In Pictures: Harry Potter and Cracker star Robbie Coltrane

Harry Potter and Cracker actor Robbie Coltrane has died aged 72.

The Scottish star was best known for playing Hogwarts gamekeeper Hagrid and starring as criminal psychologist Dr Eddie “Fitz” Fitzgerald in ITV’s crime drama Cracker.

A giant envelope containing a letter calling for Britain to support a nuclear bomb test ban treaty is delivered to the Prime Minister on October 1 1987. From the left are celebrities Emma Thompson, Anna Carteret, Robbie Coltrane and Bill Oddie with second from the right Sir Rudolf Peierls, the designer of the first atom bomb, in a beret — A letter calling for Britain to support a nuclear bomb test ban treaty is delivered to the prime minister in 1987 – from the left are Emma Thompson, Anna Carteret, Robbie Coltrane and Bill Oddie, with second from the right Sir Rudolf Peierls, the designer of the first atom bomb (PA)

Television rogue Del Boy Trotter (actor David Jason) tackles the competition the only way he knows how - by trying to throttle his rival Robbie Coltrane (l) on February 14 1988. Both actors have been nominated for the best TV actor category in next month’s Bafta awards - David for his role in Porterhouse Blue and Robbie for his role in Tutti Frutti — Robbie Coltrane and David Jason on February 14 1988 – both actors were nominated for the best TV actor category at the following month’s Bafta awards, Jason for his role in Porterhouse Blue and Coltrane for his role in Tutti Frutti (PA)

Villains of the new James Bond film Goldeneye line up in front of a tank during a photocall at Leavesden Airfield, Herts, on January 22 1995. L/R, Alan Cumming who is Boris, Sean Bean who plays rouge agent 006, Alec Trevelyan, Gottfried John who is Ourumov and Robbie Coltrane who plays Valentin. Christmas 1995 is the projected world-wide release date for the 40 million thriller — Villains of the new James Bond film Goldeneye in front of a tank during a photocall at Leavesden Airfield, Hertfordshire, on January 22 1995 – from left to right are Alan Cumming, Sean Bean, Gottfried John and Robbie Coltrane (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

CRACKER — Cracker stars Geraldine Somerville, Robbie Coltrane, Lorcan Cranitch and Ricky Tomlinson in October 1995 ahead of the crime drama’s return for its third and final series (PA)

Warming up before a charity football match in aid of the Calton Athletic drugs rehabilition and prevention project are actors (l/r), Ewan McGregor, Phil Kay and Robbie Coltrane on June 11 1997 — Warming up before a charity football match in 1997 in aid of the Calton Athletic drugs rehabilitation and prevention project are Ewan McGregor, Phil Kay and Robbie Coltrane (Chris Bacon/PA)

Coltrane featured in another classic British franchise when he played KGB man Valentin Zukovsky in Bond film Goldeneye in 1995 and played the same character in The World Is Not Enough.

Actor and comedian Robbie Coltrane arrives for the European Charity Premiere of the James Bond film “The World Is Not Enough” at the Odeon Leicester Square, London, on November 22 1999 — Robbie Coltrane arrives for the European charity premiere of the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough at the Odeon Leicester Square, London, on November 22 1999 (Peter Jordan/PA)

Then chancellor Gordon Brown poses with actor Robbie Coltrane dressed as Father Christmas at a Christmas party at No 11 Downing Street, London, on December 3 2001. — Then chancellor Gordon Brown poses with actor Robbie Coltrane dressed as Father Christmas at a Christmas party at No 11 Downing Street, London, on December 3 2001 (PA)

Arguably Coltrane’s best known role came in the Harry Potter film series as he starred in all eight movies as Rubeus Hagrid alongside Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.

The 6ft 1in actor, who was personally selected by author JK Rowling, is said to have only taken the role of the giant after his children urged him to.