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Background[]
The late Alan Rickman ( b. 21 February 1946 – d. 14 January 2016 ) was an English writer, producer, and director; but was best known as an accomplished and noteworthy actor. He first debuted as a classic stage thespian but would transition into live action television and cinematic roles as well as several voice acting performances.
He was renowned for his deep, languid and expressively nuanced voice as well as being an extremely talented and versatile actor who refused to be typecast. Rickman played a number of varied character roles over the course of his career; ranging from dark antagonists, romantic leads, and lighthearted comedic foils.
He won great acclaim and numerous awards for his performances for his roles in Die Hard; Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves; Truly, Madly, Deeply; Sense and Sensibility; Dogma; and Galaxy Quest.
However Rickman is perhaps best known for his extended role as the ambivalent and enigmatic Professor Severus Snape of the Harry Potter Franchise Series. He exclusively guest starred as the character for all eight films lasting from 2001 to 2011 despite suffering from ill health for the last three films.
Biography[]
Personal Life[]
Filmography[]
- Romeo & Juliet (1978)
- Therese Raquin (1980) 3 episodes
- Shelley (1980) 1 episode
- Smiley's People (1982) 1 episode
- The Barchester Chronicles (1982) 5 episodes
- Busted (1983)
- Summer Season (1985) 1 episode
- Girls on Top (1985) 2 episodes
- Die Hard (1988)
- The January Man (1989)
- Theatre Night (1989) 1 episode
- Screenplay (1989) 1 episode
- Revolutionary Witness: The Preacher (1989)
- Quigley Down Under (1990)
- Screen Two (1990) 1 episode
- Closet Land (1991)
- Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
- Close My Eyes (1991)
- Bob Roberts (1992)
- Fallen Angels (1993) 1 episode
- Mesmer (1994)
- An Awfully Big Adventure (1995)
- Sense and Sensibility (1995)
- Rasputin (1996)
- Michael Collins (1996)
- The Winter Guest (1997)
- Judas Kiss (1998)
- Dark Harbor (1998)
- Dogma (1999)
- Galaxy Quest (1999)
- Texas: In Demand (2000)
- A Fish Tale (2000)
- Blow Dry (2001)
- We Know Where You Live (2001)
- Play (2001)
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- The Search for John Gissing (2001)
- King of the Hill (2002) 1 episode
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
- Love Actually (2003)
- Something the Lord Made (2004)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
- Snow Cake (2006)
- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
- Nobel Son (2007)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
- Bottle Shock (2008)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
- Sonnet Number 12 (2009)
- Arena (2010) 1 episode
- Alice in Wonderland (2010)
- Back at the Barnyard (2010) 1 episode
- The Song of Lunch (2010)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
- Portraits in Dramatic Time (2011)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- The Boy in the Bubble (2011)
- Gambit (2012)
- Lee Daniels' The Butler (2013)
- A Promise (2013)
- CBGB (2013)
- A Little Chaos (2014)
- Eye in the Sky (2015)
- This Tortoise Could Save a Life (2015)
- Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
Trivia[]
- Was named the godfather to Tom Burke, who also went into acting as a career.
- Was an avid bird lover.
Quotes[]
- "If only life could be a little more tender and art a little more robust."
- "Talent is an accident of genes―and a responsibility."
- "I do take my work seriously and the way to do that is not to take yourself too seriously."
- "I've never been able to plan my life. I just lurch from indecision to indecision."
- "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."