When it became known that actor Alan Rickman had died, the shock was great. “Words cannot express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman’s death,” wrote Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. 15 years earlier, the Brit had taken on the role of Severus Snape in the film adaptations of her novels. Fellow filmmaker Daniel Radcliffe, who played The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, was also dismayed, stating that Rickman is without a doubt one of the best actors he has worked or will work with in the future.
Born in London, he has acted in countless plays, films and television films. He made his breakthrough in Hollywood in 1988 in the blockbuster Die Hard, in which he played Bruce Willis’ German adversary. He later stole the show as Sheriff of Nottingham Kevin Costner aka Robin Hood.
In the Christmas film “Love Actually”, which is already celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, he made his film wife Karen, played by Emma Thompson, cry when he told her, not her, but his young secretary (played by Heike Makatsch) bought a necklace for Christmas.
In celebration of Red Nose Day, most of the cast reunited in 2017 for a ten-minute sequel. Since Alan Rickman was already dead, Emma Thompson was also missing, who explained in an interview at the time: “Richard Curtis wrote to me and said, ‘Darling, I’m sorry, we can’t write to you about Alan’ and I said, ‘No, Of course not. That would be sad, just too sad.” In addition, she would have simply found it “too early”.
In private, Rickman was considered sincere, modest, loyal and reserved. In 2012, after more than 47 years together, he secretly married his childhood sweetheart Rima Horton. The marriage to the politician and professor remained childless and scandal-free. In August 2015, Rickman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after suffering a minor stroke. He died five months later – just a few weeks before his 70th birthday. Google honors the actor with a doodle this Sunday.
Watch the video: For 15 years now, the enchantingly kitschy romantic comedy “Love Actually” has been an integral part of the Christmas program. Here’s what happened to Olivia Olson, now 26, who was already delighting millions of viewers back then.
Sources: BBC, Twitter I, People, Evening Standard, express.co.uk, DPA
