Fans Pay Tribute to Alan Rickman by ‘Raising Their Wands’

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Actor Alan Rickman attends AOL Build Speaker Series Presents: Alan Rickman at AOL Studios In New York on June 19, 2015 in New York City.
Actor Alan Rickman attends AOL Build Speaker Series Presents: Alan Rickman at AOL Studios In New York on June 19, 2015 in New York City.Desiree Navarro/WireImage
By Megan McCluskey

The world is mourning the death of Alan Rickman, who passed away at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer. The beloved British actor was especially well known in recent years for his role as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films, and tributes began pouring in from fans of the series across the globe after the news was announced Thursday.

Read More: British Actor Alan Rickman Has Died at 69

Many have used Twitter to pay homage to Rickman by “raising their wands,” a reference to a touching scene in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when Hogwarts students point their wands to the sky to honor the fallen Dumbledore.

Alan Rickman: A Career in Pictures

Die Hard, 1988.
Die Hard, 1988.20th Century Fox
Truly, Madly, Deeply, 1990.
Truly, Madly, Deeply, 1990.BBC Films
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, 1991.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, 1991.Warner Bros.
Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny, 1996.
Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny, 1996.Getty Images
Dogma, 1999.
Dogma, 1999.Lionsgate
Galaxy Quest, 1999.
Galaxy Quest, 1999.DreamWorks Pictures
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 2001.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 2001. Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
Love Actually, 2003.
Love Actually, 2003.Universal Pictures
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, 2007.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, 2007.DreamWorks Pictures
The Butler, 2013.
The Butler, 2013. The Weinstein Company

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Write to Megan McCluskey at megan.mccluskey@time.com