Harry Potter star Robbie Coltrane passed away at 72 years old. Not long after news of his passing broke, Daniel Radcliffe issued a statement honouring the Scottish actor, writer, and comedian who enchanted countless audiences over his 43-year career.
Born Anthony Robert McMillan, Coltrane was a larger-than-life figure. It's possible that for this reason, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling had him in mind for the character of Rubeus Hagrid even as she wrote the books and before there was any inkling of future adaptations. Hagrid ended up becoming one of Coltrane's best-known roles, and it catapulted him to worldwide recognition. His turn as Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky in the James Bond films Goldeneye and The World is Not Enough further bolstered his filmography, and he was known to have appeared in various other projects such as Flash Gordon and Ocean's Twelve. His last known appearance was in the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts reunion special on HBO Max, where he reflected on the role he played for nearly a decade and reunited with his co-stars.
The Wrap confirmed Coltrane's passing. The site reflected on his appearance in the Harry Potter reunion special, in which Coltrane poignantly stated, “The legacy of the movies is that my children’s generation will show them to their children. So you could be watching it in 50 years’ time, easy. I’ll not be here, sadly, but… Hagrid will, yes.” In the special, Coltrane seemed very happy to think that Hagrid would survive throughout the generations as a beloved character. The site further reported that tributes towards the actor were coming in from a variety of sources. British actor Stephen Fry wrote, “I first met Robbie Coltrane almost exactly 40 years ago. 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.”
According to Variety, Radcliffe also paid tribute to the late Harry Potter actor. “Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set," Radcliffe wrote 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. 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.”
Coltrane was a private individual; much of his personal life is not known. It is known that he leaves behind two children - a son and daughter - and that he passed away in a hospital in Larbert, Scotland. His cause of death is unknown. But Coltrane's words in the Harry Potter reunion special ring more true now than ever. He will be remembered for the joy he brought to audiences - his legacy will be a long one. Even now, fans are recalling and mourning the actor, who played a pivotal role in their childhood. When an artist passes away, the grief of their loss is felt by those who admired them.
It must also be remembered, however, that Coltrane was a private individual who had family and loved ones who knew him best. Their needs and relationship with Coltrane must come first, and hopefully they can find closure in this difficult time. Coltrane will be missed by many, and his legacy will live on, just as he predicted.
The Harry Potter films are available on Peacock.