Actor Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, has died aged 72 according to the BBC.
He also appeared in ITV detective drama Cracker and the James Bond films Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough.
The actor said in interviews that he relished playing Hagrid, a half-giant wizard who towered over everyone and instructed students at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on the care of magical creatures.
“Everybody in the world would like a really big, huge, strong, good man on their side ― it’s as simple as that. … Hagrid was always obviously the good guy, wasn’t he?” he said in an HBO Max special recognizing the franchise’s 20th anniversary.
Daniel Radcliffe, who played the titular character in the films, issued a statement Friday reacting to Coltrane’s death, calling him “an incredible actor and a lovely man.”
Fellow Harry Potter star Emma Watson said: “Robbie, if I ever get to be so kind as you were to me on a film set I promise I’ll do it in your name and memory.”
She paid tribute to Coltrane on Instagram saying there was “no better Hagrid” and he “made it a joy to be Hermione”.
Coltrane was made an OBE in the 2006 New Year’s honours list for his services to drama and he was awarded the Bafta Scotland Award for outstanding contribution to film in 2011.
Image Source: BBC News
