Actors Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have both shared tributes to their Harry Potter co-star, Robbie Coltrane, who passed away on Oct. 15.
Grint posted a photo on Instagram of Coltrane as the Hogwarts groundskeeper, Rubeus Hagrid, writing that he was "heartbroken" to hear the news of the actor's death. "I’ll never forget the smell of cigars and beard glue- a wonderful combination," he wrote, adding that "No one else on this planet could of played Hagrid" and that Coltrane was similar to Hagrid in the Harry Potter book: a "warm, compassionate and hilarious" person who was "still looking out for us even decades later." Watson shared Grint's sentiment in a post on her Instagram story, where she wrote that Coltrane was "deeply caring, and compassionate towards me as a child and as an adult."
The franchise's lead actor, Daniel Radcliffe, also shared a tribute to Coltrane after the actor's passing. "Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set," he said. "I’ve especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on Prisoner of Azkaban, when we were all hiding from the torrential rain for hours in Hagrid’s hut and he was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up. I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he’s passed. He was an incredible actor and a lovely man."
Robbie Coltrane Remembered
Coltrane was 72 when he died, and had been struggling with illness for a while. In addition to his role in Harry Potter, the actor is also known for his part as Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky in the James Bond films. Coltrane got his start as a stage actor, and appeared in the first theater production of John Byrne's The Slab Boys. He then pivoted to screen acting, where he had roles in TV series such as Flash Gordon (1980), Death Watch (1980), and The Supergrass (1985).
Coltrane debuted in Harry Potter in the series' first film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, in a role that none other than Robin Williams himself had eyed. Williams wanted to play Hagrid so badly that he even went as far as to call director Chris Columbus, but lost the role because the producers had a "Brits only" rule for the main cast.
All 8 Harry Potter movies are available to stream on Peacock.
Source: Instagram