We're very sad to report that beloved Harry Potter star Robbie Coltrane has passed away at the age of 72. No cause of death was announced, but the actor was said to have been in ill health for the past two years.
Born Anthony Robert McMillan on March 30, 1950, in Glasgow, Scotland , Coltrane began his career as a stand-up comedian before joining a theater company. Minor TV and film parts followed, with Coltrane’s big break coming when he landed the lead role of Dr. Edward “Fitz” Fitzgerald in Jimmy McGovern’s Cracker, which ran over 25 episodes between 1993 and 2006.
After winning a BAFTA for his performance in Cracker, Coltrane went on to play Valentin Zukovsky in two James Bond films, GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough. Of course, his most famous and recognizable character was Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter franchise, a role which he'd reprise in the fantasy short film Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
Coltrane also wrote an autobiography titled Coltrane in a Cadillac, which was adapted into a TV series of the same name in 1993.
Our thoughts go out to Robbie's family and friends during this difficult time.