Alan Rickman, Iconic English Actor, Dies

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Category: Celebrity News, Interviews, Pictures

Published on Tuesday, 19 January 2016 14:22

Written by Janet Walker

Alan Rickman, known as a diverse and generous talent, star of stage, television and the screen from the Harry Potter series to Love Actually, passed away due complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 69.

Known to the world as name Severus Snape, Rickman has been remembered by colleagues, friends and a world of fans. After the announcement of his passing, in honor to his Harry potter character, fans created a memorial underneath the Platform 9 ¾ sign at London’s King Cross railway station.

Personal recollection of his performances bring to mind, the evil, meticulous, terrorist Hans Gruber opposite Bruce Willis in Die Hard, the impotent and hilarious Sheriff of Nottingham opposite Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves to the tempted husband, Harry, opposite Emma Thompson in Love Actually.

Versatile, Rickman trained at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Long before his introduction to American audiences Rickman was treading the board in London as the Vicomte de Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangerous. His performances earned him a Tony Nomination.

His casting as Severus Snape, in the Harry Potter Series, cemented his name and face to a generation of youth. Suddenly he had on the street recognition by seventh graders. He was a global phenomenon.

Throughout his career Rickman was honored frequently nominated for 33 separate awards and winning nine different awards including the BAFTA in 1991 for his performance in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, a Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Satellite Award in 1996 for Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.

Rickman received an MTV, People’s Choice Award and San Diego Film Critics Society Awards in 2011 for his work in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, a Scream Award in 2009 for his work in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Rickman’s final performance voice for Absolem the Caterpillar in the film Alice Through the Looking Glass is due for theatrical release May 2016.

Survived by his wife Rime Horton, who he married in 2012 after meeting in 1965. Rickman finally admitted marrying the economics lecturer, intellectual and former Labour Party councilor in 2015.

Rickman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015 after a minor stroke sent him to the hospital. He died January 14, 2016 of complications from pancreatic cancer at a London hospital surrounded by friends and family.

Remembrances from Reba Merrill

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Alan Rickman. Although we only had the chance to work together once, it was a very memorable experience. My producer/daughter and I went to Sundance in 1995 to interview Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant for "An Awfully Big Adventure."

Grant did not show up but Rickman did, sick as a dog with a cold. I stopped the interview about five minutes in and had my daughter get him some Chicken soup. The gracious and grateful actor then went on to give a wonderful interview.

The show must go on! RIP Alan Rickman