Not content with David Bowie, the universe has decided to rob us of another British legend – actor, Alan Rickman.
The star of stage and screen died in London, England surrounded by his family after an eighteen month battle with cancer, aged 69.
Not only was Rickman one of the greats of his generation, he also possessed the perfect voice (seriously) – making him both a sought-after thespian and popular voice artist, courtesy of his instantly recognisable tones.
An illustrious career, spanning several decades, meant that the actor had fans from every age group, including millennials. So if you don’t remember all of his best movies, we strongly advise you to revisit them now.
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Harry Potter (2001-2011)
Bringing those drawling tones to a whole new generation of fans, Rickman starred in his most well known role as Severus Snape, Potter’s Potions teacher. Despite his hostility towards the famous wizard, he eventually turns out to be something of a *spoiler* hero of the series. He thanked J.K. Rowling for gifting him the role in an open letter to Empire magazine. All class, he was.
Love Actually (2003)
We think it’s probably about time we forgave Harry for breaking his long suffering wife Karen’s heart for his philandering ways with his secretary. But testament to his great acting, it’s taken us over a decade to do so. The two stalwarts of screen, Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson, tugged at our heart strings as the married couple torn apart by Harry’s infidelity, helping to create a Christmas classic in the process.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
“I’m feeling very depressed today” said Marvin, the Paranoid Android, voiced by Alan Rickman – who was played physically by Warwick Davis. The movie version of Douglas Adam’s science fiction series also Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, and Zooey Deschanel.
Truly Madly Deeply (1991)
In Anthony Minghella’s directorial debut (after which he went on to win an Academy Award for The English Patient), Rickman stars as Juliet Stevenson’s boyfriend who haunts her after his death in an emotive performance that’s a world away from our next pick on the list.
Die Hard (1988)
Equally deserving on the list is his turn as terrorist Hans Gruber in the Bruce Willis blockbuster. Fun fact: The shot used for his death scene was the first take and the look of terror on Rickman’s face is completely genuine after being dropped 70 feet on a green screen.
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
The beginning of a long and enduring on screen collaboration with Emma Thompson, Rickman starred as Colonel Brandon, winning the heart of a young Kate Winslet’s Marianne. Despite the gap in age between the pair, his nuanced and delicate performance made the romance completely believable.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
You may have to cast your minds back to a time when Bryan Adams filled the airwaves to remember this little gem of a movie – but it’s worth it. Alan played the Sherriff of Nottingham and had the chance to deliver the immortal line, “I’m going to cut your heart out with a spoon.”
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