Remembering how Robbie Coltrane brought fan-favorite Hagrid character to life - NPR

Actor Robbie Coltrane died connected Friday astatine the property of 72. Fans and formed members from the Harry Potter bid shared remembrances of Coltrane's portrayal of the lovable half-giant Rubeus Hagrid. Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images hide caption

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Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

Actor Robbie Coltrane died connected Friday astatine the property of 72. Fans and formed members from the Harry Potter bid shared remembrances of Coltrane's portrayal of the lovable half-giant Rubeus Hagrid.

Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

Robbie Coltrane's vocation began agelong earlier the archetypal Harry Potter movie premiered successful 2001, but for the procreation that grew up with the films and the books, it's hard to abstracted the Scottish histrion from his larger-than-life (at slightest for muggles) portrayal of Rubeus Hagrid, the authoritative keeper of the keys and grounds astatine Hogwarts.

Following the quality of his decease connected Friday, fans of the bid and Coltrane's chap actors took to societal media to retrieve the antheral that brought the loveable half-giant quality to beingness with iconic lines including, "Yer a wizard, Harry."

RIP to the singular Robbie Coltrane, whose BAFTA-nominated portrayal of Hagrid successful the Harry Potter films is 1 of beauty, humor, and humanity pic.twitter.com/1gWFx0zc4u

Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger, remembered Coltrane for his compassion and the interaction helium had connected her portion they were filming.

"His endowment was truthful immense it made consciousness helium played a elephantine – helium could capable ANY abstraction with his brilliance," Watson wrote. "Robbie, if I ever get to beryllium truthful benignant arsenic you were to maine connected a movie acceptable I committedness I'll bash it successful your sanction and memory. Know however overmuch I adore and respect you. I'll truly miss your sweetness, your nicknames, your warmth, your laughs and your hugs. You made america a family. Know you were that to us. There was nary amended Hagrid. You made it a joyousness to beryllium Hermione."

Tom Felton, whose quality Draco Malfoy was often the rival of Harry Potter, spoke of however Coltrane and Hagrid were much alike successful however they cared for others.

"One of my fondest memories of filming Harry Potter was a nighttime sprout connected the archetypal movie successful the forbidden forest. I was 12. Robbie cared & looked aft everyone astir of him. Effortlessly," Felton wrote connected Instagram. "And made them laugh. Effortlessly. He was a large affable elephantine connected surface but adjacent much truthful In existent life. Love you mate - convey you for everything xx."

Coltrane's Hagrid often brought grins to audiences arsenic helium recovered himself successful comical situations with magical creatures. But his caring and nurturing demeanor often made him lovable.

"Hagrid represented the conception of unconditional love. A existent friend. Thank you Robbie for bringing this quality to life," said a instrumentality connected Twitter.

While reflecting connected the films for the HBO peculiar Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, Coltrane spoke astir his beloved quality outliving him.

"The bequest of the movies is, I suspect, that my children's procreation volition amusement them to their children. So you could beryllium watching it successful 50 years' time, easy," Coltrane said. "I'll not beryllium here, sadly, but ... Hagrid will, yes."

As Harry Potter said, "There's nary Hogwarts without you, Hagrid" – and determination would beryllium nary Hagrid without Coltrane.

another bully 1 gone 💔 remainder successful peace, Hagrid pic.twitter.com/gQRijpG8du