Remembering the life of Alan Rickman

People all over the world are mourning the death of Rickman.

Photo courtesy of Steve Lovekin

People all over the world are mourning the death of Rickman.

Isabella Naccarato, Oracle Staff Writer

This past January beloved actor, friend, and husband Alan Rickman, age 69, died from his battle with pancreatic cancer. Known for his notorious role as Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter motion pictures, close friends and fans around the world are heartbroken at Rickman’s sudden death.
“I was never a huge fan of Harry Potter,” said senior Alyssa Wenklar. “But his absence will be felt around the world.”
Alan Rickman was a well-loved and respected actor from England, beginning his career with his first major role in Die Hard (1988). Besides the Harry Potter eight film series (2001-2011), Rickman also starred in other extremely popular films, including The Butler (2013), Love Actually (2003), Alice in Wonderland (2010), and Sweeney Todd (2007).
Friends, family, and millions of fans took to the internet in order to send their condolences, and share their very fond memories of Rickman via tweets and Facebook posts.
“Ahh man no more sudden losses of beloved Brit artists, I can only handle so much,” tweeted former Glee star and actor Darren Criss on twitter. “Alan Rickman, you were THE MAN. What a great career! RIP.”
Fans in London created a memorial underneath the infamous “Platform 9¾” sign at London King’s Cross railway station. Fans form the states gathered in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios, Orlando, raising their wands in tribute.
“Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors and most supportive people I’ve ever met in the film industry,” Daniel Radcliffe, fellow actor and close friend to Rickman, posted to Facebook. “Film sets and theatre stages are all far poorer for the loss of this great actor and man.”
Rickman suffered from pancreatic cancer for about seven months, being diagnosed in June of 2015. He had concealed his illness from the public, revealing to only his close family and friends what he was up against. Keeping his illness private would make sure that the media’s focus is on his career, not his personal life.
Author of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling, expressed her sorrow on Twitter, posting: “There are no words to express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman’s death. He was a magnificent actor and a wonderful man.”
Rickman’s last role will be the second installment of the Alice in Wonderland series, Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass, which is set to be released in May of 2016.
“I felt like a piece of my childhood was taken from me,” said senior Virginia Brown. “He will be greatly missed.”