Acclaimed actor Alan Rickman dies at 69

Credit: Matej Divizna

Credit: Matej Divizna


Beloved British actor Alan Rickman, known for his role as Professor Severus Snape in the "Harry Potter" film series, has died, according to multiple media reports. He was 69 years old.

Family members confirmed to The Guardian that the actor, who suffered from cancer, died in London Thursday.

"The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69," a statement from Rickman's family said, according to BBC News. "He was surrounded by family and friends."

Rickman rose to worldwide fame in 1988, when he played German terrorist Hans Gruber, the antagonist opposite Bruce Willis' John McClane in "Die Hard." He was 41 years old at the time.

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In the 28 years since then, Rickman has played such ranging roles as the Metatron in 1999's "Dogma," the sheriff of Nottingham in 1991's "Robn Hood: Prince of Thieves," and Ronald Reagan in 2013's "The Butler."

He most recently starred in the 2015 British thriller "Eye in the Sky," alongside Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul and Barkhad Abdi. The film was screened at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and expected to have a limited release in America in March 2016.

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