Earlier this year, Robbie Coltrane opened up about the close relationship that he had with the young Harry Potter actors, saying watching them grow was like watching his own children grow up.
Kind tributes are pouring in following the sad news that Robbie has passed away aged 72. The Scots actor most notably portrayed the legendary role of Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter film series.
In 2001 just before the first film was released, Coltrane spoke about the special bond that he formed with his young co-stars, in particular, a 12-year-old Daniel Radcliffe.
"He's a lovely kid and he's a laugh. A really nice wee lad," he told the Evening Chronicle fondly.
"There was a lot of mucking about going on, but they weren't those awful theatre school kids who come in all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and tell you what their last production was. They were much more cool about it."
In January of this year, Robbie spoke again about his relationship with the young actors in an HBO TV special for the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary, which he described as a "family reunion".
He said: "Watching them growing up was kind of like watching you own grow up, you know. Because you were protecting them."
Later in the interview Robbie added: "I do have enormous happy memories of this actually."
Radcliffe shared his own fond memories 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.
"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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