The actor who took a place in the hearts as "Severus Snape" of some and "Hans Gruber" of others: Who is Alan Rickman?

His full name is Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman, he was born on February 21, 1946 in the Acton district of London. Born with a tight chin, Rickman has a deep tone and quiet speech. He was born to Margaret Doreen Rose Bartlett, whose Welsh mother was a housewife, and Bernard William Rickman, whose father was a factory worker, painter, decorator and former aircraft fitter. His father was Catholic, and Rickman's mother was a Methodist. Additionally, he has two brothers named David and Michael and a sister named Sheila. Rickman's mother, whose father died of cancer when he was eight, had to raise him and his three siblings alone. His mother remarried in 1960 and divorced three years later.

Having excelled in calligraphy and watercolor painting as a child, Rickman was educated at West Acton First School and Derwentwater Elementary School in Acton. He then continued at Latymer Upper School in London, where he was involved in drama. Rickman attended Chelsea College of Art and Design from 1965 to 1968 and attended the Royal College of Art from 1968 to 1970. After graduation, Rickman and a few of his friends opened a graphic design studio called "Graphiti". After three years of successful employment, Rickman decided to quit acting professionally. He wrote to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), which he attended from 1972 to 1974, requesting an audition. During this time, he made a living by working as a dresser.

After graduating from the arts academy, Rickman worked extensively at the Royal Court Theatre on productions of Chekhov's "The Seagull" and Snoo Wilson's "The Grass Widow". In 1978, he appeared in the plays "Romeo and Juliet" and "A View from the Bridge". He made his breakthrough role as Reverend Obadiah Slope in the BBC's TV series "The Barchester Chronicles" (1982), an adaptation of two of Trollope's novels.

He was later given the male lead role of Vicomte de Valmont in the 1985 play "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" directed by Howard Davies and based on the novel of the same name. After the production transferred to the West End in 1986 and Broadway in 1987, Rickman's performance earned both Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations. The following year, Rickman played the antagonist Hans Gruber opposite Bruce Willis in his feature film debut, based on a novel, in "Die Hard." Rickman's performance was critically acclaimed and was ranked as the 46th best villain in film history on AFI's "100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains" list.

In 1990, he played the Australian Elliot Marston opposite Tom Selleck in the western movie "Quigley Down Under" (1990) directed by Simon Wincer. The following year, he appeared as the Sheriff of Nottingham opposite Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman in the adaptation of the action adventure movie "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991), directed by Kevin Reynolds. He won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.

Rickman soon appeared in the mystery film "Closet Land" (1991), in which he co-starred with Madeleine Stowe. He also starred opposite Juliet Stevenson in the independent fantasy romance drama film "Truly, Madly, Deeply" (1991), for which he earned a BAFTA Award nomination and directed by Anthony Minghella. The film was a critical success. In the same year, he appeared with Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves in the movie "Close My Eyes" (1991), written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff. The performances of the film and its three lead actors were praised. Rickman earned an Evening Standard British Film Award nomination for Best Actor for his performances in "Close My Eyes", "Truly Madly Deeply" and "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves". The same performances, along with his portrayal in "Quigley Down Under," earned him a nomination for the London Film Critics Circle Actor of the Year Award.

A few years later, he appeared as Colonel Brandon with Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Kate Winslet in the period drama film "Sense and Sensibility" (1995) based on the novel of the same name directed by Ang Lee. For his performance, he earned a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role nomination and his first Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. The following year, he reprized the role of Éamon de Valera in the period drama "Michael Collins" directed by Neil Jordan, alongside Liam Neeson, Julia Roberts and Stephen Rea. Rickman earned a BAFTA Award nomination for his performance.

In 1996, Rickman appeared in the HBO television biographical historical drama TV movie "Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny" as "mad monk" Rasputin. For his performance, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series or Anthology Series or Movie, a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actor Performance in a Miniseries or Television Movie, and Gold for Outstanding Actor - Miniseries or Television Movie. Won the Globe Award.

Rickman directed The Winter Guest at London's Almeida Theater in 1995, followed by Emma Thompson and his real-life mother, Phyllida Law, in the film version of the same play the following year. The film, which was warmly received by the critics, was a box office success. It has won many awards and nominations in various categories. Rickman's stage performances in the 1990s included "Antony and Cleopatra" as Mark Antony at London's Olivier Theatre. He also appeared in "Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings" (2000), written by Victoria Wood. Throughout his career, Rickman has starred in the cult classic sci-fi parody movie "Galaxy Quest"(1999) alongside Sir Alexander Dane/Dr.Lazarus, Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Sam Rockwell and Tony Shalhoub.

