Robbie Coltrane's career spanned more than 40 years — but for a generation he will always be a half-giant wizard protector. 

Coltrane, who played Rubeus Hagrid, Hogwarts gamekeeper in the eight Harry Potter films, died on Friday aged 72. 

The first adaptation of JK Rowling's series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, debuted in 2001.

The young stars, now in their 30s, remembered Coltrane — who had already known fame for decades — as kind, funny, and larger even than his on-screen persona. 

Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry, said Coltrane was "one of the funniest people I've met". 

"I've especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on [Harry Potter film] Prisoner of Azkaban, when we were all hiding from the torrential rain for hours in Hagrid's hut and he was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up," he said.

Emma Watson said he was "like the most fun uncle I've ever had".

Watson, who played Hermione Granger, said he made the cast "a family".

"His talent was so immense it made sense he played a giant — he could fill any space with his brilliance," she said on Instagram. 

"There was no better Hagrid. You made it a joy to be Hermione," she added.

Tom Felton, who played Harry's nemesis Draco Malfoy, said Coltrane was a giant on screen and "even more so" in real life.

"He was a big friendly giant on screen but even more so in real life. Love you mate - thank you for everything."

James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley alongside his twin brother Oliver, said Coltrane had encouraged a "very nervous 14-year-old me" on his first day on the Harry Potter set. 

At the premier of the first Harry Potter film, Coltrane had told them "soak it in lads, it's like a Rolls-Royce for your first car!" Phelps said. 

Bonny Wright, who played the twins' sister Ginny, said she was "heartbroken" by Coltrane's death, and Hagrid had been her favourite character.

"Robbie always treated me and my fellow cast mates when we were wee kids like equal professionals on a film set. A type of attitude that instilled confidence and a sense of togetherness."

Earlier this year, the cast reunited for HBO's Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts. 

Coltrane talked about his 10 years playing Hagrid.

There have also been tributes from cast mates he had met decades earlier. 

Coltrane was a star of Britain's 1980s alternative comedy boom and played a string of television roles that included regular appearances in The Comic Strip Presents... anthology series.

In 1987, he starred alongside Emma Thompson in John Byrne's mini-series Tutti Frutti as doomed lead singer Big Jazza McGlone, in a tale of fictional Scots rock 'n' roll band The Majestics.

He was also the lead in 1990s British TV series Cracker as criminal psychologist Dr Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald.

Hugh Laurie, who performed alongside him in the British 1980s TV series Blackadder, said the pair would motor between Manchester and London in his "sort of restored" MGA. 

Nuns on the Run co-star Eric Idle said Coltrane was a "bright and brilliant man". 

Idle, of Monty Python fame, starred in the British comedy with Coltrane in 1990.

"I had just been talking about him with friends, wondering where he was... A consummate actor, an extraordinarily funny comedian and an amazing actor. He was also a very good friend. I shall miss him very much.

Broadcaster Stephen Fry — a fellow breakout star of the alternative comedy boom — wrote he had met Coltrane almost exactly 40 years ago.

In a tweet, he wrote: "I was awe/terror/love struck all at the same time. Such depth, power and talent: funny enough to cause helpless hiccups and honking as we made our first TV show, Alfresco.

"Farewell, old fellow. You’ll be so dreadfully missed."

ABC/AP