Robbie Coltrane, Who Played Iconic Hogwarts Professor Hagrid, Dies At 72

Robbie Coltrane, who played the Harry Potter fan favorite Rubeus Hagrid, has died at age 72.

BBC News reported that Coltrane's agent Belinda Wright confirmed the actor died in a hospital near Falkirk in Scotland on Friday morning. Coltrane starred as the half-giant and Hogwarts gamekeeper in all eight Harry Potter installments, beginning in 2001 with Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. The films are based on the bestselling series by J.K. Rowling. Hagrid is introduced in the opening scenes with Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and professor Minerva McGonagall and gains a quick, loyal love from fans after rescuing Harry from his aunt and uncle's house and serving as the wizard's friend and mentor throughout the following films.

Coltrane, who was born in Scotland, starred in other popular films, such as two James Bond movies, GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough.

In 2022, Coltrane appeared in the HBO Max special Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts. During the special, he talked about the legendary series and its impact.

"The legacy of the movies is that my children's generation will show them to their children, so you can be watching it in 50 years' time, easy," Coltrane said during the special. "I'll not be here sadly, but Hagrid will."

Rowling shared a picture and sentiment about Coltrane on Twitter after hearing of his death.

"I'll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again," Rowling tweeted, accompanied by a picture of Coltrane holding her hand while both were seated at a table. "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."

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe issued a statement that was published in Variety.

"Robbie was one of the funniest people I've met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set," Radcliffe said. "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."

James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley, tweeted about how Coltrane encouraged him during the first day of filming for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

"I will miss the random chats about all subjects under the sun," Phelps 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 x."

Others complimented Coltrane's range and depth as an actor and shared some of his famous lines as Hagrid.

Wright's agency emailed a statement from Wright to Newsweek about Coltrane's passing. Wright complimented Coltrane for his work.

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

Wright called Coltrane a wonderful actor, "forensically intelligent" and "brilliantly witty."

IMDb describes Coltrane as "one of Britain's most popular comedians." According to the site, Coltrane was head of the debating society at school and won prizes for his art.

No details on the cause of death were immediately provided, according to CNN.