--- description: The actor was known for roles like Professor Severus Snape title: British Actor Alan Rickman Has Died at 69 image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3f24d7419965d33d/698879120b72e3a8e46e7a8e/alan-rickman-actor-dies-age-69.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [celebrities](/tag/celebrities/) ## celebrities Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # British Actor Alan Rickman Has Died at 69 by [Sarah Begley](/author/sarah-begley/) ## Sarah Begley Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 14, 2016 1:07 PM CUT  Alan Rickman arrives to the premiere of "A Little Chaos," as part of the BFI London Film Festival, in central London, Oct. 17, 2014. Alan Rickman arrives to the premiere of "A Little Chaos," as part of the BFI London Film Festival, in central London, Oct. 17, 2014.Grant Pollard—Invision/AP by [Sarah Begley](/author/sarah-begley/) ## Sarah Begley Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 14, 2016 1:07 PM CUT Alan Rickman, the actor beloved by many for his portrayal of characters good and evil, but especially well known for playing Professor Severus Snape in the _Harry Potter_ films, [has died](http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jan/14/alan-rickman-giant-of-british-film-and-theatre-dies-at-69 "undefined") at age 69. Rickman had been suffering from cancer, _The Guardian_ reports, and his death was confirmed by a family member. Known for his distinctive basso voice and a keen talent brought to every role, Rickman had early success as villains like Hans Gruber in _Die Hard,_ Sheriff George of Nottingham in _Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves_, and later as the title character in the HBO movie _Rasputin_, for which he won his only Golden Globe. He had a knack for the classics as well, both on stage (he won a Tony for his role in _Les Liaisons Dangereuses_ in 1987) and on screen (he played a memorable Colonel Brandon in _Sense and Sensibility_). In recent years, a new generation met Rickman in the _Harry Potter_ series, as well as in the perennial holiday hit _Love, Actually_. He directed and starred as King Louis XIV in _A Little Chaos_ last year and will still appear in two more movies: the drone warfare thriller _Eye in the Sky_, out March 11, and _Alice Through the Looking Glass_, out May 27, as the voice of the Blue Caterpillar. \[[_The Guardian_](http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jan/14/alan-rickman-giant-of-british-film-and-theatre-dies-at-69 "undefined")\] ### Alan Rickman: A Career in Pictures  Die Hard, 1988. 20th Century Fox  Truly, Madly, Deeply, 1990. BBC Films  Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, 1991. Warner Bros.  Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny, 1996. Getty Images  Dogma, 1999. Lionsgate  Galaxy Quest, 1999. DreamWorks Pictures  Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 2001. Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images  Love Actually, 2003. Universal Pictures  Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, 2007. DreamWorks Pictures  The Butler, 2013. 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