Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman was an English actor and director known for playing diverse roles both on stage and on screen. Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Alan Rickman’s big break came as the Vicomte de Valmont in the stage production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1985). Alan Rickman gained the worldwide appreciation for his performance as Hans Gruber in Die Hard and for playing the epic character of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series.
Kate Winslet reveals Alan Rickman was a selfless man
Alan Rickman passed away at the age of 69 on 14th January 2016. With the actor’s first death anniversary approaching, Kate Winslet has shared some memories about the actor. According to Kate Winslet, Rickman was a very kind human being. “If there was one word I could use to really describe Al, it would be kind. He was so kind. Whenever Al would go out to supper and anyone else would try and pay, he would somehow have phoned ahead or slipped his credit card ahead of the meal so no one even got a look at the check. He’d just say, ‘I’ve got two words for you: Harry Potter. And he became known for doing that”, says Kate Winslet.
Kate Winslet had worked with Alan Rickman in the 1995 movie adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. She had also worked with him in the 2014 A Little Chaos movie. Talking about the actor’s selflessness, Kate Winslet recollected the instances where the actor would pay for their supper bills, even before they got a look at the check. Apart from being a kind human being, Alan Rickman was selfless and liked by many for his generous gestures.
Harry Potter: Severus Snape and Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman’s portrayal of Severus Snape, the potions master in the Harry Potter movies was dark and unsympathetic. The character of Severus Snape, which Alan Rickman played so well, has garnered widespread critical acclaim. Los Angeles Times said of Alan Rickman – “as always, makes the most lasting impression.” Unfortunately, the actor suffered a minor stroke in August 2015, that led to the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. He had concealed the fact that he had terminal cancer from most of his friends. The actor passed away on January 14, 2016, in London. His portrayal of Severus Snape will be remembered for generations to come.