Robbie Coltrane, the Scottish-born comic and actor who was best known for playing Hagrid in the Harry Potter movie series has died, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter. He was 72. 

The actor began his career in the late 1970s, starting out in comedy and theater. He eventually went on to star in two James Bond films, GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough.

Who was Robbie Coltrane?

Born as Anthony Robert McMillan on March 30, 1950 in Rutherglen, Scotland, he took on the stage Robbie Coltrane as a tribute to jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. 

The comedian and actor attended the Belmont House School in Newton Mearns while growing up, before moving to Glenalmond College in Perthshire. While Coltrane said he hated his time there, he was the head of the school’s debating society, won prizes for his art and played on the rugby team. He went on to study at the Glasgow School of Art before moving to the Moray House College of Education in Edinburgh, Scotland. 

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Coltrane’s career began as a stand-up comic in the clubs of Edinburgh. Early in his career, he picked up TV acting credits in shows like Black Adder, Flash Gordon and Keep It in the Family. Over time, he garnered further acclaim for roles in shows like Alfresco, The Comic Strip and A Kick Up the Eighties. 

His first major breakthrough came in Cracker, a British drama about a criminal psychologist. The show ran from 1993 to 2006 over the course of 25 episodes. Coltrane won a BAFTA for his performance as the lead protagonist, Dr Edward “Fitz” Fitzgerald. 

Eventually, after taking on roles in two James Bond films, Coltrane played the loveable yet oafish half-giant Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter films. In fact, the author of the books, J.K. Rowling had already identified the Scotsman as her choice for the character when the movie was being cast. 

Coltrane married his wife Rhona Gemmell in 1999, the couple had two children, a son and a daughter. They separated in 2003 and later divorced.