Two weeks ago, the wizarding world lost a beloved friend when Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane – known for portraying Hagrid, an eight-foot giant – passed away at 72 years old. He was universally revered as a kind, gentle, and caring human that loved making others smile.
His death was announced by his agent, Belinda Wright, on October 14th, adding in a statement that ‘he was forensically intelligent, brilliantly witty and after 40 years of being proud to be called his agent, I shall miss him.’ Her words were echoed by just about everyone Coltrane touched.
On Tuesday, new details emerged as Coltrane’s cause of death was revealed. According to the Daily Mirror, he passed away from multiple organ failure complicated by sepsis and heart block. He was living with obesity, Type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and several other health conditions.
When the news of his death hit the airwaves, millions of people shared their thoughts on social media – he was a man that touched the hearts of many. Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed Harry Potter in the popular fictional series, called Robbie Coltrane ‘one of the funniest people I’ve met.’
“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,” said Radcliffe.
Emma Watson, who portrayed Hermoine Granger in the Harry Potter series, referred to Coltrane as the ‘most fun uncle she ever had.’ “His talent was so immense it made sense that he played a giant—he could fill ANY space with his brilliance,” she said, referring to his larger-than-life role.
“Know how much l adore and admire you. I’ll really miss your sweetness, your nicknames, your warmth, your laughs, and your hugs. You made us a family. Know you were that to us. There was no better Hagrid. You made it a joy to be Hermione,” she added in an Instagram story.
Robbie Coltrane Wasn’t 8-Feet Tall But Had the Heart of a Giant
Robbie Coltrane is best known for portraying an eight-foot giant named Hagrid and while he’s only 6-foot-1 in real life, he had the heart of a giant. With the help of green screens, tiny props, and masterful camera angles, he took on a new appearance – but his personality remained.
Coltrane leaves behind his children, Spencer and Alice, his sister, Annie Rae, and the mother of his children, Rhona Gemmell – who he was married to between 1999 and 2003. He was born in Rutherglen, Scotland on March 30, 1950, and began his acting career at the age of 28 in 1978.
In addition to Harry Potter, Coltrane appeared in several other popular films – including Tutti Frutti, Cracker, National Treasure, Mona Lisa, Nuns on the Run, GoldenEye, The World Is Not Enough, Let It Ride, Henry V, Ocean’s Twelve, Great Expectations, Effie Gray, and much more.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 25 Harry Potter Memes for Wizards, Muggles, and Quidditch Fans
According to the CDC, sepsis is ‘the body’s extreme response to an infection.’ It generally occurs when an infection in the lung, urinary tract, skin, or GI tract triggers a chain reaction in the body – resulting in tissue damage, organ failure, and death, if not treated in a timely manner.
Mamas Uncut is THE online place for moms. We cover the latest about motherhood, parenting, and entertainment as well – all with a mom-focused twist. So if you're looking for parenting advice from real parents, we have plenty of it, all for moms from moms, and also experts. Because, at the end of the day, our mission is focused solely on empowering moms and moms-to-be with the knowledge and answers they’re looking for in one safe space.