British actor Robbie Coltrane, best known for his role as "Hagrid" in the Harry Potter films, has died. The British news agency PA reported on Friday evening, citing the 72-year-old's agent, Belinda Wright. Accordingly, the native of Scotland died on Friday in a hospital near the Scottish city of Falkirk.

Wright recognized Coltrane as a "unique talent". His role as game warden at Hogwarts School of Magic earned him a weekly stream of fan letters for more than 20 years, the agent said.

As Rubeus Hagrid, Coltrane gave Harry Potter the giant but lovable, if somewhat goofy, wizard student mentor who rescues him from the hands of his jealous foster family. Its inventor - the Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling - Offered her "deepest condolences" to Coltrane's family. She tweeted: "I will never know anyone like Robbie again. He was an incredible talent, one of a kind and I've been incredibly lucky to know him, work with him and laugh my heart out with him.

Coltrane also starred in the James Bond films GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough, starring Pierce Brosnan. He was known to an older generation primarily through his role as criminal psychologist Dr. Eddie Fitzgerald "Fitz" in the crime series Just In Case Fitz.