October 5, 2024

Robbie Coltrane, ‘Intriguing, troubled, funny’

On October 14th, 2022, in Larbert, Scotland, the Harry Potter actor had passed away in a hospital close to his home. His death was not immediately apparent, but he had been ill for the past two years.

J.K. Rowling tweeted on Friday that he was “an incredible talent, a complete one off. I was beyond fortunate to know him, work with him, and laugh my head off with him. I’ll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again.”

Anthony Robert McMillin was born in Rutherglen, Scotland, by his early 20s, he had already begun pursing an acting career and he also renamed himself in honor of jazz musician.

He had a noble career, including, ‘Mona Lisa, ‘Nuns on the run’, and Kenneth’s Branagh’s adaption of ‘Henry V’. Then he went on to star in the Harry Potter movies as the gentle giant, Hagrid. For the 1990s show ‘Cracker’, he won the best actor at the British Academy Television Awards three years running.

Fun Fact: while they were filming the HP movies, since Hagrid is a giant, Robbie had to wear stilts.

The role secured him the Bafa award from 1994 to 1996. In 2016 he stared in the Bafa-winning drama National Treasure with Dame Julie Walters. Then last year he joined the HP cast for a reunion that appeared on TV, featuring clips from all movies and other surprises.

Stephen Fry who is an author, actor, and comedian is mourning over his friend’s death, who he has known for 40 years. They worked together on a British sketch comedy show called “Alfresco”.

He was appointed an OBE- (Most Excellent Order of The British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 for his service in drama.

Actors Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Daniel Radcliffe paid tributes to Robbie and his family, sharing them on social media.

Fun Facts about Robbie:

  • Robbie’s sign is an Aries
  • His birthstone is Aquamarine
  • His birth flower is a Daffodil
  • He was born in the year of the Tiger, people with Chinese Zodiac Tigers are powerful, confident, and brave.

Coltrane is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his ex-wife Rhona Gemmell and his two children Spencer and Alice.