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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Connie Rusk

Robbie Coltrane dead: Harry Potter and Cracker actor dies aged 72

Harry Potter and Cracker actor Robbie Coltrane has died aged 72.

The screen icon, known to many as the loveable half giant Hagrid in the Potter film franchise, passed away on Friday.

In a statement, his agent, Belinda Wright paid tribute as she announced Robbie's death.

In it, the actor's family thanked Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Scotland where he spent his final days.

Robbie's agent said: "Robbie was a unique talent, sharing the Guinness Book of Records’ Award for winning three consecutive Best Actor Baftas for his portrayal of Fitz in Granada TV’s series Cracker in 1994, 1995 and 1996 with Sir Michael Gambon.

"He will probably be best remembered for decades to come as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, a role which brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world, prompting a stream of fan letters every week for over 20 years.

"James Bond fans write too to applaud his role in GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough.

"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."

Robbie's cause of death has not been revealed.

After the announcement, J.K Rowling, Daniel Radcliffe and Stephen Fry led the stars paying tribute.

The screen icon passed away on Friday (Getty Images)
Scottish-born Robbie had a stellar acting career (Getty Images)

Sharing a touching moment of the pair holding hands at a dinner table, the author wrote: "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.

The screen icon was known to many as the loveable half giant Hagrid in the Potter film franchise (Warner Bros)

Daniel, meanwhile, remembered Robbie as "one of the funniest people" and an "incredible actor".

The actor, who starred in the lead role in the fantasy series, worked closely with Coltrane throughout the eight films.

Radcliffe shared fond memories from set in a statement, saying: "Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the 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."

Stephen Fry and Robbie starred together in the comedy series Alfresco.

"I first met Robbie Coltrane almost exactly 40 years ago," Fry Tweeted. "I was awe/terror/love struck all at the same time.

"Such depth, power & talent: funny enough to cause helpless hiccups & honking as we made our first TV show, ‘Alfresco’. Farewell, old fellow. You’ll be so dreadfully missed."

Robbie in The World Is Not Enough in 1999 (Danjaq/Eon/Ua/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

James Phelps, who starred alongside Robbie as Fred Weasley in the Harry Potter films, recalled his first memory of the actor.

"I will miss the random chats about all subjects under the sun," he Tweeted.

"And I’ll never forget in September 2000, Robbie Coltrane came over to a very nervous 14yr old me on my 1st ever day on a movie set and said ‘Enjoy it, you’ll be great’. Thank you for that."

Robbie on the red carpet with the cast of Harry Potter, including the late Alan Rickman, in 2004 (AFP)

Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, also paid tribute to the actor following his death.

“Robbie. Bobser. He called me Space Boy. We shared a love of the final frontier,” Lewis wrote.

"He didn’t give a f**k and it always made you smile. A giant, in more ways than one. We had some times x".

Fans also took to social media to pay tribute to the screen icon.

One said: "Robbie Coltrane was a legend, a great actor and a funny guy," while another typed: "RIP Robbie Coltrane. Hagrid, of course, but played so many other wonderful characters."

Robbie looked frail back in 2019 as he sat in a wheelchair (@Blooloop/Twitter)

Scottish-born Robbie was a successful actor before he took on the role of half human, half giant, Hagrid.

He played a detective in crime drama series Cracker and two James Bond films, GoldenEye and The World is Not Enough.

Robbie then landed the role of Rubeus Hagrid in the film adaption of J.K Rowling's hit book series, Harry Potter.

The author had Coltrane at the top of her list to play Hagrid and, when asked whom she would like to see in the role, responded "Robbie Coltrane for Hagrid" in one quick breath.

In the Harry Potter twenty year reunion special, Robbie reflected on the legacy of the films.

He said: "The legacy of the movies is that my children's generation will show them to their children, so you could watch it in 50 years time, easy. I will not be here sadly but Hagrid will, yes."

Since Potter ended he has only starred in a few films such as voice role in Great Expectations in 2012 and Effie in 2012 when he played a doctor.

Robbie receiving his OBE from Buckingham Palace in 2006 (PA)

Robbie was forced to take four years away from acting in 2012 due to ill health.

One of his most prominent roles was in 2016 when he played a television comedian accused of raping a 15-year-old in National Treasure, a four-part television drama on Channel 4.

Over the past few years, Robbie's health has been in decline as he battled near-constant pain from osteoarthritis.

He said back in 2016: "I'm in constant pain all day.

"I had an exploratory operation and they discovered I had no cartilage left in one of my knees. It's completely disintegrated."

In 2019, he was pictured looking frail in a wheelchair as he launched Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike ride in Universal Orlando.

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