Trivia

Was the very first person to be cast in Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal (2001). In fact, he was selected for the role of Hagrid by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

Only took the role of Hagrid in the Harry Potter series after his children urged him to do so.

He was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2006 New Year's Honours List for his services to drama.

Frequently played giants and had to wear padding, lifts, and had to be shot from below, in such film as the "Harry Potter" series, where he played "Hagrid", and in Van Helsing (2004), where he was generated into a computer to play a bear-sized "Mr. Hyde".

When not on the stage or in front of the cameras, he painted, wrote and illustrated children's books and wrote three film scripts.

Graduated from the Glasgow School of Art where he majored in drawing, painting and film.

His cause of death is listed as "multiple organ failure." He was reportedly suffering from a series of health issues: sepsis, a lower respiratory tract infection, Type 2 diabetes, heart block and obesity.

Appeared in eight films opposite a former member of Monty Python's Flying Circus. His cast mate in Nuns on the Run (1990) and Gran disparate yankee en Europa (1985) was Eric Idle. He appeared in 007: El mundo no basta (1999), Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal (2001), and Harry Potter y la Cámara Secreta (2002), all of which also starred John Cleese. He also appeared in Billy Connolly: A BAFTA Tribute (2002), A Night of Comic Relief 2 (1989) and The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball (1989), all of which featured Michael Palin.

He could detect and speak over 100 British accents.

Attended the world renowned Scottish boarding school, Glenalmond College, in Perthshire, Scotland.

He received the Outstanding Contribution to Film accolade at the 2011 British Academy Scotland Awards.

He was a mechanic before taking to the stage.

He owned his own company 'Bad Business'.

Was asked to play Takis in the Doctor Who (1963) serial "Revelation of the Daleks". Trevor Cooper won the role. He was also considered for the DJ that went to Alexei Sayle. He was also a candidate to play the Eighth Doctor in Doctor Who (1996).

Educated at Glen Almond College, Perthshire.

Toured American universities with San Quentin Theatre.

He trained at Glasgow School of Art.

He turned down the lead role in Carry on Columbus (1992) that went to Jim Dale. Incidentally, Coltrane went on to star in two productions directed by someone named Columbus: Chris Columbus directed him in the first two Harry Potter movies.

'Jimmy McGovern's Cracker: From Tragedy to Success - A Noir of the Nineties" by Josephine M. Dunn (IMDb Josephine Dunn II) is now available on Amazon as a Kindle e-book ASIN B07BMC583S. It covers the 1st 3 stories in the Cracker series & was the subject of the author's M.A. dissertation Derby University September 1996. Copies were previously held in the libraries of Derby University and ITV plc (formerly Granada TV) . Josephine was one of the production managers on the BBC film drama "Needle" also written by Jimmy McGovern and subsequently Jimmy, producer Gub Neal and the 3 directors of series I of Cracker (Andy Wilson, Michael Winterbottom, Simon Cellan Jones) gave extensive and exclusive interviews to Josephine for her M.A. dissertation. Robbie Coltrane lived in Southborough Road Hackney as a near neighbour of Josephine and used to visit for whisky & chats.

Collected bone china, model ships and old American cars of which he has 4.

A memorial service was held for him at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 12th November 2024.