Robbie Coltrane filmography and biography
Date of birth: 30 March 1950, Rutherglen, Scotland, UK
Robbie Coltrane biography
Robbie Coltrane, one of Britain's most popular comedians who was head of
debating society at school, and won prizes for his art, is now an
international film star who played in two James Bond films, and
appeared as Rubeus Hagrid in the 'Harry Potter' franchise.
He was born Anthony Robert McMillan on March 30, 1950, in Rutherglen, a
suburb of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. His father, Ian McMillan,
was a general surgeon who also worked for police pathology. His mother,
Jean, was a teacher and a pianist. Young Robbie was fond of art, music,
films and cars. He was a voracious reader of his dad's books on
medicine and crime. At age 12, he made his acting debut on stage at
Glenalmond College, delivering rants from 'Henry V'. At that time he
was fascinated with Marlon Brando and Orson Welles.
He attended Glasgow Art School, majoring in drawing, painting and film,
then studied art at Edinburgh's Moray House College of Education for a
year. In 1973 he made a documentary titled 'Young Mental Health' which
was voted Film Of The Year by the Scottish Education Council. At that
time Robbie took the name Coltrane, due to his love of jazz, and began
a career of a stand-up comedian at night clubs, at the Edinburgh
Festival, as well as an actor with Edinburgh's renowned Traverse
Theatre.
In 1980 Coltrane made his debut on television as Border Guard in BBC's
mini-series 'The Lost Tribe', then made his big screen debut as
Limousine driver in La mort en direct. In 1981 he
appeared in his first leading role as Detective Fritz Langley in
Subway Riders, by the famed underground director
Amos Poe.
He became a well-known face through appearances in The Comic Strip
series, then in Alfresco and Comic Strip movies
The Supergrass and The Pope Must Die among
other films. At that time Coltrane had trouble with alcohol, having a
bottle of whiskey a day; in 1986 he flew to a clinic in Mexico and was
treated for obesity. In 1987, his partner for 15 years, Paine, left him
for good, leaving her portrait in Coltrain's barn.
In 1988 Coltrane met then 18-year-old Rhona Gemmell in a pub, they
married and had a son, Spencer, and a daughter, Alice. His career took
off during the early 90s with the leading role as Dr. Eddie 'Fitz'
Fitzgerald, a forensic psychologist, in the popular TV series
Cracker.
He made such a good performance as Valentin Zukovsky, a KGB man turned
St. Petersburg mafia lord, in GoldenEye, that they called
him back for the same character in
The World Is Not Enough. Then Coltrane hit another
lucrative franchise; he was personally selected by J.K. Rowling as her
favorite choice to play half-giant Rubeus Hagrid in the 'Harry Potter'
films.
In early 90s Coltrane wrote an autobiographical book 'Coltrane in a
Cadillac', and also starred in the eponymous TV series, where he
indulges his passion for vintage cars, and tells with great humor about
his four-thousand-mile journey across America from Los Angeles to New
York. In 2003 he separated from his wife.
His interests outside of his acting profession has been reading books,
and rebuilding and collecting vintage cars. Robbie Coltrane is residing
in a converted farmhouse in Stirlingshire, Scotland, UK.
Robbie Coltrane trivia
- Son born c. 1992; daughter born c. 1998
- Graduated from the Glasgow School of Art where he majored in drawing,
painting and film.
- Has two children: Alice and Spencer.
- Frequently plays giants and has to wear padding, lifts, and has to be
shot from below, in such film as the "Harry Potter" series, where he
played "Hagrid", and in Van Helsing, where he was
generated into a computer to play a bear-sized "Mr. Hyde".
- Has appeared in eight films opposite a former member of Monty Python's
Flying Circus. His cast mate in Nuns on the Run and
European Vacation was Eric Idle. He appeared in
The World Is Not Enough,
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, and
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, all of which
also starred John Cleese. He also appeared in
Billy Connolly: A BAFTA Tribute (2002) (TV),
A Night of Comic Relief 2 (1989) (TV) and
The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball (1989) (TV), all of which
featured Michael Palin.
- 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.
- Attended the world renowned Scottish boarding school, Glenalmond
College, in Perthshire, Scotland.
- Personally selected by J.K. Rowling as her favorite choice to play
Hagrid.
- Though he says he took his stage name from musician
John Coltrane, his name is actually closer to that of John's
son, Ravi Coltrane.
- Was the very first person to be cast in
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. In fact, he was
selected for the role of Hagrid by Harry Potter author
J.K. Rowling.
Robbie Coltrane quotes
- "In real life, I'm 6' 1" - each way pretty well, north and south and
east and west, unfortunately."
- "Once you've been doing anything for twenty-five years people start to
notice you. What was really nice about the OBE is that it's the first
award where I didn't have to make a speech and I didn't have to sit
there waiting to see if I'd won - I knew I was going to get it."