Famous actor of the Harry Potter Series, Robbie Coltrane dies at 72

by Jessica Cline,

Staff Writer

The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.

Robbie Coltrane on the red carpet for the European premiere of Brave at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh. 30 June 2012. Photograph: Amy Muir © EIFF, Edinburgh International Film Festival

The Scottish born actor, Robbie Coltrane was most recognizable for his role in the “Harry Potter” Series. Coltrane spent a long and passionate decade spending his time playing Hagrid, who was a loving half-giant to many. On Friday, October 14, 2022 he died unexpectedly with no further information.

His past credits also included a lot in the world of Disney: Lord Dingwall in the film “Brave”, Tweedledum in “Alice in Wonderland” and Gregory in “The Tale of Despereaux.”

Robbie Coltrane made an impact on everyone that enjoyed the movies in the Harry Potter Series. His character is known to be a fearless leader and mentor to the new wizards of the wizarding school, Hogwarts.

Many fans looked up to him as he portrayed a parental figure to Harry Potter who was only eleven years old. It was easing to listen to Hagrid and the many lessons he had taught through the eight movies.

(HP7 - Harry Potter Seven PT1 Movie Billboard - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter and Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid fighting Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort on a film poster on bus on 23rd Street in New York City 11/17/2010 NYC traffic taxi cab cabs cross walk pedestrian AD Advertisement pop popular art mural)

Bradley students express all around the unexpected loss of Robbie Coltrane. Jillian Cline (12) found comfort within his character. She goes on to explain, “It was really hard to hear that [Coltrane] died. I found a love of Harry Potter over quarantine.” Lenora Pratt (12), another fan of Hagrid, expresses “The first book I read was Harry Potter and he brought one of my favorite characters to life. It was like losing a part of my childhood when I found out.” He impacted many book and movie lovers all around Bradley.

As he made an impact on his fans, his fellow actors will also never forget who he was. Daniel Radcliffe who played Harry Potter said in a statement, "Robbie was one of the funniest people I've met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set.” Bonnie Wright who played Ginny Weasley, expressed that she is “heartbroken by the passing of Robbie Coltrane." His legacy will never die from people he spent so much time with. The countless hours that Coltrane spent on television turned into core memories for everlasting “Harry Potter” fans.