When you hear the name Alan Rickman, you’ll probably immediately think about Severus Snape. The man with the dark clothing, stern expression and distinctive voice is a British actor who won over a million of fans. He is, however, much more than just Hogwarts’ potion teacher. The man had an impressive career, a remarkable private life and a great passion for art and theatre. He is, however, much more than just Hogwarts’ potion teacher. The man had an impressive career, a remarkable private life and a great passion for art and theatre. But who was Alan Rickman really? Find it out in this blog!
Who was Alan Rickman?
Alan Rickman, whose full name was Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman, was born on 21 February 1946. Rickman was an actor and theatre director. Besides becoming very well known for his role in the Harry Potter films, he was a renowned stage actor in modern and classical productions. He was also a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Furthermore, you may know Rickman from his film appearances as Hans Gruber in Die Hard, Eamon de Valera in Michael Collins and Metatron in Dogma.
7 facts about Alan Rickman
1. Alan never wanted to become an actor
It might be hard to imagine, but Alan didn’t want to be an actor at first. He even studied Graphic Design, which is something completely different. He started his own graphic design agency. However, he felt drawn to the stage and he decided to change careers.2. Alan's father died when he was eight years old
Alan Rickman was born in the London district of Hammersmith. His father was a Catholic man from Ireland, and his mother was from Wales. When Rickman was eight years old, his father died. After that, he was raised by his mother alone.3. Alan had been with his wife for a very long time
Alan Rickman had a long relationship with Rima Horton. They met around 1960 and were together for decades. They got married in New York in 2012 and didn’t have any children. They chose to live privately and remained out of the public eye most of the time.4. He did not only play villains
Many people mainly know Rickman for his roles as strict, like Severus Snape, or evil characters. He played, for example, Hans Gruber in Diehard and the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. He was, however, capable of much more. He played a struggling man in Love Actually and a kind and thoughtful person in Sense and Sensibility.5. Alan Rickman wrote a book
In 2022, Alan Rickman's diary was published. The book Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman offers a glimpse into his life. In the book, he wrote about his life as a director, but also about his illness and his role in Harry Potter.Rima Horton, Rickman's wife, said the following about the book: ‘The diary not only shows who Alan Rickman was as an actor, but also the real Alan. His humour, his sharp observations, his craftsmanship and his dedication to the arts.’
So, anyone who would like to enjoy Alan Rickman's acting once again would do well to take a look at this book.
Rima Horton: ‘Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman shows the real Alan Rickman.’
6. He died of an illness
In 2005, just four years after the first film, Alan Rickman discovered that he was ill. In 2016, he passed away from this illness. This means that he was already quite ill during the filming of the final films. However, he considered it important to finish the films himself. According to his own words, he 'had to and would' continue. Because this was his story.7. He knew all about Snapes secrets.
This is might be one of the most interesting facts for us Harry Potter fans. J.K. Rowling told Alan about Severus Snape’s past very early on. He knew his character was going to be much more complicated than he initially appeared. He wasn’t allowed to share this secret with others, though.What is your favourite Alan Rickman film? And what is your favourite moment from the Harry Potter films? Let us know in the comments!
