Following Thursday’s news that actor Alan Rickman died of cancer at the age of 69, friends from the acting community have reached out to pay tribute to the beloved British star. One of these peers was Kate Winslet, who first starred alongside Rickman in Ang Lee’s 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.
“We are all so devastated to lose Alan. He was loved enormously by so many. He was an exceptionally warm and giving man and an utterly phenomenal actor and gifted director. I remember being so intimidated by him when we worked together when I was 19 , because he had such a powerful and commanding presence . And that voice! Oh, that voice….. But the reality of course, was that he was the kindest and best of men. Had the patience of a saint. He was a warm hearted puppy dog, who would do anything for anyone if it made them happy. He was a loving and devoted partner to Rima, and like so many of us in our vast industry, my life was enriched by knowing him. My heart goes out to his family and those he loved.”
Read More: Read Alan Rickman’s Touching Goodbye Letter to Harry Potter
The pair worked together for the last time in 2014’s A Litte Chaos, a French period drama that Rickman co-wrote, directed and starred in.
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Write to Megan McCluskey at megan.mccluskey@time.com