Alan Rickman Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Alan Rickman
Rickman in 2011
Born	(1946-02-21)21 February 1946 Acton, London, England
Died	14 January 2016(2016-01-14) (aged 69) London, England
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actor director
Years active	1974–2016
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Rima Horton (m. 2012)
Awards	Full list

Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (born 21 February 1946 – died 14 January 2016) was a famous English actor and director. He was known for his deep, calm voice. He studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Later, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), performing in many plays.

His first big movie role was as the villain Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988). He also played the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), which won him an award. Alan Rickman was also loved for his funny roles in movies like Galaxy Quest (1999). Many people know him best as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series (2001–2011). He also appeared in popular films such as Love Actually (2003) and Alice in Wonderland (2010).

On television, he starred in The Barchester Chronicles (1982). He also won awards for playing Rasputin in a TV movie (1996). Alan Rickman passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2016 when he was 69 years old.

Early Life and Education
Acting Career Highlights
Personal Life
Illness and Death
Legacy
Images for kids
See Also

Early Life and Education

Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman was born in London, England, on 21 February 1946. His father passed away from cancer when Alan was only eight years old. His mother then raised him and his three siblings by herself.

From a young age, Alan was good at art, especially calligraphy and watercolour painting. He went to Latymer Upper School where he started getting involved in drama. He later studied at art colleges before deciding to become an actor.

He joined the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) from 1972 to 1974. While studying, he worked backstage to support himself. This training helped him become the amazing actor he was.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting in Theatre

After finishing drama school, Alan Rickman worked a lot in theatre. He performed in plays by famous writers like Anton Chekhov. In 1978, he acted in Romeo and Juliet.

His big break in theatre came in 1985. He played the main male role, Vicomte de Valmont, in a play called Les Liaisons Dangereuses. This play was very popular and moved to London's West End and then to Broadway in New York. For this role, he was nominated for a Tony Award, which is a very important award for theatre actors.

Becoming a Movie Star

In 1988, Alan Rickman got his first movie role. He played the main bad guy, Hans Gruber, in the action movie Die Hard. He acted alongside Bruce Willis. People loved his performance as the clever villain. This role made him famous in Hollywood.

In 1991, he played another memorable villain: the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Even though the movie got mixed reviews, everyone praised Alan Rickman's performance. He won a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for it. He later said that this award reminded him that being subtle isn't always everything!

Rickman also took on different kinds of roles. He played a romantic lead in the independent film Truly, Madly, Deeply (1991). This showed he could play more than just villains. A film critic even noted that people might not recognize him from Die Hard because he was so different.

He also starred as Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility (1995), a movie based on Jane Austen's novel. He acted with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. Emma Thompson said he could show the "extraordinary sweetness" of his character.

Award-Winning TV Roles

In 1996, Alan Rickman played the historical figure Rasputin in a TV movie. This role won him several major awards, including a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award. These are very important awards for television actors.

Funny Roles and Harry Potter

Alan Rickman also showed his talent for comedy. He was in the sci-fi comedy Galaxy Quest (1999) and played an angel in Dogma (1999).

In 2001, he took on the role that many people know him best for: Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. He played Snape throughout all eight Harry Potter films (2001–2011). His portrayal of the mysterious potions master was praised by fans and critics alike. Many thought his performance was so good it deserved an Academy Award nomination.

During his time as Snape, he also appeared in other popular movies. He was in the romantic comedy Love Actually (2003) and voiced Marvin the Paranoid Android in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005). He also played Judge Turpin in the musical film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007).

Directing and Later Films

Alan Rickman also directed films and plays. In 1995, he directed a play called The Winter Guest, and then directed the movie version in 1997.

In 2005, he directed a play called My Name Is Rachel Corrie. This play was based on the writings of a young American activist. It was very popular in London.

His later films included Eye in the Sky (2015), where he played a military general. This was his last live-action film role. He also voiced Absolem the Caterpillar again in Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016), which was released after his death.

Personal Life

In 1965, when Alan Rickman was 19, he met Rima Horton. She became his partner in the early 1970s. Rima was a university lecturer and a local politician. In 2012, they got married in a private ceremony in New York City. They lived together from 1977 until Alan's death. They did not have any children.

Alan Rickman was very involved in charity work. He supported a foundation called Saving Faces and was president of the International Performers' Aid Trust, which helps performing artists around the world. He was also interested in politics and supported the Labour Party. He even turned down an honor from the Queen in 2008.

Illness and Death

In 2015, Alan Rickman had a minor stroke. This led to doctors finding out he had pancreatic cancer. He kept his illness private, telling only his closest friends.

Alan Rickman passed away on 14 January 2016, in London. He was 69 years old. His final two films, Eye in the Sky and Alice Through the Looking Glass, were dedicated to his memory.

Legacy

After Alan Rickman's death, many fans created a memorial at London King's Cross railway station under the "Platform 9¾" sign, a nod to his role in Harry Potter.

Many actors and directors who worked with him shared their sadness and memories. J. K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, called him "a magnificent actor and a wonderful man." Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter, said Alan Rickman was very supportive and would often come to see his stage performances.

Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger, said she felt lucky to have worked with such a special person. Kate Winslet and Helen Mirren both spoke about his unique and amazing voice. His family thanked everyone for their kind messages.

In 2022, a collection of Alan Rickman's diaries from 1993 to 2015 was published. It was called Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries.