Film world mourns as Harry Potter actor Alan Rickman dies of cancer

Harry Potter star Alan Rickman has died at the age of 69, his family has said. The actor, who won a BAFTA, Golden Globe, Emmy and Screen Actors Guild award in a distinguished career dating back to the late 1970s, had been suffering from cancer. A family statement said: “The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends.” Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn – Rickman’s wife, Rima Horton, was a Labour councillor – was among the first to lead the tributes, with Stephen Fry commenting: “What desperately sad news about Alan Rickman. A man of such talent, wicked charm & stunning screen & stage presence. He’ll be sorely missed.”

Bowie was sad. But I didn’t grow up with Bowie. I did grow up with Harry Potter and, thus, Snape and Alan Rickman. So, now I’m crushed.

Fan Andie Katchthaler on Twitter

Rickman shot to international attention in 1988 when he played villainous Hans Gruber, Bruce Willis’s adversary, in Die Hard. But he gained legions of new fans for his role as Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films. His other notable roles included a Bafta-winning turn as Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, Jamie in Truly, Madly, Deeply and Colonel Brandon in the 1995 version of Sense And Sensibility. He took home a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his performance as Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny in HBO’s 1996 drama. Most recently the actor had been filming Tim Burton’s Alice Through The Looking Glass, where he voiced Absolem the Caterpillar. The film is due out in May.

I do not want my heroes to die! Alan Rickman is dead & he was another hero. Alan - thank you for being with us. We are sorry you had to go

Eddie Izzard

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