Robbie Coltrane, actor who played Hagrid in Harry Potter films, has died aged 72

(WGHP) – Robbie Coltrane, an actor best known for playing the beloved character Hagrid in the Harry Potter film series, has died, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Coltrane was 72 years old.

His agent Belinda Wright confirmed in a statement obtained by the BBC that the actor died in a Scottish hospital near Falkirk. Wright did not name a cause of death.

Coltrane was born in Glasgow, Scotland and was originally named Anthony Robert McMillan. He later changed his name to Robbie Coltrane in honor of John Coltrane, a famous jazz saxophonist. The actor attended Glasgow Art School and Moray House College of Education in Edinburgh.

According to IMDB, Coltrane has 114 acting credits dating back to 1979 when he played Jimmy on an episode of the series Play for Today.

He debuted as Hagrid in the 2001 film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and reprized the role in the 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 sequels. His last appearance as Hagrid was in the 2019 pre- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure show. He also voiced the character in the 2015 Lego Dimensions game.

He was among the actors who returned in 2022 for the 20th Anniversary special, Return to Hogwarts.

Coltrane said in the special:

“It was like a family reunion in the truest sense of the word. You have to remember when they started they were about 8. I think the oldest of them was 11. Now they are big adults with their own lives. [Rupert] Grint had a baby. Grint is now a father. It’s just amazing the change, you know? And watching them grow up is like watching your own children grow up. …I was always amazed at how fearless they were because you were in the Great Hall. I remember walking into the Great Hall, and I’ve been doing that for 30 years, and I’m like, ‘Dear God, whoa, better do this right.’ But they were just like kids do. I have really happy memories of it. I think they all do.”

Describing him as a “unique talent,” Wright said that Coltrane’s role as Hagrid “brought joy to children and adults alike around the world.”