DYKFACTS
Robbie Coltrane, a veteran Scottish actor and comedian, has died at the age of 72. He is best known for introducing Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and everyone else to the wizarding world as the kind, gentle giant Hagrid.
Coltrane was a versatile actor who could make people laugh, warm their hearts, and be amazed in many different roles, but most people will remember him as the friendly half-giant.
More importantly, Coltrane's performance captured the wackiness of the wizarding world itself, making him a part of the heart and soul of the franchise for everyone who saw the movies.
He would stay a loyal friend of Harry and his friends for the whole series, rising to the rank of professor.
In the first movie, he played Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper. His kind, funny, and generally brilliant acting won everyone's hearts as he led Harry and the audience to Hogwarts.
He became a real star, though, when he played Dr. Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald in the hit movie and later TV show Cracker. He won three BAFTAs in a row for Best Actor for this role.
He was a consistent part of the Harry Potter series, and his roles in the TV show Cracker and the James Bond movies The World Is Not Enough and GoldenEye also earned him praise.