Robbie Coltrane: JK Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe lead tributes as Scottish star of Harry Potter dies aged 72

Tributes are pouring in for Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane, who has died aged 72. The news was confirmed by his agent of 40 years, Belinda Wright.

She confirmed that Coltrane died on Friday 14 October, and thanked the medical staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, near Falkirk in Scotland, for their “care and diplomacy”.

“Robbie was a unique talent, sharing the Guinness Book of Records’ Award for winning three consecutive Best Actor Baftas for his portrayal of Fitz in Granada TV’s series Cracker in 1994/1995/and 1996 with Sir Michael Gambon,” she said in a statement.

“He will probably be best remembered for decades to come as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films. A role which brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world prompting a stream of fan letters every week for over 20 years.

“James Bond fans write too to applaud his role in GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough. 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 to called his Agent, I shall miss him.”

Read more tributes to Coltrane in our liveblog.

Key Points

• Daniel Radcliffe says Robbie Coltrane 'used to keep us laughing constantly’

• JK Rowling describes Robbie Coltrane as “a complete one off”

• Nicola Sturgeon pays tribute to a 'Scottish entertainment legend’

Fred Weasley actor James Phelps recalls Robbie Coltrane’s kindness

19:17 , Kevin Perry

James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley in the Harry Potter films, has paid tribute to the late Robbie Coltrane by recalling his support during the early days of filming Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

“I’ll never forget in September 2000, Robbie Coltrane came over to a very nervous 14yr old me on my 1st ever day on a movie set and said “Enjoy it, you’ll be great”.” he wrote on Twitter. “Thank you for that x”

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe says Robbie Coltrane 'used to keep us laughing constantly’

19:06 , Kevin Perry

Daniel Radcliffe has issued a statement on the death of Robbie Coltrane, his co-star in the Harry Potter films.

“Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set,” Radcliffe said in a statement to Variety. “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,” Radcliffe added. “He was an incredible actor and a lovely man.”

‘Lead acting at it’s finest’: Daniel Mays on Robbie Coltrane in ‘Cracker’

18:55 , Kevin Perry

Line of Duty actor Daniel Mays has joined those praising Coltrane’s range and talent.

“Incredibly sad to hear about the great Robbie Coltrane,” he wrote on Twitter. “Knock-out in so many performances, Harry Potter, National Treasure, but it was Fitz in TV classic Cracker that stands out for me.”

“No one else could’ve played that role the way he did,” he added. “Lead acting at it’s finest.”

JK Rowling describes Robbie Coltrane as “a complete one off”

18:42 , Kevin Perry

On Twitter, Harry Potter creator JK Rowling has described her affection for the late Robbie Coltrane, who played the beloved Hogwarts gamekeeper Hagrid in the movie adaptations of her books.

“I’ll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again,” wrote Rowling. “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.”

Nicola Sturgeon pays tribute to a 'Scottish entertainment legend’

18:29 , Kevin Perry

Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, has paid tribute to Coltrane for his “range and depth as an actor, from brilliant comedy to hard-edged drama.”

She said her favourite of his roles was as criminal psychologist Fitz in Cracker, adding: “Robbie Coltrane, Scottish entertainment legend - you will be hugely missed. RIP”

Stephen Fry recalls meeting Robbie Coltrane ‘almost exactly 40 years ago'

18:24 , Roisin O'Connor

Stephen Fry is one of the first to pay tribute to Robbie Coltrane, whom he recalls meeting “almost exactly 40 years ago”.

Fry, who starred with Coltrane in the comedy series Alfresco, says he was “awe/terror/love struck all at the same time”.

“Such depth, power & talent: funny enough to cause helpless hiccups & honking as we made our first TV show, Alfresco,” he said.

“Farewell, old fellow. You’ll be so dreadfully missed.”

18:19 , Roisin O'Connor

Robbie Coltrane, the Scottish actor best known for playing Hagrid in the Harry Potter film saga has died aged 72, his agent confirmed Friday (14 October).

A cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Aside from the towering, wizarding half-giant, Coltrane also starred in two James Bond films as ex-KGB intelligence officer Valentin Zukovsky. The Russian mafia head was a recurring ally of Pierce Brosnan’s 007 in Goldeneye (1995) and The World is Not Enough (1999).

Robbie Coltrane death: Harry Potter and James Bond star dies aged 72