Daniel Radcliffe has penned a touching tribute to Robbie Coltrane, who sadly passed away on Friday (October 14) at the age of 72.

The two actors were brought together on the big screen thanks to their respective roles in the Harry Potter movies. In the franchise's first movie, Coltrane played the lovable half-giant and half-human Rubeus Hagrid, who guides Radcliffe's young boy wizard to Hogwarts for the first time.

The duo went on to star together in every movie in the franchise, with Hagrid being guardian and mentor to Potter.

Following news of Coltrane's death, Radcliffe penned the following statement, via Variety: "Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set.

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."

Radcliffe's statement concludes: "I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he’s passed.

"He was an incredible actor and a lovely man."

Among the many stars to pay their respects to the late actor was Harry Potter author J.K Rowling, who wrote on Twitter: "I'll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again. He was an incredible talent, a complete one off, and I was beyond fortunate to know him, work with him and laugh my head off with him.

"I send my love and deepest condolences to his family, above all his children."

As reported by BBC News, the Harry Potter and James Bond star passed away on Friday (October 14) in a hospital near Falkirk in Scotland.

A statement from Coltrane's agent, Belinda Wright, said: "For me personally I shall remember him as an abidingly loyal client. As well as being a wonderful actor, he was forensically intelligent, brilliantly witty and after 40 years of being proud to be called his agent, I shall miss him.

"He is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his children Spencer and Alice and their mother Rhona Gemmell. They would like to thank the medical staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert for their care and diplomacy.

"Please respect Robbie's family's privacy at this distressing time."

As well as playing Hagrid in every movie in the Harry Potter film franchise, the Scottish actor also captivated audiences with his roles as Valentin Zukovsky in the James Bond movies Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough, and as Mr. Hyde in Van Helsing.

Other movie credits include Disney's Brave, From Hell, Ocean's Twelve, and Stormbreaker.

On the small screen, Coltrane became a household name in the UK thanks to his hilarious contributions on the Channel 4 show The Comic Strip Presents..., alongside comedy legends such as Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, and Jennifer Saunders.

Coltrane would go on to showcase more of his incredible comedy skills in 80s shows like Alfresco and The Young Ones.

In 1993, Coltrane would land perhaps his most memorable television role in the crime drama Cracker. The actor portrayed the unlikely hero Dr. Eddie 'Fitz' Fitzgerald - a role that spanned for 25 episodes over 13 years.

In 2006, Coltrane was recognized for his services to drama in the Queen's New Year's honors list and awarded an OBE.

Additionally, in 2011, Coltrane was awarded a Scottish Bafta for his outstanding contribution to film.

Our thoughts continue to go out to Coltrane's family, friends, and fans at this time.

Featured image credit: Album / Alamy

Robbie Coltrane - the beloved star who played the beloved Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies - passed away yesterday (October 14) at the age of 72.

The Scottish actor and comedian played rugged gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid in all eight installments of the magical movie franchise, starring alongside then-child actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Ruper Grint.

As tributes from Coltrane's Potter co-stars pour in, many people are remembering the fond way that Coltrane himself described his relationship with them.

During an interview on HBO's reunion special 'Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts', the actor reflected on what it was like watching the young cast grow up.

"You've got to remember, when they first started they were about eight. I think the oldest of them was 11," Coltrane said in the special, which aired on New Year's Day 2022.

"Now they’re big grown-ups with their own lives. Grint's had a baby – Grint’s now a father! It’s just astonishing, the change," he continued, adding: "Watching them growing up was kind of like watching your own grow up, you know? Because you were protecting them."

Coltrane shares two children with his ex-wife Rhona Gemmell: Spencer, born in 1992, and Alice, born in 1998.

Coltrane went on to praise his young co-stars, saying: "I was always astonished at how fearless they were. I remember walking into The Great Hall, and I've been doing this for 30 years, and I thought, 'Dear Lord! Woah, better get this one right.'"

"I do have enormous happy memories of this actually," he added.

Following news of Coltrane's death, Radcliffe penned his own emotional tribute to the star.

"Robbie was one of the funniest people I've met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set. 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," he said in a statement to Variety.

"I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he’s passed," Radcliffe continued, adding: "He was an incredible actor and a lovely man."

As well as starring in the Potter movies, Coltrane was also known for his villainous turn in the Bond flicks GoldenEye (1995) and The World Is Not Enough (1999). In 2006 he was appointed an OBE for his services to drama, and in 2011, he was awarded a Scottish BAFTA.

Our thoughts continue to go out to Coltrane's family, friends, and fans at this time.

Featured Image Credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy

The quickest way to feel old is to realise that Rupert Grint, the actor who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter series, turned 30 years old this year - especially since he was cast at the young age of eleven.

A little older than his wizarding co-stars Emma Watson, 28, and Daniel Radcliffe, 29, Grint is the member of the Hogwarts trio that has stayed out of the limelight the most, and it's partly by design.

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Describing himself as "naturally an introvert," the actor has worked on various indie movies and more obscure TV shows since the series ended in 2011 with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2. Speaking to the Guardian recently, he revealed that the line between him and Ron grew thinner with each film, to the point that he felt they were "virtually the same person".

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“For the first few Harry Potter films I was living the dream,” he said. “The reason I auditioned was because I loved the books."

However, things didn't always go so smoothly. Grint opened up about a period of time when he seriously considered stepping away from the series entirely, when the huge success of the movies became overwhelming.

