Star of Stage and Screen Alan Rickman Dies at 69

Deadline reports the sad news that famed British actor and filmmaker Alan Rickman has passed away at the age of 69. The news was confirmed Thursday morning by his family. He had been suffering from cancer.

The internationally-renowned actor of stage, screen and television graduated from RADA, and worked extensively with British repertory and experimental theatre groups in productions including Chekhov's THE SEAGULL and Snoo Wilson's THE GRASS WIDOW at the Royal Court Theatre, and appeared three times at the Edinburgh International Festival. In 1978, he performed with the Court Drama Group, performing in ROMEO AND JULIET and A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, among other plays. While working with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) he was cast in AS YOU LIKE IT. Rickman appeared in the BBC's adaptation of Barchester Towers known as "The Barchester Chronicles" (1982) as the Reverend Obadiah Slope.

In 1985, he played the male lead, the Vicomte de Valmont, in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Christopher Hampton's adaptation of LES LIASIONS DANGEREUSES, directed by Howard Davies. After the RSC production transferred to Broadway in 1987, Rickman received both a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award nomination for his performance. In 2002 he portrayed Elyot Chase in PRIVATE LIVES. He most recently appeared on Broadway in 2011's SEMINAR.

On film, he is perhaps best known for his iconic performances as Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise and Hans Gruber in the 1988 hit DIE HARD, as well as award-winning roles in such films as SENSE AND SENSIBILITY and, and BOTTLE SHOCK.

Rickman's other film roles included the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Jamie in Truly, Madly, Deeply, Harry in Love Actually, and P. L. O'Hara in An Awfully Big Adventure. More recently, he played Judge Turpin in the film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. In 1995, he was awarded the Golden Globe, Emmy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for his portrayal of Rasputin in Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.

Rickman won a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, an Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos