Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have joined their co-stars in paying tribute to following the actor’s death aged 72.
Coltrane – best known for playing Rubeus Hagrid in the fantasy franchise – his agent confirmed with a statement.
with Radcliffe hailing him ‘one of the funniest people’ and an ‘incredible actor.’
The actor, who starred in the lead role in the wizarding series, worked closely with Coltrane throughout the eight films.
Radcliffe shared fond memories from set in a statement shared with the PA news agency, 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.’
He added: ‘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.’
Joining the actor with his tribute was Watson, famous for her role as Hermione Granger.
She posted a heartfelt message to her Instagram Story, saying Coltrane was like a ‘fun uncle’ to her, and she will always ‘adore’ and ‘admire’ him.
‘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 as an adult,’ she penned.
‘His talent was so immense it made sense he played a giant – he could fill ANY space with his brilliance.’
Speaking directly to the late star, she continued: ‘Robbie, if I ever get to be so kind as you were to me on a film set I promise to do it in your name and memory. Know how much I adore and admire you.
‘I’ll really miss your sweetness, your nicknames, your warmth, your laughs and your hugs. You made us a family. Know you were that to us.’
She concluded by declaring: ‘There was no better Hagrid. You made it a joy to be Hermione.’
Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton, meanwhile, said one of his ‘fondest memories’ of filming Harry Potter was during a night shoot on the first film in the ‘forbidden forest.’
‘I was 12. Robbie cared & looked after everyone around of him. Effortlessly. And made them laugh. Effortlessly,’ he hailed.
‘He was a big friendly giant on screen but even more so in real life,’ he wrote lovingly, signing off: ‘Love you mate – thank you for everything.’
Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films was also full of nicknames for the Hagrid star.
‘Robbie. Bobser. He called me Space Boy. We shared a love of the final frontier,’ Lewis wrote.
‘He didn’t give a f**k and it always made you smile.’
Ending on a poignant note and referring to Coltrane’s role as the half-giant half-human character, he concluded: ‘A giant, in more ways than one. We had some times x’.
Elsewhere, James Phelps, who starred as Fred Weasley, recalled his first memory of the actor and his words of encouragement when he was just a young boy.
‘I will miss the random chats about all subjects under the sun,’ Phelps tweeted.
‘And 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’. Thank you for that.’
Fellow Weasley twin Oliver Phelps also had some sweet words to share from Coltrane as he recalled their first premiere as a Harry Potter cast in London’s Leicester Square in November 2001.
‘Soak this in lads, it’s like a Rolls-Royce for your first car!’, Coltrane told the cast of young actors.
The George Weasley actor added in his tweet: ‘Over the years we had some great chats about history and travel. Rest in peace Robbie x’.
Author of the best-selling franchise JK Rowling added that she will ‘never know anyone remotely like Robbie again’ in her tribute, writing: ‘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,’ she added.
