You are currently viewing Robbie Coltrane, the actor who played the beloved Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, dies at 72

Robbie Coltrane, the actor who played the beloved Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, dies at 72

The Scottish thespian was “forensically intelligent, brilliantly witty,” his agent said.

Venerable Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane, best known as the dragon-loving half-giant Hagrid from the “Harry Potter” film franchise, died on Friday, his managers said.

He was 72.

A representative with the actor’s agency, William Morris Endeavor, confirmed his passing to NBC News, saying Coltrane had been ill and wasn’t active recently.

“We are hugely saddened to hear of the passing of the magnificent Robbie Coltrane who played Hagrid with such kindness, heart and humor in the Harry Potter films,” the “Harry Potter” film franchise said in a statement. “He was a wonderful actor, a friend to all and he will be deeply missed.”

Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid in the “Harry Potter” series.Mary Evans / Warner Bros. Entertainment/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection

Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the seven installments of the franchise, fondly recalled all the moments he spent with Coltrane, who always kept it light even if it was dark outside.

“Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set,” Radcliffe said in a statement.

“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.”

Radcliffe added: “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.”

And fellow “Harry Potter” actor James Phelps, who played one of the Weasely twins, recalled being a fresh-faced 14-year-old, nervous on his first day on the set in September 2000.

He met Coltrane and the veteran actor reassured him, “Enjoy it, you’ll be great,” according to Phelps.

“Thank you for that,” the actor tweeted.

“Potter” novelist J.K. Rowling said Coltrane was a one-in-a-million talent who always made coming to work fun.

“I’ll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again,” she said in a statement. “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.”

Coltrane’s cause of death wasn’t immediately disclosed, though his agent Belinda Wright thanked the staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert for its care.

“For me personally I shall remember him as an abidingly loyal client,” Wright said in a statement. “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.”

Leave a Reply