The tragic death of 72-year-old actor Robbie Coltrane earlier this month has been revealed as being the result of multiple organ failure.
Coltrane had a long history of health issues and was best recognised for playing Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies.
In addition to osteoarthritis, which left him in “continuous pain,” he also experienced the symptoms of obesity and diabetes, necessitating the use of a wheelchair in his later years.
The death certificate for Coltrane, according to the Mirror, listed sepsis, a lower respiratory tract infection, and heart block as additional causes of death.
Sepsis is a severe infection-related reaction that sends the body’s defences into overdrive and may result in organ failure.
Heart block, on the other hand, is an electrical pulse disorder that results in a person’s heart beating slowly or otherwise irregularly.
Coltrane’s ex-wife Rhona Gemmell, with whom he maintained a strong friendship even after their divorce, filed the official paperwork for Coltrane’s passing.
Coltrane, who was also famed for his roles in the James Bond films Golden Eye and The World Is Not Enough, previously spoke about his problems with alcohol and said he could drink a bottle of whisky a day.
“Booze is my undoing,” Coltrane said. “I can drink a gallon of beer and not feel the least bit drunk.”
He also opened up about his battle with osteoarthritis, which he said he wouldn’t wish the pain of ‘on his worst enemy’.
He told the said in 2020: “I was fighting pain 24 hours a day when I was in National Treasure and Great Expectations.
“I had no cartilage in my knee. It was bone on bone.”
The actor’s death was announced by his agent Belinda Wright, who said in a statement: “My client and friend Robbie Coltrane OBE passed away on Friday October 14.
“Robbie was a unique talent, sharing the Guinness Book of Records’ Award for winning three consecutive Best Actor BAFTAs for his portrayal of Fitz in Granada TV’s series Cracker in 1994, 1995 and 1996 with Sir Michael Gambon.
“He will probably be best remembered for decades to come as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, a role which brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world, prompting a stream of fan letters every week for over 20 years.
“James Bond fans write too to applaud his role in GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough.”
