Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman was an acting legend, and when he passed away on Jan. 14, just days after the loss of rock icon David Bowie, the world practically shook. Rickman was only 69 years old and passed after a stroke and a difficult battle against pancreatic cancer. He left behind his wife, Rima Horton, along with countless friends and admirers who claim that Rickman was a great man: anything but the evil villain he was most known for playing.
Like many actors, Rickman began his acting career in theatre—mostly Shakespeare—before he landed on the big screen. Between 1978 and 2016, Rickman was involved in over 60 productions, becoming a household name not only in his native U.K., but around the world as well. He was nominated for, and granted, many awards in his lifetime, including a BAFTA Award (British Academy of Film and Television Arts), a Golden Globe, a SAG Award (Screen Actors Guild) and a People’s Choice Award.
Alan Rickman became most famous for his roles in the “Harry Potter” series and the movie “Die Hard.” In the “Harry Potter” films, he played perhaps the greatest and most admired antagonist in history: Severus Snape. The “greasy-haired Potions teacher” was a perfect villain, but he was also a wonderful man, a hero who inspired love to generations of Potter fans. In “Die Hard,” Rickman starred as Hans Gruber, a German terrorist mastermind. His other celebrated credits include “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” “Galaxy Quest,” “Love Actually” and “Sense and Sensibility.”
When the sad news of Rickman’s death became public, tributes flooded in on Twitter from his friends and former co-stars, specifically from the cast of the “Harry Potter” franchise. J.K. Rowling, author of the “Harry Potter” books and creator of the iconic Severus Snape, honored Rickman by saying, “There are no words to express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman’s death. He was a magnificent actor & a wonderful man.” Actress Evanna Lynch—Luna Lovegood, to the Potter fans—said sweetly, “Am not prepared for a world without Alan Rickman. Such a beautiful soul. He was so kind & generous in the moments he wasn’t Snaping about.” Most of the other “Harry Potter” cast members offered sentiments and praises for their time with Rickman, as well. Nobody had a negative thing to say. It is clear that there is hardly a man alive better than the beloved Alan Rickman.
Rickman will have one final film released, posthumously, in May this year: “Alice Through the Looking Glass.” The film is a sequel to the 2010 film “Alice in Wonderland” and is based on Lewis Carroll’s classic story. Rickman will voice Absolem the Caterpillar, starring alongside Johnny Depp (“Edward Scissorhands”) and fellow Harry Potter actress Helena Bonham Carter (“Alice in Wonderland”).
There is no doubt that Alan Rickman will be sorely missed by not only his long-time fans, but also by anyone who appreciates a tremendously talented actor and a genuine human being.
