Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane, known worldwide for his role as the half-giant Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, died on Friday at the age of 72, announced his agent, Belinda Wright.
Robbie Coltrane, real name Anthony Robert McMillan, died at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbret, Scotland, Ms.me Wright.
The actor was adored by children around the world for his portrayal of the kind and clumsy half-giant Rubeus Hagrid, who helps young wizard Harry Potter and his friends on their adventures at Hogwarts school. Robbie Coltrane was actually 1.86 m tall, but for the purposes of the cinema, special effects and special effects gave the impression that he was much taller.
With his long hair and his smile, Hagrid represented for many a gentle and reassuring figure. “Hagrid, for me, both in the books and in the films, is the emblem of the safe space among the protagonists of Harry Potter. His house, a little on the edge of the school, is often a refuge, a place of confidences, to ventilate on all kinds of problems, “recalls Montreal writer and teacher Victor Bégin, who grew up reading the books of the Harry Potter saga.
Mr. Bégin also celebrated the wedding of his friend Roxanne Bédard-Daraîche, another great fan of the series, a few years ago, so much so that the ceremony was done on the theme of Harry Potter.
She is in mourning today. “Every teenager needs a Hagrid in their life!” It is a challenge to transmit this benevolence, this gentleness and this complicity on the screen. Yet just looking at Robbie Coltrane in his suit, you instantly think he’s managed to bring Hagrid to life. His presence is gentle and protective, we see that he understood the nature of the character, ”she says.
A career beyond Harry Potter
Robbie Coltrane rose to prominence in the mid-1990s for his role as Doctor Eddie “Fitz” Fitzgerald, a psychologist assisting the Manchester police, in the British series Cracking. He had also played at the time in two films of the James Bond saga (The world is not enough and GoldenEye), playing a Russian mobster, ex-KGB agent.
“Robbie had a unique talent, sharing with Michael Gambon [qui a aussi fait partie de la saga Harry Potter, interprétant le professeur Dumbledore] a record for winning three consecutive Best Actor BAFTAs” with his role on the show Cracking in 1994, 1995 and 1996, recalled his agent.
“He was smart, brilliantly witty and, after 40 years of being his agent, I will miss him,” she added.
“He was an incredible talent, a unique case, and I had the chance to know him, to work with him and to laugh out loud with him”, underlined on Twitter JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter saga.
Ties with the Quebec film industry
Robbie Coltrane rubbed shoulders with personalities from the Quebec artistic community, including director Yves Simoneau, who offered him one of the main roles in his film Perfectly Normal (1990). The British actor played Alonzo Turner, an eccentric character who arrives in a quiet little town in Ontario and decides to invest in an Italian restaurant.
“Robbie was larger than life in every way. A wonderful actor with a great sense of humor. For the team, he liked to sing Sinatra between takes. His death saddens me, ”wrote Yves Simoneau when contacted by The duty.
Canadian admirers of Mr. Coltrane will therefore remember him for roles other than that of the half-giant in Harry Potter. “Robbie Coltrane will remain in my heart for more than his role as Hagrid. He had a gift for phlegm (very British), but he could play comedy superbly, as well as drama, ”said Matthieu Roy-Décarie, an editor who worked on several films by Yves Simoneau.
“I find that people have lacked imagination in casting in roles solely related to his physique (a bit like Ernest Borgnine, in another era). I would have loved to see him in a counter job. He could be sweet and kind,” he added.
This sweetness has also permeated the last television appearance of the actor. In a special program presented by HBO Max for the 20 years of Harry Potter, he had underlined in a moving way the timeless character of the saga: “The great heritage of [cette série] is that my children will show it to their children, so you could listen to it in 50 years. Unfortunately, I won’t be here anymore, but Hagrid will stay. »
With Agence France-Presse