Robbie Coltrane, the Scottish actor who gained global renown for playing
Hagrid in the Harry Potter film series, died aged 72. Coltrane started out as a
stand-up comic and went on to act in some of the biggest films of the era as
well as delivered iconic performances in smaller roles in still smaller films.

Robbie Coltrane’s death was announced by his agent Belinda Wright. She
said Coltrane was a unique talent and his role as Hagrid “brought joy to children
and adults alike all over the world,” the BBC reported. “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.”

Stephen Fry, the legendary British comic who acted alongside Coltrane in
Alfresco back in 1983, tweeted: “Such depth, power and talent: funny enough to
cause helpless hiccups and honking as we made out first TV show Alfresco.
Farewell, old fellow, you’ll be so dreadfully missed.”

Also Read | Robbie Coltrane, Harry Potter’s Hagrid, dies aged 72

JK Rowling, the writer of the Harry Potter books that were subsequently
turned into movies and wherein Coltrane played Hagrid, tweeted: “I will 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 by love and deepest condolences to his family, above
all his children.”

Also Read | Who was Robbie Coltrane?

Daniel Radcliffe, the boy who lived, the actor who plays Harry Potter in
the Harry Potter series said: “Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met
and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set.”

Also Read  | Robbie Coltrane, Harry Potter’s Hagrid, dies aged 72

“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.”