Alan Rickman

Lore & Background

Alan Rickman was born on 21 February 1946 in Brentford, London, and grew up in Acton. His mother was Welsh and his father a Catholic; he had two brothers and a sister. After his father died of cancer when Rickman was eight, his mother raised the family on her own. He attended Latymer Upper School, Chelsea College of Art and Design, and the Royal College of Art, working as a graphic designer before pursuing acting. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1972 to 1974, supporting himself as a dresser for Nigel Hawthorne and Ralph Richardson.

Rickman began his career in theatre, performing with repertory groups and the Royal Shakespeare Company. His breakthrough role was Obadiah Slope in the BBC's The Barchester Chronicles (1982). He received a Tony Award nomination for his stage performance as the Vicomte de Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses. He made his film debut as Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988) and won a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). He later played Severus Snape in all eight Harry Potter films, from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011).

Rickman also directed two films: The Winter Guest (1997) and A Little Chaos (2014). He won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Grigori Rasputin in the HBO film Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (1996). In 2009, The Guardian named him one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination. Rickman died of pancreatic cancer on 14 January 2016 at age 69.

Reader's Guide

Alan Rickman's significance lies in his versatility across stage and screen, marked by a distinctive voice and a range of roles from villains to romantic leads. His film debut as Hans Gruber in Die Hard established him as a memorable antagonist, while his BAFTA-winning performance as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves showcased his ability to blend menace with wit. He earned critical acclaim for Truly, Madly, Deeply, Sense and Sensibility, and Michael Collins, and his portrayal of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series became iconic, spanning eight films. Rickman also received a Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe for his television role as Rasputin. His legacy includes a career that defied typecasting, with The Guardian noting him as one of the best actors never nominated for an Academy Award. His work as a director and his contributions to theatre, including a Tony-nominated stage performance, further cement his place in British and international film history.

Did You Know?

• Rickman worked as a graphic designer before pursuing acting, including for the Royal College of Art's magazine ARK and the Notting Hill Herald.
• He was a dresser for actors Nigel Hawthorne and Ralph Richardson while studying at RADA.
• Rickman almost declined the role of Hans Gruber in Die Hard because he did not think it was the kind of film he wanted to make.
• He directed two films: The Winter Guest (1997) and A Little Chaos (2014).

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (21 February 1946 – 14 January 2016) was an English actor and director." — Alan Rickman "Actors are agents of change. A film, a piece of theater, a piece of music, or a book can make a difference. It can change the world." — Alan Rickman "Meanwhile the dreaded press and even in the unit publicist the unstoppable desire to compare one job with another—was X more difficult than Y? No, X=X and Y=Y. Don't be lazy." — Alan Rickman "I'm pretty sure he came and saw everything I ever did on stage both in London and New York. He didn't have to do that." — Alan Rickman