Robbie Coltrane, Best Known For His Role As Hagrid, Passed Away At Age 72
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Robbie Coltrane, best known for his portrayal of Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, has passed away at the age of 72. The actor had been in ill health for two years and passed away at a hospital near his home in Larbert, Scotland.
Robbie was born Anthony Robert McMillan on March 30th, 1950, in Rutherglen, Scotland. The actor took the stage name Coltrane in his early 20s as a tribute to jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. Robbie began his career in the theatre and appeared in the first production of John Byrne’s The Slab Boys at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, in 1978. He then crossed over into film and television with Flash Gordon, Tutti Fruity, and Blackadder the Third. Coltrane also appeared in two films produced by Beatle George Harrison’s Handmade Films: Mona Lisa in 1987 and Nuns on the Run in 1990. Perhaps among his most famous roles on television was forensic psychologist Dr. Edward “Fitz” Fitzgerald in the series Crackers (for which he won three BAFTA awards). Coltrane also appeared in two Bond films: GoldenEye and The World is Not Enough. When casting for Hagrid, J. K. Rowling had Coltrane at the top of her list, stating in one quick breath, “Robbie Coltrane for Hagrid.” The actor was awarded an OBE in 2006 for his services to drama.
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Several of his close co-stars and friends paid tribute to Coltrane. Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed the boy who lived himself, Harry Potter, stated that he was one of the funniest people he had met:
“…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.”
Stephen Fry, who appeared with Coltrane in the television series Alfresco, had this to say about the late actor:
Coltrane is survived by his two children. He will be sorely missed.
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