In 2001, he first appeared as potions master Severus Snape in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the first film in the fantasy film series based on the novel of the same name. Upon its release, the film was a huge box office success, both critically and commercially. It was also the highest-grossing film of 2001 and the second-highest-grossing film at the time. He appeared in the same role in all the films of the series that were released between 2001 and 2011. The following year, he starred in Noël Coward's romantic comedy "Private Lives". Rickman reunites with Lindsay Duncan and director Howard Davies in the play's other production.

Rickman edited "My Name Is Rachel Corrie" with Katharine Viner and won the Theater Goers' Choice Awards for Best Director. In 2003, he appeared in "Love Really", the Christmas-themed romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis, as Harry, the goofy husband of Emma Thompson's character. Rickman appeared as Dr. Alfred Blalock in the HBO biographical drama film "Something the Lord Made" (2004). He earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his performance. In 2005, he starred in the science fiction comedy "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (2005), with Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, and Zooey Deschanel. The film achieved positive reviews and box office success.

He also starred in the independent romantic comedy-drama film "Snow Cake" (2006), opposite Sigourney Weaver and Carrie-Anne Moss. In the same year, he appeared in the psychological thriller "Perfume: The Tale of a Murderer" (2006), directed by Tom Tykwer. The following year, he appeared as Judge Turpin in Tim Burton's critically acclaimed musical slasher film "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2007), alongside Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Timothy Spall

The following year he was crowned with the "James Joyce Award" from the University College Dublin Literary and Historical Society. In October and November of the following year, he appeared at the Abbey Theater in Henrik Ibsen's play "John Gabriel Borkman" with Lindsay Duncan and Fiona Shaw in the eponymous role. His performance was described as breathtaking. That same year, he appeared with Emma Thompson in the BBC television production "The Song of Lunch". Later, he voiced Absolem the Caterpillar in the adventure fantasy film "Alice in Wonderland" (2010) directed by Tim Burton.

Rickman reprized the same role in the final episode of the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" (2011). Throughout the series, his portrayal received widespread critical acclaim and acclaim. With his last appearance in the series, he received award nominations, including Saturn Awards and Scream Awards in 2011. That same year, he took part in the opening of Theresa Rebeck's new play, "Seminar," at the John Golden Theater on Broadway. Rickman won the "Audience Choice Award" for Favorite Actor in a Play. The following year, he appeared in the remake of the comedy crime movie "Gambit" (2012), directed by Michael Hoffman, with Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz.

In 2014, Rickman directed and starred in the period drama film "A Little Chaos". The film was starring Kate Winslet, Jennifer Ehle and Stanley Tucci. The film received mixed reviews from critics. The following year, he appeared in the Gavin Hood-directed thriller "Eye in the Sky"(2015), starring alongside Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul and Barkhad Abdi. This was Rickman's last on-screen live-action performance. The film, which premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, received critical acclaim.

Personal life

At age 19, Rickman met 18-year-old Rima Horton. The couple married in a private ceremony in New York in 2012.

Rickman was godfather to fellow actor Tom Burke and an active patron of the "Saving Faces" research foundation. He was also honorary chairman of the "International Performers' Aid Trust", a charity working to fight poverty. His last work before his death was a short video that helped raise funds and raise awareness on the refugee crisis for "Save the Children" and the "Refugee Council".

Rickman was named one of the "100 Sexiest Stars" in film history in 1995 by Empire magazine. In 1997, he was also included in Empire magazine's "100 Greatest Movie Stars of All Time" list. Rickman proved his success by being nominated twice for Broadway's Tony Award for Best Actor. The Guardian newspaper called Rickman an "Honorable Mention" on its list of best actors who have never received an Academy Award nomination.

Rickman has appeared in various musical compositions, including the song "Not Taken Rickman" composed by Adam Leonard. He took part in the role of "Master of Ceremonies" by announcing various instruments at the end of the first episode of Mike Oldfield's movie "Tubular Bells II"(1992) called "The Bell". Rickman became one of many artists to recite Shakespeare sonnets on his album "When Love Speaks"(2002) and appeared in the music video for Scottish rock band Texas' "In Demand".

In 2005, Rickman was treated for an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The following year, his treatment resulted in a prostatectomy. In 2015, Rickman, who suffered a minor stroke that led to a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, only told his closest confidants it was deadly cancer. Rickman's remains were cremated at the West London Crematorium in Kensal Green on February 3, 2016, who passed away on January 14, 2016 in London. Later, his ashes were given to his wife Rima Horton. His last two films "Eye in the Sky" and "Alice Through the Looking Glass" and his next project "The Limehouse Golem" are dedicated to Rickman's memory. An edited collection of Rickman's diaries from 1993 to 2015, titled "Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries," was released in 2022. Also, on April 30, 2023, the search engine Google commemorated Rickman with a "Doodle".