Alan Rickman, Harry Potter and Die Hard actor, dies aged 69



Actor Alan Rickman, known for films including Harry Potter, Die Hard, Truly Madly Deeply and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, has died at the age of 69.
The star was suffering from cancer, his family said.
He became one of Britain's best-loved acting stars thanks to roles including Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films and Hans Gruber in Die Hard.
He also won a Bafta Award for playing the Sheriff of Nottingham in 1991's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
A family statement said: "The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends."

Alan Rickman was Professor Snape in the Harry Potter franchise
Harry Potter actor James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley, said on Twitter he was "shocked and sad" to hear the news. He wrote: "One of the nicest actors I've ever met. Thoughts and prayers with his family at this time."

His twin brother Oliver Phelps, who played George Weasley, added: "Terribly sad news about the passing of Alan Rickman. A funny and engaging person who put a shy young actor at ease when I was on HP."
TV star and Bafta ceremony host Stephen Fry wrote: "What desperately sad news about Alan Rickman. A man of such talent, wicked charm and stunning screen and stage presence. He'll be sorely missed."
Actor David Morrissey also paid tribute. He said: "So sad to hear the news of Alan Rickman. A wonderful actor and lovely man. Tragic news."
The London-born star began his career in theatre, including the Royal Shakespeare Company, before winning roles in TV dramas like Smiley's People and The Barchester Chronicles in the 1980s.
He became best known for playing screen villains - including the role of Judge Turpin opposite Johnny Depp in 2007's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as well as the likes of Hans Gruber and the Sheriff.

But he showed his gentler side in films like 1990's Truly Madly Deeply, 1995's Sense and Sensibility and Love Actually in 2003.
He earned Bafta nominations for his roles in Truly Madly Deeply, in which he played Juliet Stevenson's ghost lover, and for playing Colonel Brandon alongside Kate Winslet in Sense and Sensibility.
He got another Bafta nomination for portraying the calculating Eamon de Valera in 1996's Michael Collins.
The following year, he won a Golden Globe for best actor in a miniseries or television film for the title role in Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35313604

An underrated Alan Rickman movie: Closet Land (1991)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_PYEAbp2Kc

Rip Alan

He was awesome in the Die Hard, Dogma and Harry Potter movies!

"....oh, it's all about YOU isn't it?..."

"...i'm going to find a pub..."

now god doesn't have a voice?

Such a diverse actor, I liked his roles and some of his quotes I read on facebook....Rip

A fine actor. His performance as Hans Gruber in Die Hard is his best. The scene in which he does an impression of a scared hostage is fantastic. The best scene in the film. A legend.

As Hans Gruber, Rickman established a precedent that you do not have to have braun to be a villain. His portrayal of Gruber showed a combo of smarts, silliness, dedication to his goal, intimidation....basically he was an "every man" whom people could identify with. Gruber would later do the same as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Rickman will always be one of my favorites and it is so sad that he is gone. The great thing about film is that we will always be able to appreciate his genius for many years to come.