‘See you on the other side Bobser,’ the Ron Weasley star wrote (Picture: Getty/Warner Bros)

Rupert Grint has joined the chorus of Harry Potter actors paying tribute to the late Robbie Coltrane, emphasising how ‘warm, compassionate and hilarious’ his former co-star was.

He also shared how Coltrane was ‘still looking out for us even decades later’, having first started playing the role of Rubeus Hagrid when Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson were children.

On Friday October 14, it was announced that Coltrane – best-known for starring in productions including Cracker, Harry Potter and the James Bond film franchise – had died at the age of 72.

Tributes poured in for the celebrated Scottish actor, including from Harry Potter author JK Rowling, Radcliffe – who played the wizard on screen – and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

In a heartfelt post shared on Instagram, Grint – who starred as Ron Weasley opposite Radcliffe’s Harry and Watson’s Hermione Granger – wrote of his ‘heartbreak’ over Coltrane’s death.

Sharing a picture of the late actor in character as Hagrid sitting outside the Hogwarts gamekeeper’s hut on the school grounds, the 34-year-old wrote: ‘Heartbroken to hear that Robbie is gone.

‘I’ll never forget the smell of cigars and beard glue- a wonderful combination.
No one else on this planet could of played Hagrid, only Robbie.’

He continued: ‘Just as Hagrid was in the books and films Robbie was in life- warm, compassionate and hilarious.

‘A giant hearted man who was still looking out for us even decades later. Sending love to his family. See you on the other side Bobser.’

Hagrid is one of the most beloved characters in the story (Picture: Warner Bros. Entertainment)

Radcliffe, Grint and Watson grew up on screen as the ‘Golden Trio’ (Picture: DPA/PA Images)

More to follow.

‘See you on the other side Bobser,’ the Ron Weasley star wrote.