Robbie Coltrane: Tributes paid to Harry Potter’s Hagrid and Cracker actor following his death
Harry Potter and Cracker actor Robbie Coltrane has died aged 72.
The Scottish-born star, known for playing the Hogwarts gamekeeper Hagrid in the Potter film franchise and criminal psychologist Dr Eddie ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald in the 1990s TV crime drama, died on Friday.
In a statement, his agent of 40 years, Belinda Wright, said the actor will probably be best remembered as Hagrid, which led to a “stream of fan letters every week for over 20 years”.
(L-R) Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Jason Isaacs in 2002
She described Coltrane, whose real name was Anthony Robert McMillan, as a “wonderful actor” and “forensically intelligent”.
Coltrane won the best actor gong at the British Academy Television Awards three years running for his role in Cracker and was made an OBE in the 2006 New Year 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’
Tributes have flooded in for the actor, as 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.”
Coltrane’s role in all eight of the Potter films arguably became his best known.
Daniel Radcliffe, who starred as Harry Potter, said: “Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set.
“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.”
Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Pic: Lux/The Hollywood Archive/Alamy
While James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley, said he will miss the “random chats about all subjects under the sun”.
Tom Felton, who starred as Draco Malfoy in the fantasy film series, described Coltrane as a “big friendly giant”, and recalled shooting a scene with him during Harry Potter And The Phisopher’s Stone.
“One of my fondest memories of filming Harry Potter was a night shoot on the first film in the forbidden forest,” Felton tweeted.
“I was 12. Robbie cared & looked after everyone around of him. Effortlessly. And made them laugh. Effortlessly. Love you mate – thank you for everything xx.”
Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, described Coltrane as “a giant, in more ways than one” and said they “shared a love of the final frontier”.
Bonnie Wright, who featured in the Harry Potter films as Ginny Weasley, said she was “heartbroken” and thanked Coltrane for “all the laughter”.
Sir Lenny Henry, who voiced Dre Head in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, tweeted: “This is awful news. Rob was the real thing. Condolences to his family. Big love big fella xxx”
Professor Flitwick actor Warwick Davis said he was “saddened” by the news, adding: “Always jovial, he brought warmth, light and laughter to any set he walked on to. RIP Robbie, Beloved Giant of comedy.x”
Coltrane’s ‘talent knew no bounds’
James Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli also paid tribute to Coltrane, who starred as Valentin Zukovsky in Bond films GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough.
They described him as an “exceptional actor”, adding that “his talents knew no bounds”.
While Stephen Fry, who starred with Coltrane in the comedy series Alfresco and narrated the British version of the Harry Potter audiobooks, said the actor will be “dreadfully missed”.
Fry 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.”
Hugh Laurie, who also acted alongside Coltrane in Alfresco, and the period sitcom Blackadder, recalled fond memories of his time with the actor.
Fellow Blackadder star Tony Robinson described him as “such a sweet man” and “so talented as a comic and as a straight actor”.
He added in a post to Twitter: “‘Dictionary’ was my favourite episode of the Adder ever and it was all down to you mate. Rest well x”
‘A Scottish entertainment legend’
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called Coltrane 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 was born in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire and attended Glasgow School of Art and Moray House College of Education in Edinburgh.
He is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his children Spencer and Alice and their mother Rhona Gemmell.
The UK will “set out a path” to lift defence spending to 2.5% of national income in the spring, the prime minister has said, finally offering a timeframe for an announcement on the long-awaited hike after mounting criticism.
Sir Keir Starmer gave the date during a phone call with Mark Rutte, the secretary general of NATO, in the wake of threats by Moscow to target UK and US military facilities following a decision by London and Washington to let Ukraine fire their missiles inside Russia.
There was no clarity though on when the 2.5% level will be achieved. The UK says it currently spends around 2.3% of GDP on defence.
Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sir Keir Starmer and NATO boss Mark Rutte in October. Pic: PA
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A spokeswoman for Downing Street said that the two men “began by discussing the situation in Ukraine and reiterated the importance of putting the country in the strongest possible position going into the winter”.
They also talked about the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers to fight alongside Russia.
“The prime minister underscored the need for all NATO countries to step up in support of our collective defence and updated on the government’s progress on the strategic defence review,” the spokeswoman said.
“His government would set out the path to 2.5% in the spring.”
The defence review will also be published in the spring.
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While a date for an announcement on 2.5% will be welcomed by the Ministry of Defence, analysts have long warned that such an increase is still well below the amount that is needed to rebuild the armed forces after decades of decline to meet growing global threats from Russia, an increasingly assertive China, North Korea and Iran.
They say the UK needs to be aiming to hit at least 3% – probably higher.
With Donald Trump returning to the White House, there will be significantly more pressure on the UK and other European NATO allies to accelerate increases in defence spending.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after one man died and another was critically injured in a shooting in Birmingham.
Police were called to Rotton Park Road in Edgbaston, just before 11pm on Friday, to reports that two people had been shot.
One man, in his 20s, was found in a car but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another man, in his 30s, was found injured at a bus stop, and was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition, West Midlands Police added.
Firearms officers arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of murder just before 12.30am. He remains in custody.
Officers remain on the scene, with road closures in place. The force said reassurance patrols will also be taking place.
Detective Inspector Nick Barnes said: “This is a tragic incident, and we have worked through the night to understand exactly what happened.
“We’ve already made good progress and arrested a suspect, but I still need to hear from anyone who was in the area that we’ve not already spoken to.
“This happened near the busy junction with City Road and it may be that you’ve got dashcam footage or mobile phone footage from the area just before 11pm.
“We really need to hear from you so that we can build as clear a picture as possible of what happened.”
Officers are urging anyone with information to get in contact, with anonymous tips also taken via Crimestoppers.
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