Alan Rickman dies at 69 due to cancer
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Today, the family of English actor Alan Rickman announced his death at the age of 69 in London from cancer. As per the family statement "he was surrounded by family and friends" at the time of death.
Rickman started his film career as an antagonist in Die Hard — in which he played the role of Hans Gruber in 1988. He was 41 at that time. He won a British Academy Film Award for his role as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in 1991. He played a ghost lover of Juliet Stevenson's character in Truly Madly Deeply.
He also portrayed Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series, an adaption of the novel series written by J. K. Rowling. Rowling tweeted "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".
A well-known actor in Britain, he also directed My Name Is Rachel Corrie, an award-winning 2005 play based on emails of Rachel Corrie who was killed in the Gaza Strip protesting against Israel Defense Forces actions.
Sources
- "Alan Rickman, Harry Potter and Die Hard actor, dies aged 69" — BBC News Online, January 14, 2016
- Catherine Shoard. "Alan Rickman, giant of British screen and stage, dies at 69" — The Guardian, January 14, 2016