ON THE FITZ
Scottish acting heavyweight Robbie Coltrane has died aged 72. Taking his stage name from John Coltrane, he had a prolific presence in 80s sketch comedies and a memorable bit in Blackadder as an irate Samuel Johnson out-lexiconed by the titular antihero. Goofy film leads in Nuns on the Run and The Pope Must Die established him in the US, while his portrayal of the frontman of a yesteryear Scots rock band in BAFTA-winning Tutti Frutti established his dramatic range.
The 90s proved fortuitous for Coltrane, with his portrayal of criminal psychologist Dr Edward “Fitz” Fitzgerald in Cracker notching him three consecutive BAFTAs. The vice-laden Fitz, a lazy, sardonic addict nevertheless brilliant in his niche, unforgettably quipped of himself “I drink too much, I smoke too much, I gamble too much. I am too much.” Coltrane entered the world of Bond, playing limping Russian gangster and unlikely 007 ally Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky in the first two Brosnan-era films. His turn as hirsute giant Hagrid in the Harry Potter film series brought him worldwide celebrity, and apparently his only role according to most of his obituaries.
He appeared in the series finale of Frasier as one of Daphne’s many eccentric brothers, continued mainline Hollywood appearances such as Ocean’s Twelve, and returned to Cracker for a one-off revival episode. Offscreen, Coltrane had a passion for vintage cars which he often displayed in relevant documentaries. He had the outsized personality to match his hefty build and screen presence, long struggling with the booze and developing a reputation for snapping back in interviews. He nearly punched Piers Morgan in public while calling him a fucking wanker. In that instance he was speaking for us all!
Coltrane was in poor health in recent years, and was wheelchair-bound for the past three. Bourne to Die, Funeral Director 2022, and No One Gets Out Of Here Alive are among the seven teams who felt he was too much to live another year.
Robbie Coltrane
30 March 1950 – 14 October 2022, aged 72
7 TEAMS (💀💀💀💀💀💀💀 7 POINTS)