UK actor Robbie Coltrane, known for playing Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, has died at 72.

"Robbie will probably be best remembered for decades to come as Hagrid... a role which brought joy to children and adults alike, prompting a stream of fan letters every week for over 20 years," his agent Belinda Wright said in a statement.

Wright added: "As well as being a wonderful actor, he was forensically intelligent, brilliantly witty and after 40 years of being proud to be called his agent, I shall miss him."

Wright said he died today at a hospital in Scotland. She did not give a cause.

Coltrane came to fame as a hard-bitten detective in the 1990s series "Cracker," for which he won best actor at the British Academy Television Awards three years running.

UK actor Robbie Coltrane, known for playing Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, has died at 72. Photo / Getty Images

He played the gentle half-giant Hagrid, a mentor to the boy wizard, in all eight Harry Potter films, released between 2001 and 2011.

Other roles include a Russian crime boss in the James Bond thrillers "GoldenEye" and "The World is Not Enough".

Coltrane gained rave reviews for playing a beloved TV star who may harbor a dark secret in the 2016 miniseries "National Treasure".

Coltrane is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his ex-wife Rhona Gemmell and his children Spencer and Alice.

Tributes flow for the Harry Potter star:

Tributes have started to flow for the star with J.K Rowling leading the charge. Taking to Twitter the creator of the Harry Potter films called Coltrane an "incredible talent" and said she will never know "anyone remotely like Robbie again."

Daniel Radcliffe acknowledged the sad loss of his former co-star - whom he shared dozens of scenes with - in a statement to Variety.

"Robbie was one of the funniest people I've met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set," Radcliffe's statement reads.

Daniel Radcliffe has issued a statement after the death of his "Harry Potter" co-star Robbie Coltrane. Photo / Supplied

"I've especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on '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. I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he's passed. He was an incredible actor and a lovely man."

James Phelps, who played Fred Wesley in the highly successful Harry Potter films thanked his friend for a piece of advice Coltrane gave him in 2000.

English star Stephen Fry took to Twitter to pay tribute to his friend admitting he will be "dreadfully missed".

House star Hugh Laurie made a kind tribute saying he doesn't think he's ever "laughed or learned so much in my life" while in the company of Coltrane.

- AP