‘Harry Potter’ Star Robbie Coltrane, Who Played Hagrid, Dies At 72

Robbie Coltrane had possibly the astir quotable enactment successful each of the Harry Potter films. As Hagrid, helium was the archetypal idiosyncratic to archer the Boy Who Lived his magical future. “Yer a wizard, Harry,” was Robbie’s enactment and with 4 abbreviated words, helium became an icon for a generation. And present that icon is gone. The seasoned histrion has died, his bureau WME told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 72 years old.

Robbie’s astir well-known relation was arsenic Rubeus Hagrid successful the ‘Harry Potter’ series. (Everett)

For some, Robbie is known champion arsenic 1 of the mainstays of British television. His credits include Flash Gordon, Blackadder and Keep It successful the Family, arsenic good arsenic A Kick Up the Eighties, The Comic Strip and Alfresco. For others, helium volition ever beryllium known arsenic the half-giant Hagrid successful the Harry Potter films, a relation helium played crossed each 8 films.

During the caller Harry Potter 20th day special, Robbie reflected connected his clip playing the iconic quality and admitted helium was gladsome to permission a bequest down that volition beryllium loved for generations. “The bequest of these movies is that my children’s procreation volition amusement them to their children. So, you could beryllium watching them successful 50 years’ time, easy.” helium said. “I’ll not beryllium present sadly… but Hagrid will.”

Born successful Rutherglen, Scotland successful 1950, Robbie’s commencement sanction was Anthony Robert McMillan. He began his vocation arsenic an histrion successful his 20s. He took his signifier sanction from famed jazz musician John Coltrane. His archetypal on-screen relation came successful 1979, erstwhile helium was formed successful an occurrence of the TV series Play For Today, per IMDb.

Robbie’s passing was announced by his cause connected Friday. (Shutterstock)

While his relation arsenic Hagrid has remained his astir well-known and beloved performance, Harry Potter isn’t the lone large franchise that Robbie starred in. He besides had supporting roles arsenic Valentin Zukovsky, a Russian gangster and erstwhile KGB officer, successful the James Bond films Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough. 

In caller years, Robbie had taken connected less parts. His astir caller credits included playing movie legend Orson Welles in the series Urban Myths in 2019 and 2020 and a portion successful the 2016 miniseries National Treasure. He inactive occasionally reprised his relation arsenic Hagrid for assorted shorts, similar the pre-show for the Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure ride astatine The Wizarding World of Harry Potter taxable parks.

Throughout his life, Robbie was lone joined erstwhile to Rhona Gemmel from 1999 to 2003. The brace had a son Spencer, 30, successful 1992, and a daughter Alice, 24, calved successful 1998. Later successful life, Robbie besides struggled with osteoarthritis. He spoke astir having a deficiency of cartilage successful his knees and experienced regular symptom from the condition. “I was warring symptom 24 hours a time erstwhile I was successful National Treasure and Great Expectations,” helium said successful 2020, per Express.