Everyone who knows Rubeus Hagrid loves how caring and warm he was towards Harry. Even after all the tough times he had growing up, he was still a very welcoming and trustworthy person.
Sometimes he is referred to as Harry’s father figure, but how old do you think Rubeus Hagrid really is? Given all the clues left by Rowling in her books, we deduced that Hagrid was in his 60’s.
Hagrid was born 6th of December 1928
Contents
How Old is Hagrid in the Books?
J.K. Rowling never revealed straight out how old Hagrid was in her books. However, she did leave us some clues.
It is simple math if you follow the books closely. In Harry’s second year, in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, we learn that Hagrid was expelled 50 years prior to the events of the book. Harry’s second year is during 1992 – 1993.
We learned that Hagrid was expelled from school in 1943.
Considering that he was expelled near the end of the school year, he was more than likely 14 years old at the time. J.K. Rowling revealed that Hagrid’s birthday is the 6th of December.
That makes Hagrid 51 years old when he is tasked with collecting Harry after Voldemort’s attack and 62 years old when Harry first meets Hagrid (and remembers it).
How Old is Hagrid in Real Life?
The actor portraying Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies, Robbie Coltrain, was born 30th of March, 1950. At the time of the first movie, in 2001, he was 51 years of age.
That aligns well with the first time we see him on the screen in the scene with a flying motorbike and infant Harry. During later scenes and movies, Coltrain is younger than his character in the book.
How Old was Hagrid in Harry’s Last Year?
When Hagrid first spoke with Harry, he was 62 years old. That was before Harry started his first year at Hogwarts.
The whole education at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry lasts seven years. Even though Harry didn’t ultimately attend his last year at school, we still follow his journey.
At the time of the Final Battle during what should have been Harry’s last year at school, Rubeus Hagrid was 70 years old.
Is Hagrid Older Than McGonagall?
If we omit the events of Fantastic Beasts, Crimes of Grindelwald, we can say that Minerva McGonagall is younger than Hagrid. The proof we can find in book number five, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
“How long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?” Professor Umbridge asked.
“Thirty-nine years this December.” said Professor McGonagall brusquely, snapping her bag shut.
Knowing that the events of Harry’s fifth year are taking place in 1995-1996, Minerva McGonagall started teaching in 1956.
We know from the Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies that McGonagall started teaching at Hogwarts two years after graduating school herself.
After quick math, we learn that Minerva McGonnagal was born in 1935, which makes her younger than Hagrid.
If, however, we would take into consideration her appearance in the Fantastic Beasts movie, things get a little bit confusing. In the Crimes of Grindelwald movie, set in 1927 (with retrospection from Newt’s years at school in the 1910s), Minerva is in her 20’s, already working at the school.
In that case, it would make her older than Hagrid.
It is all a little bit confusing and doesn’t comply with the Harry Potter canon, but all we can say is there must be some magical explanation!
Is Hagrid Older Than Voldermort?
No, Hagrid is not older than Voldemort. Tom Riddle, aka Voldemort, was a Head Boy in his fifth year at Hogwarts when he showed Harry a memory of 14-year-old Hagrid in his third year. That proves Voldemort is older than Hagrid by two years.
How Old Was Hagrid When He Was Expelled?
As we mentioned before, Hagrid was 14 when he was expelled from school. The young Tom Riddle presented the details through his memories saved in a magical diary.
Conclusion
Hagrid is older than some people thought. When Harry meets him for the first time, Hagrid is over 60 years of age.
Considering Hagrid’s job, passion for magical creatures, and ancestry (half-wizard, half-giant), it is easy to omit his age.
He seems goofy, clumsy, and young-spirited, but being 60 in the wizarding world is not that old. Wizards (and giants) live longer lives than us, Muggles.