London

Scottish actor, comedian and writer Robbie Coltrane, who played the lovable half-giant Rubeus Hagrid in the 'Harry Potter' franchise, has died.

He passed away at the age of 72 on Friday night.

Coltrane featured in every 'Harry Potter' movie, from 'Sorcerer's Stone' in 2001 to 'Deathly Hallows Part 2' in 2011, and was much beloved for bringing the character from J.K. Rowling's book series to life.

He was among one of the first characters to appear on screen, and he recited the famous line, "Yer a wizard, Harry," to a young Daniel Radcliffe as he embarked on his journey into the wizarding world.

A towering figure, but softie at heart, he cared for some of the 'Harry Potter' world's most ferocious, and iconic, creatures.

Under his care were Buckbeak the hippogriff, Fang the boarhound, Fluffy the three-headed dog, Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback dragon, Aragog the massive talking spider, and the eerily majestic Thestrals.

Coltrane will forever be known to millions as Hagrid in the 'Harry Potter' movies, but he was also a member of the James Bond franchise, having appeared in 1995's 'Golden Eye' and 1999's 'The World Is Not Enough'.

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Most recently, Coltrane returned to his 'Harry Potter' roots and appeared in HBO Max's 20th anniversary 'Return to Hogwarts' reunion special along with Radcliffe and other stars, notably Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.