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.
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