Robbie Coltrane, the actor best known for portraying Rubeus Hagrid in the “Harry Potter” film franchise, has died at 72. His talent agency, WME, confirmed his passing to Variety on Friday, October 14.
Deadline reports that Coltrane died in a hospital near his home in Larbert, Scotland after suffering from health issues over the past two years.
Coltrane was born Anthony Robert McMillan in Rutherglen, Scotland in 1950. He adopted his stage name Coltrane in his 20s to honor saxophonist and jazz legend John Coltrane. After taking part in local theater productions, Coltrane went on to appear in several TV roles including “Tutti Frutti” and “Blackadder the Third,” as well as in movies including “Mona Lisa” and “Flash Gordon.”
His breakthrough role came in Cracker in the 1990s, and appearing in the Harry Potter movies in 2001 brought him international acclaim.
Coltrane is survived by two children.
More to come…