Moments That Made Us Fall in Love with Robbie Coltrane’s Hagrid

Scottish comedian and actor, Robbie Coltrane, passed away at 72. The actor had roles in Van Helsing and Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond. But the character he was most well known for was Hagrid from the Harry Potter movies.

The gentle giant is remembered by many as one of the franchise’s most unassuming, innocent, and pure characters. Robbie Coltrane played the part beautifully, bringing out Hagrid’s emotional side, and making many scenes from the movies memorable to us solely because of his acting.

As we remember the actor’s death, let’s reminisce about some of the scenes we all remember about Hagrid, Robbie’s most famous role.

1. (Yer a Wizard, ‘Arry) Hagrid Gets Harry a Cake for His 11th Birthday

The first time we see Hagrid itself earns the gentle giant a place in our hearts. Harry, lying awake at midnight, is wishing himself a lonely happy birthday when Hagrid breaks the Dursley’s cabin door down, scaring the family and rescuing Harry from them.

Hagrid also remembered that it was Harry’s birthday and had gotten him a cake that he had baked himself, “words an’ all.”

This is also the first time we saw actual wand magic being used in the Harry Potter universe. Hagrid gave Dudley a pig’s tail when he saw the boy eating Harry’s cake, and the duo left the Dursleys in chaos.

2. Hagrid Gives Harry the Photo Album

At the end of the first movie, at the station, just before Harry returns to the Durselys, he goes to see Hagrid for a final goodbye. There, Hagrid gives Harry a photo album of him and his parents. That present was probably one of the most important of Harry’s treasured items. As important to him as the scene was to us.

3. Hagrid Takes Care of the Trio

After the scene where Draco insults Hermione and a spell from Ron’s broken wand goes wrong, the first place the three go to is Hagrid’s Hut. Rewatching Hagrid caring for Ron and comforting Hermione left me with a lump in my throat.

Hagrid has such a good and kind heart, and Robbie was able to bring this aspect of the giant out brilliantly.

4. Hagrid Mourns Buckbeak

Hagrid is given a teaching position at Hogwarts. In one of his first classes, he introduces us to Buckbeak the Hippogriff, who snaps at Draco Malfoy after the latter provokes him. Later in the movie, when Harry, Hermione, and Ron meet Hagrid, he tells them that Buckbeak has been sentenced to death. Robbie Coltrane plays the emotional scene so beautifully.

It is a memorable moment that brings Hagrid’s child-like emotions and feelings to the fore. Hagrid’s emotions often hit the viewer’s heart throughout the Harry Potter movies, which was especially felt in this scene.

5. Hagrid and Aragog

Aragog was a monster, and the arachnophobes reading this article will not remember him or the other spider scenes with any affection. But to Hagrid, Aragog was his oldest friend. Hagrid risked his future to protect Aragog. His wand was snapped, and he was not permitted to continue his education at Hogwarts. But Hagrid remained loyal to his friend and continued to protect Aragog.

We do not see much of the spiders in the books and the movies. But when Hagrid attends Aragog’s funeral, the tears of love the character sheds for the spider show his whole-hearted love and loyalty to his friends.

6. Others

Robbie Coltrane played Hagrid to perfection and gave us a character that we will be hard-pressed to forget. There are so many scenes throughout the eight Harry Potter movies that break our hearts, such as the scene where Hagrid is carrying the body of Harry to Voldemort. And others that fill us with joy, like the scene at the end of Prisoner of Azkaban where Harry embraces Hagrid. To quote Harry, “There is no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid.” All of us will sorely miss Robbie Coltrane, not just fans of the franchise.

7. About Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a film series based on the eponymous novel series by J. K. Rowling. The series is distributed by Warner Bros. and consists of eight fantasy films, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and culminating with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

The film series follows Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, and his journey to take down the evil wizard Lord Voldemort and save Hogwarts, the Wizarding School he attended, with his best friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.

The series was mainly produced by David Heyman, and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson as the three leading characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.