The Wizarding World has lost its heart.
Emma Watson is leading the emotional tributes to her late Harry Potter costar Robbie Coltrane, who passed away Friday at the age of .
The actress, who grew up alongside Coltrane while playing Hermione Granger, took to her Instagram Story to share a poignant message about the man who famously brought the gentle giant Rubeus Hagrid to life.
“Robbie was like the most fun uncle I’ve ever had,” Watson, , wrote in the heartfelt post. “But most of all he was deeply caring, and compassionate towards me as a child and an adult.”
For fans who watched the trio grow up on screen, Watson’s words hit home. She noted that his talent was so “immense” that it only made sense he played a giant, adding that he could “fill ANY space with his brilliance.”
The tribute took a deeply personal turn as Watson made a vow to honor his legacy on future film sets.
“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,” she continued. “I’ll really miss your sweetness, your nicknames, your warmth, your laughs and your hugs. You made us a family.”
Watson wasn’t the only one feeling the loss of the man who famously said, “There’s no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid.”
Daniel Radcliffe also reflected on his time with Coltrane, recalling how the actor used to keep the young cast laughing during long, difficult shoots.
Radcliffe, , shared a particularly “fond memory” from the set of Prisoner of Azkaban when the cast was stuck in Hagrid’s hut for hours during torrential rain.
“He was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up,” Radcliffe said in a statement. “I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he’s passed.”
Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy, echoed those sentiments on social media, describing Coltrane as a “big friendly giant” in real life who looked after everyone “effortlessly.”
Other stars, including Bonnie Wright, Matthew Lewis, and James and Oliver Phelps, also took to X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to share their grief, painting a picture of a man who was just as protective and beloved as his on-screen counterpart.
Coltrane’s agent, Belinda Wright, confirmed the news of his passing in Scotland. While a cause of death has not been released, he had reportedly been in ill health for the past two years.
In her statement to PEOPLE, Wright called him a “unique talent” whose legacy as Hagrid will bring joy to fans for decades to come.
As Watson so perfectly put it: “You made it a joy to be Hermione.”
Would you like me to look up any other recent tributes from the Wizarding World cast for you?
