Life

Celebrated stage and screen actor Alan Rickman dead at 69

Celebrated stage and screen actor Alan Rickman dead at 69

Accomplished and much-loved stage, TV and film actor Alan Rickman has died at the age of 69 in London while surrounded by friends and family.

A family member confirmed his passing, explaining he had been battling with cancer.

In recent years, Rickman found a whole new fan base through the Harry Potter franchise, playing the sometimes-frightening but always-sassy Professor Snape.

Cast and crew from the Potter films offered touching tributes.

Daniel Radcliffe posted that Rickman was “one of the greatest actors I will ever work with” and “one of the loyalest and most supportive people I’ve ever met in the film industry,” and J.K. Rowling said, “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.”

Michael Gambon, who played Dumbledore, said, “Everybody loved Alan. He was always happy and fun and creative and very, very funny.”

A scroll through Rickman’s IMDB page shows just how busy of an actor he was throughout his career.

His role as Hans Gruber in 1988’s Die Hard opposite Bruce Willis launched him into the global spotlight — the story goes he was offered the part just two days after moving to Los Angeles at age 41 — but he showed his versatility in films like Truly, Madly, Deeply and Love, Actually.

In 1998’s Dark Harbor, Rickman played a wealthy lawyer who is hiding a gay love affair.

Above all else, Rickman will be remembered for having one of the most unique and recognizable voices in entertainment, on full display in his final recorded work — a voiceover for a short film called This Tortoise Could Save a Life, benefiting Save the Children and Refugee Council:

Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Elton John: ‘We don’t really know anything about David Bowie’

Previous article

Kentucky to pay $1.1 million to lawyers in gay marriage case

Next article