Remembering Robbie Coltrane

The passing of actor Robbie Coltrane has affected everyone who grew up seeing him on screen and has left people reminiscing about all the incredible things he has done for film and TV throughout his career.

Robbie Coltrane is probably best known for, particularly millennials and Gen z, is as Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter franchise.

Through the half-giant’s kind and caring nature and absolute loyalty to his friends, Hagrid, and by extension Robbie Coltrane, became a beloved personality within the film series, and his death has been felt in the hearts of the cast and fans alike.

Robbie Coltrane had a huge and varied career outside of his Harry Potter fame. His role of Dr. Edward 'Fitz' Fitzgerald in Cracker was one of his higher-profile performances as he won three consecutive BAFTA awards for it.

The drama followed ‘Fitz’, a brilliant psychologist with addiction issues, as he helps the Greater Manchester Police solve crimes.

He also appeared in TV programmes such as Blackadder the Third (1987), Murderland (2009), Urban Myths (2019-2022) and Tutti Frutti (1987), showcasing how versatile of an actor Robbie Coltrane was.

As well as his television appearances, Robbie Coltrane did a lot of work as a voice actor, especially in children’s media.

Robbie voiced the Gruffalo in the eponymous film, The Gruffalo (2009) and in The Gruffalo’s Child (2011), using his gruff, Scottish accent to create a memorable performance for the film's audience.

He also starred as the voice of Gooby in A Ted Named Gooby (2009), Gregory in The Tale of Despereaux (2008) and as Lord Dingwall in Brave (2012).

However, the role that catapulted Robbie Coltrane into fame is his role of ex-KGB mafia boss Valentin Zukovsky in the James Bond films: GoldenEye (1995) and The World is Not Enough (1999).

In his 72 years of life, Robbie Coltrane left a monumental legacy. The impact that he has had on everyone who grew up watching him is unmatched. He has starred in so many projects that looking into all of his work would never give the detail it deserves.

I think the best way to sum up his career is with his Harry Potter co-star Emma Watson’s words upon learning of his death:

“His talent was so immense that it made sense he played a giant — he could fill ANY space with his brilliance.”

Edited By Lucy Wilcox