Trevelyan's Mainframe / FILE: Zukovsky, Valentin Dmitrovich [Thirty years removed]

As we get deeper into the personnel and associate files of this mainframe, please keep our subsidiaries in the front of your mind. Valentin Zukovsky is a person of extreme interest and importance to Janus. Zukovsky, his casino, nightclub, caviar factory, and his many illegal arms dealings tend to bleed over onto our docket often. Maybe there's even more to him than we initially thought... let us look into this a little further.

Your codes are clear and your access has been granted, the following is all we have on our subject, Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky, thirty years removed from his GOLDENEYE appearance.

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Operative: Janus

File: Zukovsky, Valentin Dmitrovich (AKA Robbie Coltrane)

Report From: Cuban Subterranean Caverns

Lat: 21.5218 N

Long: 77.7812 W

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TREVELYAN:

As you're no doubt aware, Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky has been a friend almost as commonly as he's been a foe. He's a hard read, yet his underlying intentions always somehow serve he and his business ventures first.

Ex-officer of the KGB, currently operating under the umbrella of the Russian mafia.

Simply put, he's dangerous and we have plenty of ground to cover in this file.

Born into a well-off Scottish family, Anthony Robert McMillan entered the world on March 30th, 1950. During his formative years, he would be afforded to explore early interests in art, speech, and sport while touring the private school sector. Then, things changed.

Wanting to forge a path for himself, Anthony left his conservative upbringing, privileged lifestyle, the private school system, and even his given name in the past. He had discovered two true passions in life: the stage and the silver screen. Thus, Robbie Coltrane had arrived.

Robbie landed his first role on stage in 1978 as Jack Hogg, for John Byrne's, THE SLAB BOYS. He was off and running from there, establishing some writer credit alongside his developing acting chops. His first big break was undoubtedly starring alongside comedy heavyweights Hugh Laurie, Ben Elton, Stephen Fry, and more in the British sketch comedy series, ALFRESCO in May of 1983.

As his stage and television career bloomed, feature film roles began to open for Coltrane. He'd land rolls in a wide array of genres in films like 1980's FLASH GORDON, 1983's KRULL, 1986's MONA LISA, and a handful more. Comedy, Si-Fi, Space Opera, Political Thriller, and Crime Drama were just a few fields he covered over the course of the 1980s.

A man of many talents, a chameleon on screen and in business, as we now know.

Heading into the 1990s, Coltrane once again ascended to a new level in his career, playing the role of Sir John Falstaff in Sir Kenneth Branagh's 1989 film adaptation of HENRY V. That same year, London Weekend Television (LWT) hosted THE ROBBIE COLTRANE SPECIAL, a comedy special co-written and starring Coltrane himself.

In 1993, Coltrane would land a roll that would put him on the talent map well beyond the United Kingdom. The British Crime Drama series, CRACKER, would star Coltrane as criminal psychologist Dr. Edward Fitzgerald, who worked hand-in-hand with the Greater Manchester Police to help solve criminal cases. CRACKER won the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series in 1995 and again in 1996. Robbie Coltrane received the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor three consecutive years (1994 to 1996) for his portrayal of 'Fitz'.

And then, Zukovsky entered our little drama...

Robbie Coltrane as Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky in 1995's GOLDENEYE.

In 1995, Coltrane became Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky for that year's James Bond 007 film, GOLDENEYE. In a unique twist, Zukovsky and Bond's story actually began well before the events of GOLDENEYE. At some point prior to 1995, while Zukovsky was still a member of the KGB, Bond and Zukovsky crossed paths. The meeting resulted in Bond foregoing a potential kill shot, opting to fire a non-lethal shot at Zukovsky instead. The shot hit Zukovsky's left leg, close to the knee, permanently injuring him. Giving him a limp, as Her Majesty's loyal terrier would claim.

Why Bond provided Zukovsky such 'professional courtesy', we're not sure...

Setting personal differences aside, Zukovsky would do James Bond a favor by putting him in contact with known Janus operative, former Soviet fighter pilot, Xenia Zaragevna Onatopp. The rest, as they say, is history. Valentin Zukovsky made off with some of our liquid funds, also putting two fellow operatives in the crosshairs of the Russian police.

Needless to say, we owe him one.

Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky would resurface during the events of 1999's James Bond 007 film, THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH. Somehow, Bond and Zukovsky had become the best of friends by Pierce Brosnan's third outing as Agent 007. The two would meet at Zukovsky's casino in Baku, Azerbaijan. The reason? Bond was again in need of a favor. This time, he was in search of any information on terrorist Victor Zokas (AKA Renard).

In one of life's little ironies, Valentin Zukovsky's cane-gun is what ultimately saved James Bond. Had Bond not injured Zukovsky's knee prior to the events of GOLDENEYE, Bond would've likely died at the hands of Elektra King. No injury would've meant no cane.

Hypothetically, if Elektra somehow hadn't been able to kill Bond, there's no doubt Zukovsky would've settled his debt. Zukovsky would've been able to finish the job for her, had he stumbled upon a weakened Agent 007 in Maiden's Tower. Sometimes, it pays to have friends in low places.

Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid as part of the greatly popular HARRY POTTER film franchise.

In perhaps his most well-known role, Robbie Coltrane would trade in the tuxedos and martinis for wizards and a pet hippogriff. From 2001 to 2011, Robbie Coltrane brought magic, warmth, and humanity to the harsh-yet-wonderful world of HARRY POTTER (as half-giant, Rubeus Hagrid). Apart from the books, the HARRY POTTER film series has since grown into a nearly $10 Billion dollar franchise. As part of a global phenomenon, Coltrane became introduced and reintroduced to a whole new generation of fans and filmgoers.

In between, Coltrane lit up both television and movie screens. In 2006, British television ranked Robbie Coltrane 11 out of 50 of the greatest stars. Coltrane had become one of Scotland's most famous actors of all time! More importantly, Coltrane was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2006 New Year Honours for his services to drama by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

By the early 2010s, Coltrane did some work in animation films and as a voiceover actor, perhaps most famously as Lord Dingwall in Disney & Pixar's BRAVE in 20212. As his film career began to wane, his work in television continued on in the form of special appearances and sporadic hosting roles. His final work was with HBO Max in 2022 for their special, HARRY POTTER 20TH ANNIVERSARY: RETURN TO HOGWARTS.

In October of 2022, the world lost a great Scotsman, Anthony Robert McMillan, our very own Robbie Coltrane. He passed in his home country of Scotland at age 72, due to several health complications. His contributions to the world of entertainment includes stage work, television work, film work, published writing, and even having been immortalized in amusement ride theming!

Good on Zukovsky. We were great enemies, but even better friends.

Who do you think sold him all those helicopters, after all?

Side notes included in this file are rather interesting. Circling back, it is reported that Coltrane came up with his stage name by combining his middle name of Robert with the last name 'Coltrane', from which he borrowed from famous Jazz musician and saxophonist John Coltrane (as a tribute).

It has been reported that Robbie met his future wife, Rhona, during their shared time at the Glasgow School of Art during the 1980s. They would go on to have two children, Spencer and Alice. Eventually, Robbie and his wife would separate, but remained very close.

In regard to his time heading into the world of HARRY POTTER, when author J.K. Rowling was asked who she had envisioned as Rubeus Hagrid, without hesitation, she said Robbie Coltrane. He was amongst the first picks for a role in the original film.

As you undoubtedly know, Valentin Zukovsky is one of the only recurring characters to be featured in two different James Bond 007 video games, GOLDENEYE (1997) and THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (2000). He was a multiplayer character option in both games, as well.

Speaking of which, according to our sources, Zukovsky was also the first recurring Bond ally to be killed on-screen... poor bugger!

Lastly, there is a rumored deleted scene from THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH that depicted Bond checking Zukovsky's pulse after he collapsed in Maiden's Tower, a moment that featured in Raymond Benson's novelization. Interestingly, Zukovsky makes a return in Electronic Arts' video game 007 RACING, which is supposed to take place after the events of THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH... it's nice to see that, at least in a way, old Valentin lived to die another day... perhaps literally!

Could you imagine Zukovsky again popping up in DIE ANOTHER DAY? A guest of Gustav Graves' for the demonstration of Icarus in Iceland, perhaps? The possibilities are certainly intriguing. Alas, a third Bond film appearance wasn't to be for Valentin.

Such a lovely man, that Zukovsky. Universally loved, the world over.

His file in this mainframe is more than worthy of a proper review by all Janus operatives.

Wish I could say the same for you, old boy...

In the meantime, closing time. Last call.

-TREVELYAN

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