With his stern look and decisive demeanour, Professor Snape is an eternal character for Potterheads. The character was brought to life by actor Alan Rickman. However, this was not the only iconic role played by the actor. Lately, Google is celebrating the unforgettable role of Alan Rickman in ‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses’ play which proved to be a launchpad for his career in his initial phase.
Quoted from Pinkvilla, Google commemorated late English actor Alan Rickman on his 77th birthday with a GIF doodle. The sketch showcased Rickman as an animated avatar lifting one eyebrow, a well-known industry peculiarity. He passed away in January 2016 after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 69 at the time.
The legendary actor was best known for his portrayal as teacher Severus Snape in the fictional magical realm of “Harry Potter.” His standout performance of Professor Snape made him famous all over the world. When Alan died of pancreatic cancer in 2016, every Harry Potter fan was heartbroken and devastated by the news. Many have used his popular line ‘always’ from the movies as a tribute to the actor.
He also starred in several television films, including playing the title character in Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (1996), which earned him a Golden Globe Award, an Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
In 2009, The Guardian named him one of the best actors ever to have received an Academy Award nomination. Rickman passed away on January 14, 2016.
Alan Rickman’s Career
As reported by Livemint, Alan Rickman was a natural painter and developed an interest in different art forms after being encouraged by his teachers and family. He built a special interest in acting and also earned a scholarship to continue pursuing this interest at Latymer Upper School in London.
Later, he studied graphic design at Chelsea College of Art and Design and the Royal College of Art. After completing his studies he started his own design company with close college friends and continued participating in the amateur Group Court Drama Club. When he was 26, Alan Rickman decided to seriously pursue acting, earning a spot at RADA, one of the most prestigious acting schools in the world.
After joining the Royal Shakespeare Company, he acted in The Tempest and Love’s Labour’s Lost. His anti-hero role of Le Vicomte de Valmont in the play Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons), earned him significant recognition then. He also earned a Tony nomination for his performance and started getting different film offers.
Alan Rickman rose to fame with most of his anti-hero roles, like that of the criminal mastermind Hans Gruber in Die Hard. The actor was remembered for decades for his role in the movie. Later, he played other antagonist roles in films like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. He also starred in Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (1996). Besides acting, he is remembered for his philanthropy and kind-sensitive nature off-screen.
It was in 2001 when he took the role of scene-stealing Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The movie got immense success, and so was the actor who played the role with immense conviction. His role as the professor made him star in the following seven Harry Potter films and made him an international sensation.
Alan Rickman’s Cause Of Death
GHGossip reported that Alan Rickman underwent treatment for an aggressive type of prostate cancer in 2005 and eventually had a prostatectomy in January 2006. At the time, he was considering whether to return for the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix film, but ultimately decided to return, saying, “The argument that wins is the one that says: ‘See it through. It’s your story.’”
In August 2015, Rickman suffered a minor stroke, which led to the discovery of pancreatic cancer. He chose to keep his terminal diagnosis private and only shared it with his closest confidants.
On January 14, 2016, Rickman passed away in London at 69, just a month before his 70th birthday. His ashes were given to his wife, Rima Horton, after his cremation at the West London Crematorium in Kensal Green on February 3, 2016.
His last two films, Eye in the Sky and Alice Through the Looking Glass and The Limehouse Golem, which would have been his next project, were dedicated to his memory.