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"When I got to film three or four, I started to feel an overwhelming weight of responsibility because they were so phenomenally popular. The whole press and red carpet thing was an attack on the senses. I don’t excel in that kind of environment.

“There were definitely times when I thought about leaving. Filming Harry Potter was a massive sacrifice; working from such a young age for such long periods and I definitely remember thinking during one extended break, ‘This whole thing is so all consuming, do I really want to go back? Maybe it’s just not for me.’ I guess I was probably just being a teenager."

He also spoke about what the intense media and fan attention was like in those years, with some almost hoping that he got caught in a scandal.

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“As I got older I could feel this growing narrative willing me to get engulfed in some big scandal off-screen," he said. "It felt like people were waiting for me to go off the rails, but it was never going to happen."

“We filmed the whole thing in this very intense bubble in Watford not Hollywood, so we didn’t have the chance to discover drugs, or anything like that.”

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“I peaked pretty early, but I’m fine with that,” he added. “It would be ridiculous to think that you can replicate that level of success. It’s always going to be a challenge, but I’m kind of enjoying that. It’s quite fun to surprise people.”

The actor is next set to star in the upcoming ABC Murders on BBC One this Christmas, and is also in the TV series spin-off of Snatch, airing on AMC.

Robbie Coltrane's cause of death has been revealed more than a week after his passing was first reported.

The Harry Potter star, who played Rubeus Hagrid in the popular fantasy franchise, died in a hospital near Falkirk in Scotland on October 14 at the age of 72.

A statement from Coltrane's agent, Belinda Wright, read: "For me personally I shall remember him as an abidingly loyal client. As well as being a wonderful actor, he was forensically intelligent, brilliantly witty and after 40 years of being proud to be called his agent, I shall miss him.

"He is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his children Spencer and Alice and their mother Rhona Gemmell. They would like to thank the medical staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert for their care and diplomacy. Please respect Robbie's family's privacy at this distressing time."

Wright went on to say that Coltrane was a "unique talent" and that his iconic role as Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter film series "brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world".

Now, it is being reported by multiple outlets, including The Mirror, that the actor died from multiple organ failure.

According to Coltrane's death certificate, he was suffering from sepsis, lower respiratory tract infection and heart block at the time of his passing.

Coltrane had also been diagnosed with obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

In the wake of his passing, a number of Coltrane's co-stars shared some touching words in honor of the star.

“Heartbroken to hear that Robbie is gone. I’ll never forget the smell of cigars and beard glue- a wonderful combination,” Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies, wrote on Instagram. “No one else on this planet could of played Hagrid, only Robbie.”

Grint continued: “Just as Hagrid was in the books and films Robbie was in life- warm, compassionate and hilarious. A giant-hearted man who was still looking out for us even decades later. Sending love to his family. See you on the other side Bobser.”

Daniel Radcliffe paid tribute to Coltrane in a statement via Deadline, saying: “Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set.

"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 and very sad that he’s passed. He was an incredible actor and a lovely man.”

Emma Watson, who famously portrayed bookworm Hermione Granger in the films, penned a touching tribute, which was shared on her Instagram Story.

“Robbie was like the most fun uncle I’ve ever had, but most of all, he was deeply caring and compassionate towards me as a child and an adult,” she said. “His talent was so immense that it made sense he played a giant — he could fill ANY space with his brilliance.”

Featured image credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy

For many people around the world, the Harry Potter movies are still the pinnacle of cinematic franchises. Sorry Star Wars fans, apologies to Lord of the Rings supporters, and forget about the MCU: the Harry Potter movies are where it's at. Furthermore, we've got more movie prequels still to come in the future, which is welcome news to Potterphiles. However, since the sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the Crimes of Grindlewald, ended up with a mixed critical reception, many people have elected to rewatch the initial eight movies, to revisit what made them so special in the first place.

However, one person who hasn't been marathoning the series all over again is actor Rupert Grint, who portrayed the character of Ron Weasley. Despite the fame, friends and success that the movies brought him, Grint has always had something of an ambivalent relationship to the Potterverse since filming wrapped on Deathly Hallows, and indeed, he has mentioned in interviews since that he even considered leaving the franchise as a teenager, which would have necessitated a significant recast.

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However, in a recent interview with The Radio Times, the now-30-year-old actor has revealed that he's unable to watch the movies beyond The Prisoner of Azkaban, due to his disassociation from the character at that point.

Commenting on the movies, Grint stated: "I think those early ones are OK. More time has passed. I can detach myself a bit more from that kid. I did see Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone not long ago, for the first time since the premiere, and I actually enjoyed looking back. But the more recent ones I definitely couldn't do. I could probably go up to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."

He added: "What would have happened if I hadn’t got that part? I was always into art, I guess I would have gone to university… I’m not sure, but I do think about that a lot I struggle to remember life before it. I think I lost myself a little bit along the way. With the fame, you're almost being the character even when you're not in character. From the moment I got the part, my life completely changed. It was a weird time and it has taken me a long while to process. Just being invisible can still be difficult. Sometimes you just want to go to B&Q."

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"I've never really been super-ambitious. I think there’s always been something in me, particularly when I finished Potter, that wants to prove myself, but I’m also naturally quite an insecure person anyway."

But has Grint been resting on his laurels? Absolutely not! In fact, he's been very busy playing the part of Inspector Crome alongside John Malkovich's Hercule Poirot in the BBC series The ABC Murders. Ah well, here's hoping that he'll be able to stick on Goblet of Fire one of these days.