We're sad to report that Alan Rickman has passed away at 69 after a battle with cancer. His death was confirmed earlier today by his family.
The British actor's breakout role was as Vicomte de Valmont in the 1985 RSC production of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," however most will remember Rickman for his performances as the villainous Hans Gruber in DIE HARD and the ambiguous Dark Arts teacher Severus Snape from the Harry Potter film series.
Rickman's other notable movie credits include Sheriff of Nottingham in ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES, Alexander Dane/Dr. Lazarus in GALAXY QUEST, the angel Metatron in DOGMA, and Harry in LOVE ACTUALLY. The actor also provided the voices of Absolem the Caterpillar in Tim Burton's ALICE IN WONDERLAND and Marvin the clinically depressed robot in THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, and won an Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for his portrayal of Rasputin in the 1996 HBO TV movie RASPUTIN: DARK SERVANT OF DESTINY.
Rickman was most recently seen in A LITTLE CHAOS, which he also directed. His final acting roles were in Gavin Hood's EYE IN THE SKY and ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, and both films are scheduled to open later this year.
R.I.P. Alan Rickman (1946 – 2016)