Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis and other actors who were just children when they filmed with Coltrane remembered him as a fun presence and caring influence during their formative years.
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Coltrane was “one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set,” Radcliffe, who played the films’ titular boy wizard, said in a statement to the PA Media news agency.
“I’ve especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on [the 2004 film] 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,” Radcliffe 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.”
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Watson, who played Hermione Granger, described Coltrane on Instagram as “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 an adult.”
“His talent was so immense it made sense he played a giant ― he could fill ANY space with his brilliance,” she wrote. “Robbie, if I ever get to be so kind as you were to me on a film set I promise I’ll do it in your name and memory.”
Felton, who played Draco Malfoy, recalled Coltrane looking after and caring for everyone on set during one particular shoot.
“He was a big friendly giant on screen but even more so In real life. Love you mate - thank you for everything xx,” he wrote on Twitter.
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One of my fondest memories of filming Harry Potter was 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. pic.twitter.com/eQA5v1YCm8
Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, spoke about Coltrane’s nickname for him: “Space Boy.”
“We shared a love of the final frontier,” he tweeted. “He didn’t give a fuck and it always made you smile. A giant, in more ways than one. We had some times x.”
Robbie. Bobser. He called me Space Boy. We shared a love of the final frontier. He didn’t give a fuck and it always made you smile. A giant, in more ways than one. We had some times x
Warwick Davis, who played professor Filius Flitwick, said Coltrane always brought “warmth, light and laughter to any set he walked on to.”
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I was saddened to learn that fellow #HarryPotter cast member, Robbie Coltrane died today. Always jovial, he brought warmth, light and laughter to any set he walked on to. RIP Robbie, Beloved Giant of comedy.x pic.twitter.com/NGT644dA7K
I will miss the random chats about all subjects under the sun.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 x
November 2001 - Leicester Square, London. "Soak this in lads, its like a Rolls-Royce for your first car"! Robbie Coleraine when he was next to me on the red carpet of the first HP premiere. Over the years we had some great chats about history and travel. Rest in peace Robbie x
“Harry Potter” novelist J.K. Rowling, meanwhile, praised Coltrane as 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.”
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I'll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again. 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. pic.twitter.com/tzpln8hD9z
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