Actor Robbie Coltrane, who was 72 years old when he passed away, was best known for his role as Hagrid in the Harry Potter film series.
In addition, he had roles in the ITV detective drama Cracker and the James Bond movies Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough.
Belinda Wright, the actor’s agent, issued a statement confirming the death of the performer, which occurred in a hospital close to Falkirk in Scotland.
She referred to Coltrane as a “unique talent” and said that his performance as Hagrid “brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world.”
“For me personally I shall remember him 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 called his agent, I shall miss him.
“He is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his children Spencer and Alice and their mother Rhona Gemmell. They would like to thank the medical staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert for their care and diplomacy.
“Please respect Robbie’s family’s privacy at this distressing time.”
In 2006, he received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year’s Honours List for his services to drama, and in 2011, he was presented with the Bafta Scotland Award for Outstanding Contribution to Film.
Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, released a statement in which he paid tribute to John Coltrane and said the following: “Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on that 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.
“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.”
Emma Watson, another star of the Harry Potter films, made the following statement: “Robbie, if I ever get to be so kind as you were to me on a film set I promise I’ll do it in your name and memory.”
On her Instagram account, she paid tribute to Coltrane by saying that there was “no better Hagrid” and that he “made it a joy to be Hermione.”
“I’ll really miss your sweetness, your nicknames, your warmth, your laughs and your hugs.”
J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, praised John Coltrane as “an incredible talent” and “a complete one-off” in a tweet she posted about the musician.
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
Stephen Fry, an actor who appeared in the film Alfresco with Coltrane, posted the following message on Twitter: “Such depth, power and talent: funny enough to cause helpless hiccups and honking as we made our first TV show Alfresco. Farewell, old fellow, you’ll be so dreadfully missed.”
Hugh Laurie, Coltrane’s co-star in Blackadder and fellow actor in Alfresco, recalled the time the two of them spent together in car rides between Manchester and London. Laurie and Coltrane had previously worked together in Blackadder. “I don’t think I’ve ever laughed or learned so much in my life”, he tweeted.
Tony Robinson, who played the role of Coltrane on Blackadder, described him as “such a sweet man… so talented as a comic and as a straight actor”. He stated the following on Twitter in response to a question about which episode of the historical sitcom was his favorite: “It was all down to you mate.”
Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, said that the news of Coltrane’s passing was “very sad news.”
“He had such range and depth as an actor, from brilliant comedy to hard-edged drama. I think my favourite of all his roles was Fitz in Cracker,” she said. “Robbie Coltrane, Scottish entertainment legend – you will be hugely missed. RIP.”
On the official James Bond Twitter account, he was referred to as “an exceptional actor whose talent knew no bounds.”
Richard Coles, a well-known broadcaster, further stated: “Very sorry to hear Robbie Coltrane has died. We shared a dressing room once and he had the biggest pants I have ever seen, which he wore with tremendous flair. We were friends from then on.”
Rutherglen, which is located in South Lanarkshire, is the place where the famous Scottish actor was born in the year 1950. His real name is Anthony Robert McMillan.
Glenalmond College in Perth and Kinross, Scotland was where John Coltrane received his education. His mother, Jean Ross, was a teacher and pianist, and his father, Ian Baxter McMillan, was a general practitioner. Coltrane was their son.
The actor began his career in 1979 with the TV series Play for Today, but he rose to prominence with the BBC TV comedy series A Kick Up the Eighties, in which he starred alongside Tracey Ullman, Miriam Margolyes, and Rik Mayall. Play for Today debuted in 1979.
Additionally, he had a role in the comedy series Alfresco, which aired on ITV in 1983 and also starred Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Siobhan Redmond, and Hugh Laurie.
By 1987, he had a leading role in the film Tutti Frutti, which was about the Scottish rock and roll band The Majestics. Emma Thompson and Richard Wilson also starred in the film. In the previous year, he appeared in the British crime movie Mona Lisa, in which Bob Hoskins starred.
Coltrane gained even more notoriety by playing the role of Dr. Eddie “Fitz” Fitzgerald, a criminal psychologist, in the ITV series Cracker from 1993 until 1995, and then reprised the role in a special episode in 2006.
Because of his performance in the role, he was given the Bafta Award for Best Actor in each of the three years between 1994 and 1996.
As Rubeus Hagrid, he appeared in all eight Harry Potter films alongside Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. This is widely considered to be the role that brought him the most notoriety.
In 2016, he had a starring role in the Bafta Award-winning drama National Treasure, which aired on Channel 4 and was about a comedian and TV host who was accused of sexually abusing women. Dame Julie Walters also starred in the drama.
At the end of the previous year, he made an appearance in the Harry Potter cast reunion TV special. Although J.K. Rowling was not present and only made an appearance in archival video clips, the cast was brought together for the special.
Coltrane made an appearance alongside Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, as well as Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, and Ralph Fiennes.
