“You could be watching it in 50 years’ time, easy. I’ll not be here, sadly, but Hagrid will.”
Fans of Robbie Coltrane are sharing a touching clip of the late actor’s last day on the set of Harry Potter where he talks emotionally about how Hagrid will outlive him.
The Scottish actor’s agent, Belinda Wright, confirmed Coltrane’s passing on Friday, saying that he had died in hospital near his home in Larbert.
Shortly afterwards, an interview with Coltrane started clocking up thousands of views on social media.
“I just think it is the end of an era, it is 10 years of my life, my children have grown up during it, of course,” Coltrane tells the camera before someone on set announces that it is the “finest gamekeeper in Hogwarts’ last day on Harry Potter”.
Coltrane then goes on: “The legacy of the movies is that my children’s generation will show them to their children, so you could be watching it in 50 years’ time, easy.
“I’ll not be here, sadly, but Hagrid will. Yes,” he laughs.
"You can be watching in 50 years time. I won't be here sadly, but Hagrid will."
Robbie Coltrane talking about how his portrayal of Hagrid in the Harry Potter series will outlive him. 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ybd7MCx06y
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) October 14, 2022
In a statement, Wright described Coltrane as a “unique talent”, adding his role as Hagrid “brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world”.
“For me personally I shall remember him as an abidingly loyal client,” she added.
“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.”
Coltrane is reported to have been in ill health for the last two years.
The actor memorably played Hogwarts gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter series and played forensic psychologist Dr Edward ‘Fitz’ Coltrane in Cracker.
For the latter, he won three consecutive BAFTA Best Actor awards.
Coltrane was made an OBE in the 2006 New Year’s Honours list for his services to drama and he was awarded the Bafta Scotland Award for outstanding contribution to film in 2011.
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