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| Robbie Coltrane Photo: Eoin Carey, courtesy of the Edinburgh International Film Festival |
Robbie Coltrane has passed away at the age of 72, it was announced today.
The much loved actor, who hailed from Rutherglen, was a legend on the small screen thanks to roles in the likes of Tutti Frutti, Blackadder and Cracker, the latter of which saw him win a BAFTA, while on the big screen her appeared in the James Bond and Harry Potter franchises as well as starring in the likes of Mona Lisa, From Hell and Ocean's 12. His final film role was in Effie Gray in 2014.
A graduate of Glasgow School of Art, Coltrane made his first film appearance almost unnoticed at the airport at the very start of Flash Gordon. He went on to play small roles in the likes of Death Watch and Krull before building up a fan following through his small screen roles which led casting directors to recognise his star power. Although he frequently appeared in comedies, an impressive turn as Falstaff in Kenneth Branagh's Henry V signalled early on that he had the gravitas for straight roles, and in due course he became one of Scotland's best known stars.
In his private life, he was a staunch supporter of the Labour Party and was cautiously in favour of Scottish independence, hoping that it would provide more opportunities for working class people. He supported Amnesty International, CND and Greenpeace.
"He had such range and depth as an actor, from brilliant comedy to hard-edged drama," said First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who was amongst the fans paying tribute, saying that she liked him best in Cracker. Stephen Fry, meanwhile, remembered him for both his talent and his humour, "funny enough to cause helpless hiccups and honking as we made our first TV show, Alfresco."
Coltrane is survived by a son, Spencer, and a daughter, Alice.
