Hagrid became the definition of innocent and loveable after the tall and chubby man with his chest-long beard and shiny eyes took up the role. From the scary and rigid person on the outside to the warm and cozy guardian inside, the character was made memorable by the actor, Robbie Coltrane. His acting career had been one that bought joy to both children and adults alike.
The actor passed away, at the age of 72, at the Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert. The reason for his demise has been withheld. His death is being mourned by fans all around the world. From the writer, JK Rowling to actors like Daniel Radcliff, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, and Tony Robinson has taken to Twitter to share their deep sorrow for his demise. Here’s all about the actor and his contributions.
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Who Was Robbie Coltrane?
The Hagrid actor from the ‘Harry Potter‘ series is hard to forget. But that is only a single venture, there is a lot more to Coltrane’s decades-long career. The Scottish star was born Anthony Robert McMillan in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire in 1950. His mother Jean Ross was a teacher and pianist and his father Ian Baxter McMillan was a general practitioner. The actor studied at private schools including Glenalmond College and did his college education at Glasgow School of Art.
Coltrane’s acting career began in 1979 through the TV series ‘Play For Today‘. But his prominence came through his role in the BBC TV comedy series, ‘A Kick Up the Eighties‘, where he starred along with Tracey Ullman, Miriam Margolyes, and Rik Mayall. For the next few years, the actor did roles in a few crime and comedy series. The actor secured the Bafta Award for Best Actor for three consecutive years from 1994 to 1996. The recognition was for his role as a criminal psychologist Dr, Eddie “Fitz” Fitzgerald in the ITV series ‘Cracker‘ from 1993 to 1995.
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And Finally The Best Role- Hagrid!
Coltrane was a much-accomplished actor. But his worldwide fame came through his role, Rubeus Hagrid in the wonderful movie series ‘Harry Potter‘. The actor appeared in all eight movies alongside Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. Coltrane did his part of the half-human and half-giant very well. But the actor had to fight his way from the role. That too against the famous actor and comedian Robbie Williams. Chris Columbus was to direct the debut installments of the franchise. And the American actor had approached Columbus for the role as he was a fan of the book series. But Williams couldn’t bag the role due to JK Rowling’s policy of casting only actors from the United Kingdom, specifically those who identify as British or Irish. So Robbie Williams didn’t get the role. Thus Rowling’s first pick, Robbie Coltrane became our Hagrid forever!
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