“Harry Potter” And “Die Hard” Actor Alan Rickman Dead At Age 69

It has been a terribly sad start to 2016 with the death of several high profile celebrities and musicians. We are deeply saddened to add actor Alan Rickman to the list, as he has shockingly passed away at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer.

The British actor is best known for his role as villain Professor Severus Snape in the “Harry Potter” film franchise and Hans Gruber in 1988’s “Die Hard” opposite Bruce Willis. Rickman has also had notable roles in films such as “Love Actually”, “Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves”, “Dogma” and “Sense & Sensibility”.

A statement was released by Rickman’s family today which read, “The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends.” Hollywood has already begun to mourn Rickman’s passing, as those that have had the pleasure to work with him have begun posting their sentiments and condolences via social media.

“Harry Potter” writer J.K. Rowling writes, “There are no words to express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman’s death. My thoughts are with Rima and the rest of Alan’s family. We have all lost a great talent. They have lost part of their hearts.”

Actress Emma Thompson, who starred opposite Rickman in “Love Actually” comments, “Alan was my friend and so this is hard to write because I have just kissed him goodbye.
“What I remember most in this moment of painful leave-taking is his humour, intelligence, wisdom and kindness. His capacity to fell you with a look or lift you with a word. The intransigence which made him the great artist he was – his ineffable and cynical wit, the clarity with which he saw most things, including me, and the fact that he never spared me the view. I learned a lot from him. He was, above all things, a rare and unique human being and we shall not see his like again.”

“Dogma” director Kevin Smith wrote, “One of my favorite people who ever lived has died. The legendary ‪#‎AlanRickman‬ played Metatron, the Voice of God, in my 4th film ‪#‎Dogma‬. Alan was the first non-friend who signed up to the flick, but he became a great friend in record time. In this pic, he holds the Ken doll his Dogma character’s lack of genitalia was modeled after. I’ll never forget his incredible dulcet tones guffawing at the rubber crotch makeup he was wearing: one of the greatest actors who ever lived, tickled by a cinematic lack of a dick. I loved Hans Gruber the minute I saw ‪#‎DieHard‬ but I fell in love with the soft-spoken gentle soul who brought Gruber to life. Thank you for lending a hack like me your artistry and your credibility, Alan. You were never Snape to me as much as you were the adult Harry Potter himself: a bonafide wizard who could conjure absolute magic using merely words. He was a HUGE cauldron of win, this man. I’ll miss him forever. Rest in Peace, Voice of God. Back to Heaven, where you came from…”

Rickman was also an incredibly accomplished stage actor as well. He got his start working with the Royal Shakespeare Company and his performance as the seducer the Vicomte de Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses on Broadway in 1986 earned him his first Tony Award nomination. Rickman also earned a Golden Globe for best actor in a miniseries or television film for the title role in “Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.”

Our sincere condolences go out to Rickman’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

About Kristyn Clarke

I am a journalist and interviewer who is completely obsessed with music, TV, film and all other aspects of pop culture! I am currently the Director of Operations for PopCultureMadness.com and my work can also be found on MusicMayhemMagazine.com, TheRockRevival.com, and TryItToday.com! Have my B.S. in Television/Video Production from Wilmington University and have been working in online media for the past ten years and loving every moment of it!

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