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Robbie Coltrane Died - Remembering The Legacy Of Rubeus Hagrid

Robbie Coltrane died on Friday, he was beloved around the world for his portrayal of Rubeus Hagrid in the "Harry Potter" movies. Coltrane, originally called Anthony Robert McMillan, changed his name to commemorate jazz great John Coltrane when he was in his early 20s. McMillan was born in Rutherglen, Scotland.

Author:Hajra Shannon
Reviewer:Paula M. Graham
Oct 18, 202245 Shares44.5K Views
Robbie Coltrane diedon Friday, he was beloved around the world for his portrayal of Rubeus Hagrid in the "Harry Potter" movies. Coltrane, originally called Anthony Robert McMillan, changed his name to commemorate jazz great John Coltrane when he was in his early 20s. McMillan was born in Rutherglen, Scotland.
He went on to star in scores of movies and TV series, but "Harry Potter" fans will always remember him as Hagrid, the genial half-giant groundskeeper at Hogwarts and a wise guide for young Harry as he learned to navigate the magical world.
All eight "Potter" movies from 2001-2011 had his cameo appearances. Fans of the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books fawned over him for his performance as the titular character.
His iconic words, "Yer a wizard, Harry," to a young Daniel Radcliffe at the start of the latter's adventure into the wizarding world made him one of the earliest characters to appear on television. In the Harry Potter movies, he made an early appearance.
Hagrid, a giant but a softie at heart, had a soft place for dangerous animals and took care of some of the "Harry Potter" series' most recognizable and dangerous inhabitants. At his core, Hagrid was a softie.

Robbie Coltrane Died, Leaving His Iconic Characters Alive

Robbie Coltrane dies aged 72

Coltrane, a larger-than-life comedian, was remembered for his role as Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper at Hogwarts, in the Harry Potter film series. As Harry Potter's enormous wizard companion, he became a fan favorite. His on-screen chemistry and performances in Daniel Radcliffe's Harry Potter made him a household name.
On March 30, 1950, in Rutherglen, Scotland, Anthony Robert McMillan entered the world. Coltrane spent his childhood here. To honor the late jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, he adopted the stage name Coltrane in his early twenties. His breakthrough role was in The Slab Boys, a play by David Byrne.
He had roles in films like "Flash Gordon" and "Mona Lisa" before he made the transition to television. Then, he appeared on screen in Tutti Frutti and Blackadder the Third. In the 1991 comedy, The Pope Must Die, he again had a strong performance as the titular character.
Coltrane made his first appearance in a Harry Potter film in 2001's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which was released under the title Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in other countries. Cracker was well-received throughout the 1990s. On being asked who she would want to see play Hagrid, J.K. Rowling reportedly answered, "Robbie Coltrane for Hagrid," in one breath.

How Did Robbie Coltrane Die?

It has not been determined what caused Robbie Coltaine's death; however, his agency has stated that the Harry Potter actor was "fighting pain for 24 hours" before he passed away.
Throughout his career, the Scottish actor had starring roles in a number of iconic British movies and television shows. Some of these include 007, Blackadder, and Harry Potter, in which he played the much-loved role of Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper.

Remembering Robbie Coltrane

In the British TV murder drama Cracker, Coltrane was praised for his role as forensic psychologist Dr. Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald. Coltrane won three BAFTA best actor awards in a row for his role in Cracker. Only Michael Gambon, who also starred in Harry Potter, has the same honor.
At first, Coltrane's move into movies was based on his size, which made him perfect for playing bad guys. But he soon became known for playing friendlier characters in movies like Mona Lisa and Nuns on the Run. He also played the head of the Russian mafia in GoldenEye and The World is Not Enough.
Coltrane has been acting for more than 40 years. He has been in everything from music videos for Kate Bush to guest spots on shows like Frasier and Blackadder. He also hosted many news shows. He was in charge of the documentary series Coltrane in a Cadillac, Coltrane's Planes and Automobiles, and most recently Robbie Coltrane Critical Evidence.
During his career, Robbie Coltrane - B Road Britain and The Many Faces of Robbie Coltrane were both made into documentaries for TV. Coltrane received an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2006 for his work in theater.
Coltrane was chosen by author J. K. Rowling herself to play Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies.
Robbie is just perfect for Hagrid because Hagrid is a very loveable character, quite likeable, quite comic, but he had to have, you really do have to sense, a certain toughness underneathand I think Robbie does that perfectly.- J. K. Rowling
Coltrane felt a strong connection to the character of Hagrid, so he came back for the 20th-anniversary tribute on HBO Max in 2022. He said,
The legacy of the movies is that my children’s generation will show them to their children. So you could be watching it in 50 years time, easy. I’ll not be here, sadly, but Hagrid will, yes.”- Robbie Coltrane

Conclusion

Robbie Coltrane, who played Rubeus Hagrid, the kind and gentle giant gamekeeper, in the Harry Potter movies, has died at the age of 72. No one knew right away what killed Coltrane, but he had been in and out of the hospital for the past two years.
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Hajra Shannon

Hajra Shannon

Author
Paula M. Graham

Paula M. Graham

Reviewer
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