Robbie Coltrane was born Anthony Robert McMillan on March 30, 1950, in Rutherglen, a suburb of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. His mother, Jean Ross (Howie), was a teacher and pianist. Robbie was fond of art, music, films and cars. He was a voracious reader of his dad’s books on medicine and crime. At age 12 he made his acting debut on stage at Glenalmond College, delivering rants from “Henry V”. At that time he was fascinated with Marlon Brando and Orson Welles.
Appeared in eight films opposite a former member of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. His cast mate in Nuns on the Run (1990) and National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985) was Eric Idle. He appeared in The World Is Not Enough (1999), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), all of which also starred John Cleese. He also appeared in Billy Connolly: A BAFTA Tribute (2002), A Night of Comic Relief 2 (1989) and The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball (1989), all of which featured Michael Palin.
He was a mechanic before joining film industry.
He turned down the lead role in Carry on Columbus (1992) that went to Jim Dale. Incidentally, Coltrane went on to star in two productions directed by someone named Columbus: Chris Columbus directed him in the first two Harry Potter movies.
He was the very first person to be cast in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001). In fact, he was selected for the role of Hagrid by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.