will miss the “random chats about all subjects under the sun”, as he recalled his first memory with the actor.
‘A Scottish entertainment legend’
Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Pic: Lux/The Hollywood Archive/Alamy
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described Coltrane as a “Scottish entertainment legend” and said he will be “hugely missed”.
Actor Robert Lindsay, who starred alongside Coltrane in the 1989 film Bert Rigby, You’re a Fool paid tribute to his “dear pal”, adding: “We shared a Hollywood journey that will live with me forever”.
Coltrane is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his children Spencer and Alice and their mother Rhona Gemmell.
He was born in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire and attended Glasgow School of Art and Moray House College of Education in Edinburgh.