Robbie Coltrane, the actor who played the character of Hagrid in the Harry Potter film franchise, died on Friday, at the age of 72. Apart from playing the beloved gamekeeper Hagrid in Harry Potter, the actor also starred in a British movie called Cracker, a James Bond film called Golden Eye, and The World Is Not Enough.
Before the Scottish-borne actor rose to international fame through the Harry Potter film franchise, he honed his talents on the theatre stage. In the 1980s, he starred in a series called Alfresco alongside big names such as Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, and Emma Thompson. Coltrane and Thompson reunited in another series called Tutti Frutti. For his work in this six-part drama series, Coltrane received a British Academy Television Award nomination for best actor. He won it in the 90s, for his work in Cracker, which is a crime drama with three seasons. His role in Cracker won him the Bafta award for best actor three years in a row, from 1994 to 1996.
Even before he got the role of Hagrid, he knew and loved the Harry Potter books. Once he recalled in an interview that he used to read them to his children. Therefore, he was a natural fit for Hagrid, who was a half-giant and half-human.
The Role Of Hagrid Is Loved And Cherished By Everyone
Coltrane’s performance as Hagrid, who’s a gentle giant loved by everyone, touched the hearts of millions of people across the world. He was able to bring kindness and humanity to the role. Last year, Coltrane appeared in HBO Max special “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” alongside the rest of the Harry Potter cast. The iconic actor is survived by his children Spencer and Alice, his ex-wife Rhona Gemmel, and his sister Annie Rae.
