Actor Alan Rickman, known for films including Harry Potter, Die Hard, Truly Madly Deeply and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, has died at the age of 69.<\/p>\n
The star was suffering from cancer, his family said.<\/p>\n
He became one of Britain’s best-loved acting stars thanks to roles including Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films and Hans Gruber in Die Hard.<\/p>\n
He also won a Bafta Award for playing the Sheriff of Nottingham in 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
Harry Potter actor James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley, said on Twitter he was “shocked and sad” to hear the news. He wrote: “One of the nicest actors I’ve ever met. Thoughts and prayers with his family at this time.”<\/p>\n
His twin brother Oliver Phelps, who played George Weasley, added: “Terribly sad news about the passing of Alan Rickman. A funny and engaging person who put a shy young actor at ease when I was on HP.”<\/p>\n
TV star and Bafta ceremony host Stephen Fry wrote: “What desperately sad news about Alan Rickman. A man of such talent, wicked charm and stunning screen and stage presence. He’ll be sorely missed.”<\/p>\n
Actor David Morrissey also paid tribute. He said: “So sad to hear the news of Alan Rickman. A wonderful actor and lovely man. Tragic news.”<\/p>\n
The London-born star began his career in theatre, including with the Royal Shakespeare Company, before winning roles in TV dramas like Smiley’s People and The Barchester Chronicles in the 1980s.<\/p>\n
He became best known for playing screen villains – including the role of Judge Turpin opposite Johnny Depp in 2007’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as well as the likes of Hans Gruber and the Sheriff of Nottingham.<\/p>\n
But he showed his gentler side in films like 1990’s Truly Madly Deeply, 1995’s Sense and Sensibility and Love Actually in 2003.<\/p>\n
He earned Bafta nominations for his roles in Truly Madly Deeply, in which he played Juliet Stevenson’s ghost lover, and for playing Colonel Brandon alongside Kate Winslet in Sense and Sensibility.<\/p>\n
He got another Bafta nomination for portraying the calculating Eamon de Valera in 1996’s Michael Collins.<\/p>\n
The following year, he won a Golden Globe for best actor in a miniseries or television film for the title role in Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Actor Alan Rickman, known for films including Harry Potter, Die Hard, Truly Madly Deeply and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, has died at the age of 69. The star was suffering from cancer, his family said. He became one of Britain’s best-loved acting stars thanks to roles including Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":181673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[137],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n